Australian domestic carrier Virgin Blue has placed a firm order for 50 CFM56-7B-powered Boeing 737 airplanes as part of a new fleet agreement comprising 50 Next-Generation aircraft, with a further 25 option aircraft, as well as securing 30 additional future purchase rights. The firm engine order is valued at approximately $700 million at list price.
Virgin Blue, which already has a fleet of 83 aircraft, has been a CFM customer since its official launch in August 2000. The airline is scheduled to begin taking delivery of the new aircraft in mid-2011, and all the CFM56-7B engines will be the CFM56-7BE configuration.
