Akasa Air has signed a spare engines and long-term services agreement with CFM International as part of its purchase of LEAP-1B engines to power its recently-announced 737 MAX aircraft.

The purchase and services agreement with CFM is valued at nearly US$4.5 billion at list price.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with CFM International as we embark on an exciting journey to launch the greenest, most affordable and most dependable airline in India,” said Akasa Air’s CEO Vinay Dube. “Our partnership with CFM will ensure that we adhere to the world’s highest standards of maintenance and deliver the industry’s best technical dispatch reliability.

“The LEAP-1B engine will support our tech-driven culture by enabling real-time engine monitoring and predictive maintenance planning. With this agreement, we now have the foundation to ensure the most competitive and reliable operations in our fast-growing market.”

CFM International’s executive vice president of sales and marketing Philippe Couteaux commented: “We are proud to develop a strong relationship with Akasa and play a key role in the launch of their operations by providing them with the industry-leading asset utilisation, fuel efficiency, and overall cost of ownership.

“On behalf of the entire team worldwide, it will be a great honour to help launch this new airline with the industry-leading support and reliability that has become a hallmark of CFM International.”