CFM International is growing confident of securing a further batch of orders over the next two months, raising its projected order forecast for 2004 to around 600 engines, or around 100 more than expected year-end tally it announced in July.
"Orders that we were anticipating for early 2005 may come a bit earlier and we may be closer to 600 by the end of the year - or at least in that ballpark," says CFMI president Pierre Fabre. A total of 412 firm engine orders have been booked this year so far.
Up to September, CFMI claims to power 1,654, or 51%, of the 3,256 Airbus A320 family aircraft ordered, and says the CFM56 powers 1,344, or 59%, of the 2,272 aircraft delivered. Of the backlog of 984 on firm order, it claims 310, or 32%, against International Aero Engines' 324 orders, or 33%. Of the balance, 30 aircraft are still allotted to the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 while 320 are classed as "open".
Deliveries are also expected to begin rising in 2005.
Source: Flight International
