Flying into the Future: flydubai Takes 200 LEAP engines

Low-cost-carrier flydubai is growing by LEAPs and bounds, with its recent announcement that it will purchase up to 200 LEAP-1B engines and 22 CFM56-7BE engines for 111 new aircraft. Both engines will offer the airline lower operating costs, a reduced environmental footprint and higher revenue generation.

The LEAP-1B engines will power Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, while the CFM56-7BE engines will power 11 additional Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft.

The LEAP engine family is expected to save nearly $3 million per plane, while the CFM56-7BE provides up to a 2% reduction in fuel burn and carbon emissions when coupled with the improved Next-Generation 737. Both engines are manufactured by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Snecma (Safran) of France.

The order includes a long-term services agreement. Under the terms of which CFM will guarantee maintenance costs on a dollar-per-engine, flight-hour basis.

The first full LEAP-1B engine is currently being built in preparation for the launch of ground testing in mid-2014.  The engine is scheduled for certification in 2016 and entry into service on the 737 MAX aircraft in 2017.

For more on CFM engines, click here.