Following the ambitious plans announced by Air India to acquire 470 new aircraft to expand and modernize its global fleet, the carrier has extended order to CFM International and Rolls-Royce for a total of 880 new aircraft engines to power the various Airbus and Boeing jets.
The fleet-upgrade plan has been estimated at $80 billion, though Air India has not confirmed that total.
CFM International reported it has drawn the largest-ever order for its CFM LEAP engines, to power 210 Airbus A320/A321neo and 190 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. The order covers 420 LEAP-1A engines and 380 LEAP-1B engines, plus spares. The airline also contracted for CFM services related to the new LEAP engines.
CFM International is a 50-50 venture of GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, and the developer of the LEAP engine family high-bypass turbofan engines. Each partner manufactures the LEAP engines in its own production operations.
Separately, Rolls-Royce announced its own order from Air India for 68 Trent XWB-97 engines, plus options for 20 more engines. Rolls too noted this represents the largest-ever order for the Trent XWB-97, the exclusive power plant for the Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft.
Air India also ordered 12 Trent XWB-84 engines, the sole engine option for the Airbus A350-900.
