Frontier Airlines Places $60 Million CFM56-5B
Engine Order To Power Airbus A318s
EVENDALE, Ohio--March 21, 2002--Frontier Airlines (Nasdaq: FRNT)
today announced that it has placed a $60 million order for CFM56-5B/P
engines to power five firm Airbus A318 and two firm A319 aircraft.
Frontier will receive its first A319 aircraft in December, with A318
deliveries beginning in July 2003. The order also includes options for
five additional CFM56-5B/P-powered A318s.
The CFM56-5B is a member of the CFM56 engine family produced by
CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs of
France and General Electric Company of the United States. With nearly
13,000 engines in service, CFM is the world's leading aircraft engine
supplier.
We're very pleased to extend our relationship with Frontier,
said Pierre Fabre, president and chief executive officer of CFM
International. As the only engine that can power every model of the
A320 family with one bill of materials, the CFM56-5B provides airlines
a distinct commonality advantage, in addition to the lowest cost of
operation on these applications.
Frontier Airlines' current fleet of 30 aircraft includes 17
CFM56-3-powered Boeing 737-300 jets and six CFM56-5-powered Airbus 319
jets.
Airbus recently confirmed that the CFM56-5B will be the first
engine in service on the new A318. The engine is on schedule for
certification in the 2nd quarter of 2002 and will begin flight tests
on the A318 later this year. The first CFM56-5-powered A318 will be
delivered to Air France in the third quarter of 2003.
In addition to the Frontier and Air France orders (15 firm, 10
option), GE Capital Aviation Services also has 30 CFM56-5B-powered
A318s on order.
The CFM56-5 continues to be the engine of choice for the Airbus
A320 family, having been selected to power 55 percent of all
A318/A319/A320/A321 aircraft ordered to date.
--30--rc/ny*
CONTACT: Rick Kennedy / Christian Flathman 513.243.5805
Vincent Chappard 33.1.40.60.80.18
www.cfm56.com