Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) ordered 78 LEAP-1A engines from CFM International to power 35 A320neo aircraft, which the carrier ordered from Airbus in 2018. The new contract worth $2.9 billion also includes eight spare engines and CFM’s rate-per-flight-hour (RPFH) support agreement.
CFM International is a joint venture of GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, and its LEAP is a series of three high-bypass turbofan engines powering the Airbus A320neo (LEAP-1A), Boeing 737 MAX (LEAP-1B), and Comac C919 (LEAP-1C.)
Currently, SAS operates 44 A320neo aircraft and one A321neo LR powered by LEAP engines. It plans to introduce two more A321neo LR jets for international routes, including trans-Atlantic routes between the U.S. and Europe.
The airline’s EVP and CFO Magnus Örnberg noted that the order for engines and long-term services agreement are part of the carrier’s fleet upgrade. “Our goal is to be industry leaders in sustainable aviation, and we are to reduce emissions with 25% by 2025, in comparison to 2005,” he detailed. “This will mainly be enabled by using state-of-the-art technologies allowing for lower fuel consumption and an increase in use of sustainable aviation fuels.”
