Ethiopian Airlines and CFM International mark 10 years of strong partnership

• Operates more than 40 CFM56 engines
• Will introduce LEAP-1B in 2014

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 2014-11-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Ethiopian Airlines and CFM International today celebrated 10 years of strong partnership.

The Ethiopian flag carrier has been a CFM customer since it began operating CFM56-7B-powered Boeing 737-700 aircraft in 2003. Today, the airline operates a fleet of CFM56-7B-powered Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, with three additional aircraft on order. Earlier this year, the airplane also announced an order for LEAP-1B engines to power 20 firm, 15 option Boeing 737 MAX aircraft scheduled to begin delivery in 2018.

“It is an honor to be here today representing the CFM team as we celebrate our relationship with this fantastic airline,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM International. “Ethiopian has worked hard to hear its much-deserved reputation for quality. The airline continues to maintain some of the best fleet reliability statistics in the industry and, in 2013, overhauled its first CFM56-7B engine. We are honored to work hand-in-glove with the team to support their 737 fleet today and look forward to introducing the new LEAP engine into this fleet in a few years.”

“We are very happy to celebrate this 10 years milestone between Ethiopian and CFM partnership. I wish to thank the entire CFM team, management and employees, for the strong support they continue to give us. We have invested about 21million $ to develop the CFM engine overhaul capacity, not just for our fleet but also for those of other African airlines with the view of becoming a preferred CFM engine service facility in the continent. With Ethiopian registering fast, profitable and sustainable growth in line with its Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, we look forward to many more years of mutually beneficial partnership.” , said Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam, Ethiopian Chief Executive Officer.

Ethiopian, the largest airline in Africa, currently serves more than 83 destinations across five continents with a current fleet of more than 50 Boeing airplanes that includes Next-Generation 737s, 757s, 767s, 777s, 787 Dreamliners and a cargo fleet that includes 757 and 777 Freighters and MD-11s.

About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines, a global Pan-African carrier with 67 years history, is currently the largest airline in Africa by revenue generating 2.4 billion US $ in 2014 and profit. The airline operates to 5 continents, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Asia, serving 83 international and 20 domestic destinations. It has the largest network in Africa with 49 destinations and the youngest fleet on the continent, such as B777s and B787s, with an average age of 7 years. Ethiopian, a technology leader in Africa, is the first outside Japan to receive and operate the B787 in 2012, and is a member of the largest global airline alliance, Star Alliance.

About CFM International
CFM56 engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE. CFM, the world’s leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines, has delivered more than 27,000 engines to date. For more information concerning CFM, visit us on the Web at www.cfmaeroengines.com or follow us on Twitter @CFM engines.

For more information, contact:

CFM International
Jamie Jewell
Tell: 513.552.2790
Mobil: 513.885.2282
Email: jamie.jewell@ge.com

Rick Kennedy
Tell: 513.243.3372
Mobil: 513.607.0609
Email: rick.l.kennedy@ge.com

Giulia Lecarrié
Tell: 33.1.69.87.09.29
Mobil: 33.6.42.40.17.19
Email: giulia.lecarrie@snecma.fr

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