WEST CHESTER, Ohio — 2 June 2014 — Delta Air Lines today announced that is has selected CFM International’s CFM56-5B engine to power 15 firm A321ceo (current engine option) aircraft. The new aircraft, which were also announced today, will begin delivery in 2018.
These airplanes will join the other 126 CFM-powered A320 family aircraft Delta current operates. The airline plans to use the new A321s to replace similar, less-efficient domestic aircraft that are being retired from its fleet.
Delta was actually CFM International’s first customer and launched the product into commercial service on April 24, 1982 when it flew the very first McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71 aircraft powered by CFM's first engine, the CFM56-2, on a flight between Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia.
Today, Delta operates approximately 210 Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family aircraft powered by the industry-leading CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines, respectively.
“This is another vote of confidence from Delta,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM. “This airline was instrumental in the launch of our commercial product line, and it is highly gratifying that, more than 32 years later, Delta continues to select CFM engines to power its newest single-aisle aircraft.”
"We are proud to bring the industry's most reliable, cost-effective engines to Delta's fleet and support their continued efforts to improve the flying experience for their customers," said Doug Izarra, vice president of sales – Americas, for CFM International.
About CFM International
CFM56 engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE. CFM, the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines, has delivered more than 26,000 engines to date. The CFM56-5B engine powers every model of the Airbus A320 family and has been chosen to power nearly 60 percent of all A320 aircraft in service or on order.
