Malindo Air becomes world’s first airline to operate LEAP-1B engines

• Currently operates 26 CFM56—7B-powered 737 aircraft
  
   

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — 23 May 2017 — Malindo Air became the world’s first airline to introduce CFM International’s LEAP-1B engine into commercial service powering a Boeing 737 MAX 8 on its inaugural flight OD803 from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on May 22.  The airline ordered a total of eight 737 MAX aircraft.

Chandran Rama Muthy, Malindo Air’s CEO said, “We are thrilled to be the world’s first airline to take delivery and operate the LEAP-1B-powered 737 MAX 8.  The Boeing 737NG fleet has served Malindo well in its growth and we believe that the 737 MAX aircraft will become the center piece of our fleet.  These new aircraft offer lower operating costs with better fuel efficiency due to its new LEAP-1B engines and aerodynamic improvements will allow us to go to further destinations and will play a key role in providing lower air fares to our customers.”

"We are honored to share this important milestone with Malindo Air,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International.  “This airline has achieved some remarkable things in just four short years and we can’t wait to see what comes next.  It is exciting to a part of history with one of Asia’s fastest-growing airline.”

The LEAP-1B is on track to provide operators with a 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to the CFM56-7B engines in service today, along with dramatic reductions in engine noise and exhaust gaseous emissions.  All this technology is focused on providing better utilization, including CFM’s legendary reliability out of the box; greater asset availability; enhanced time on wing margins to help keep maintenance costs low; and minimized maintenance actions, all supported by sophisticated analytics that enable CFM to provide tailored, predictive maintenance over the life of the product.