Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator, has ordered 240 CFM LEAP-1A engines to power its existing order of 120 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including brand new A321XLR.

Signed during the Dubai Airshow between senior executives from CFM and Air Arabia, the agreement includes a multi-year services agreement and spare engines.

The state-of-the-art LEAP-1A engines are set to propel Air Arabia’s existing order of Airbus A32-neo family aircraft, which is comprised of 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo and 20 A321XLR airplanes which are scheduled for delivery in 2025.

Air Arabia became a CFM customer in 2003 when the airline kicked off operations with a CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320.

The airline currently operates a total fleet of 71 Airbus A320ceo and A321 neo-LR aircraft.

Adel Al Ali, group chief executive of Air Arabia, said: “The efficiency and performance of the CFM engine will play a crucial role in supporting our fleet expansion strategy, which includes most efficient fuel consumption and minimising the environmental footprint.

“This investment underscores our unwavering commitment to achieving higher levels of operational efficiency, maintaining reliability, and actively contributing to a more sustainable aviation industry.

The LEAP engine family has the fastest accumulations of flight hours in commercial aviation history, amassing more than 40 million engine flight hours and 18 million flight cycles.

The advanced CFM LEAP engine family provides 15-20 per cent better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, as well as a significant improvement in noise compared to previous generation engines.

Since its entry into service in 2016, the LEAP engine has allowed CFM customers to save more than 28 million tons of CO2 (compared to the same flights powered by CFM56 engines).

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