WEST CHESTER, Ohio - easyJet has announced an additional order with CFM International for 54 CFM56-5B engines to power the 27 Airbus A320 ceo (current engine option) aircraft scheduled to begin delivery between 2015 and 2018. The aircraft order was previously announced; the airline is exercising 27 existing purchase rights. CFM values the firm engine order at more than $560 million U.S. at list price.
All of easyJet's new engines will be the CFM56-5B Performance Improvement Package (PIP) configuration. The PIP became the new production configuration for the CFM56-5B in 2011. The improvements, which is providing a 0.5% improvement in fuel burn, include hardware changes to the core, including new high-pressure turbine blade, as well as manufacturing changes the fan and compressor blades and vanes to improve performance retention.