One fleet type, one engine type... that's what US low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines announced Friday, as it selected the CFM56-5B engine to power the six new Airbus A320 family aircraft scheduled for delivery between 2008 and 2010. The engine order is valued at $75 million at list price.

CFM56-5B engines are produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma and General Electric Company. CFM boasts more than 15,600 engines in service, with more than 450 operators worldwide. The CFM56-5 has also been selected to power nearly 60 percent of the A320-series aircraft ordered to date.

Frontier Airlines is a long-time CFM customer, operating a fleet of 52 owned and leased CFM56-5B-powered A318 and A319 aircraft. As was reported in Aero-News, in addition to the new A320 orders, the airline has converted eight existing A319 aircraft orders to four additional A320s and four A318s.

"We're pleased to continue our long relationship with CFM International," said Jeff Potter, Frontier President and Chief Executive Officer. "Having one engine model power our entire fleet has... provided a distinct maintenance cost advantage, which is helping us keep our total cost of ownership low."

Currently in its 12th year of operations, Denver, CO-based Frontier Airlines operates routes linking its Denver hub to 54 destinations, including 47 destinations in 29 states spanning the nation from coast to coast and to seven cities in Mexico.

More than 2,100 CFM56-5B engines have been delivered to date, and the fleet is growing at a rate of about 30 engines per month. The CFM56-5B-powered A320 fleet currently in service has logged more than 24 million engine flight hours and 14 million cycles. The CFM56-5B is also the only engine that can power every model of the A320 family with one bill of materials.

FMI: www.frontierairlines.com, www.cfm56.com