| |
• Expands CFM- powered fleet to 62 aircraft;
• Improves overall operating cost with 15 percent gains in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.
With these new engines, the Portugal's leading airline will improve its overall operating cost, as well as its operational reliability.
The aircraft order, scheduled to begin deliver in the third quarter of 2018, was announced in November 2015.
"The success of our relationship with CFM International is demonstrated by the length of our partnership," said Fernando Pinto, chief executive officer of TAP Portugal. "For more than 25 years, CFM has, provided high quality, reliable engines and good support for our fleet. We expect nothing less from the LEAP engine and look forward to introducing it into our fleet."
"TAP has been a great customer for a very long time and we couldn't be more proud of their decision to trust us with their future single-aisle fleet," said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM International. "The LEAP engine is a phenomenal product and we are confident that it will prove to be an important element in TAP's long-term growth strategy."
TAP Portugal, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2015, has been a CFM customer since 1990 and currently operates a fleet of 43 CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A319/A320/A321ceo aircraft and four long-range, four engine A340 aircraft powered by CFM56-5C engines.
The LEAP-1A engine powered the first flight of the Airbus A321neo in February 2016. The engine is on track for entry into service in mid-2016 on the initial A320neo and will provide operators with a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, with an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions; a 50 percent margin to new emissions regulations; a dramatically lower noise signature; and CFM's industry-leading reliability and low overall operating cost
About TAP Portugal
TAP (toflytap.com) is Portugal's leading airline, and member of Star Alliance, the global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach, since 2005. In operation since 1945, TAP celebrated 70 years on March 14, 2015, and completed its privatization process in 2015, with the Atlantic Gateway Group now as new private shareholders of its share capital. The TAP hub in Lisbon is a key European gateway at the crossroads of Africa, North, Central and South America, where TAP stands out as the international leading carrier in operation to Brazil. During the current IATA Summer period, the company's network will comprise 76 destinations in 29 countries worldwide. TAP currently operates about 2,500 weekly flights on average with a modern fleet of 63 Airbus aircraft and 17 aircraft operating in TAP Express livery, TAP regionally branded product, adding up to a 80 aircraft fleet in the whole.
Recognized and awarded as the Europe's Leading Airline to Africa as well as Europe's Leading Airline to South America by the World Travel Awards in 2015 and 2014, the company was also awarded as the WTA World's Leading Airline to Africa in 2011 and 2012 and the WTA World's Leading Airline to South America in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Voted Best Airline in Europe in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and again in 2015 by the Global Traveler, USA, the company was also honored by UNESCO and by the International Union of Geological Sciences with the IYPE "Planet Earth Award 2010", in the category of "Most Innovative Sustainable Product". TAP was also voted Best Airline by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine in 2010, Best Portuguese Tourism Company by the specialized magazine Marketer, in 2011 and also the airline with Best Reputation by the Reputation Institute in 2014, while its Inflight Magazine UP was voted Best European Inflight Magazine by the WTA awards in 2015.
About CFM International
The LEAP engine is a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines. This engine has experienced the fastest order ramp up in commercial aviation history and CFM has received orders for a total of more than 10,800 LEAP engines across all three models through June 2016.
Contacts:
Jamie Jewell
P: +1 513-552-2790 / M: 513-.885-2282
E: jamie.jewell[.]ge.com.
Rick Kennedy
P: +1 513-243-3372 / M: 513-607-0609
E: rick.l.kennedy[.]ge.com.
|
giulia.lecarrie[.]snecma.fr 
