Aviation

SpiceJet inks $12.5 bn deal with CFM International for engines

New Delhi, March 10 : Low-cost public carrier SpiceJet on Saturday said it has signed a $12.5 billion deal with CFM International to purchase ‘LEAP-1B’ engines for 155 units of Boeing ‘737 MAX’ airplanes, along with spare engines to support the fleet.

CFM International is an aircraft engine developer, with 50:50 ownership of US-based General Electric and France-based Safran Aircraft Engines.

SpiceJet inks $12.5 bn deal with Safran for aircraft engines

“The airline also signed a 10-year rate per flight hour (RPFH) agreement with CFM Services that covers all LEAP-1B engines powering SpiceJet’s 737 MAX airplanes,” SpiceJet said in statement here.

Under the RPFH agreement, CFM International guarantees maintenance costs for all SpiceJet’s LEAP-1B engines on a pay by hour basis, it said.

“We are looking forward to introducing the new LEAP-1B into our fleet,” said Ajay Singh, SpiceJet’s Chairman and Managing Director, adding that LEAP-1B is living up to its promises for efficiency and reliability.

Dailyworld

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.