On May 21, 2021, Indian low-cost air carrier IndiGo announced it had signed an agreement with CFM International to power its yet-to-be-delivered 310 Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321neo and Airbus A321XLR aircraft with CFM LEAP-1A engines.
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with CFM for our next batch of Airbus A320neo, A321neo and A321 XLR aircraft,” said Riyaz Peermohamed, Chief Aircraft Acquisition and Financing Officer of IndiGo. “The introduction of the CFM LEAP engines in our fleet will allow us to maintain our strong focus on lowering operating costs and delivering fuel efficiency with high standards of reliability.”
Currently, IndiGo is operating seven Airbus A320neos and 15 Airbus A321neo aircraft powered with LEAP-1A engines. The new deal would secure LEAP-1A engines and service agreements for its A320neo aircraft family to be delivered in 2023.
Previously in 2019, IndiGo had signed a deal with CFM to power its 280 Airbus A320neo aircraft with LEAP-1A engines. This new agreement would bring the total number of LEAP-powered aircraft to 590.
According to the Indian air carrier, the agreement with CFM would strengthen the airline’s network both domestically and internationally. “This expansion will serve as a catalyst to boost India’s economic growth and the mobility of its people,” CEO of IndiGo Ronojoy Dutta said.
IndiGo has a total of 250 aircraft in its fleet, planespotters.net data shows. The largest part of its fleet consists of Airbus-manufactured aircraft: Airbus A320 Family aircraft with 121 Airbus A320neos and 64 Airbus A320-200s as well as 41 Airbus A321neo aircraft. Adding to that, IndiGo operates 25 ATR-72 jets.