OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2012. UTair Aviation has chosen the CFM56-5B power plant produced by CFM International in a tender for engines to mount on 20 Airbus A321 aircraft. UTair signed for the delivery of the aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow held in July of this year. The engines are scheduled for delivery starting in 2013.

UTair and CFM International have also signed a long-term contract for MRO services for the engines according to airline specifications based on a flight hour price-guarantee.

The CFM56-5B is a modernized high-bypass turbofan version of the CFM56 and has been in serial production since 2011. The improved characteristics focus on fuel efficiency and diminished component outlay, improving the engine life cycle and simplifying maintenance. UTair has already equipped Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft in its fleet with engines of this type.

"We've selected the CFM56-5B engines after a detailed examination of all proposals in the tender because of robustness, fuel efficiency and overall cost parameters,"said UTair CEO Andrey Martirosov in a statement about the deal. "We're expecting deliveries of new aircraft equipped with these engines in 2013 and they will form a crucial addition to our fleet,"he said.

Jean-Paul Ebanga, President and Executive Director of CFM International also commented on the contract, saying, "we're proud that UTair has chosen the CFM56-5B for its new aircraft. We enjoy long-term relations with UTair and are pleased to render the airline all the technical advantages of this engine.”

CFM56-5B engines are manufactured by CFM International, a 50-50 joint venture between SNECMA (Safran group) and GE since 1974. More than half of the А320 aircraft in service today around the world are equipped with CFM56-5B engines.

UTair Aviation ranks among the top three Russian airlines. In 2011 UTair aircraft transported 6,750,425 passengers. In January-June 2012 UTair Group serviced 40.9% more passengers than for the same period of 2011. In 2012 the airline expects an increase in transport volumes up to 10 million passengers. The airline operates more than 200 fixed wing aircraft and performs flights to 110 destinations in Russia and aboard. The airline maintains its central hub at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, from which it performs 100 flights daily.