CFM Engine Backlog Hits USD$180 Billion

February 5, 2016

CFM International's order backlog hit USD$180 billion last year as sales of fuel-efficient airliners rose despite low oil prices and weakening economies that have raised concern about an aviation slowdown.

CFM, a joint venture of General Electric and Safran, said its backlog rose to 13,400 engines, including 2,154 sales in 2015 valued at USD$27 billion.

The backlog of LEAP engines, which power Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft entering service this year and next, rose by 1,418 last year to total more than 10,000 units valued at USD$140 billion, the company said. CFM said it sold just under 600 engines last month.

Last year's sales were about half the number booked in 2014, but CFM said demand is holding up even though the rationale for fuel savings is undercut by low oil prices and signs that the aircraft business cycle is peaking.

Those issues have raised concern that Boeing and Airbus may have to curb single-aisle plane production. Boeing said last month it will slow 737 output this year, but both manufacturers plan to boost output sharply over the next few years.

"For CFM, life is good," chief executive Jean-Paul Ebanga said ahead of the Singapore Airshow, which begins February 16.

"Not only are we confident today, but we are confident in the future," he added, noting CFM is working closely with suppliers to ensure stable production and cost controls.

His comments came after the Geared Turbofan engine made by Pratt & Whitney, which competes with the LEAP, developed a problem. Pratt has said it expects the issue, which requires a three-minute cooling procedure before the engine can be restarted under some circumstances, to be fixed this month.

CFM officials said on Friday the LEAP restarts in 50 seconds per engine.

The Pratt issue delayed delivery of the first A320neo by several weeks. Pratt and Airbus said on Friday they are in talks with customers about A320neo delivery schedules.

Pratt's engine is available on the Airbus A320neo but not the 737 MAX.

CFM said it expects to build more than 140 LEAP engines and about 1,700 CFM56 engines this year. It confirmed it targets annual LEAP production of more than 2,000 by 2020.

(Reuters)