Libyan Airlines has reportedly become a new CFM International customer with the selection of CFM56-5B engines to power seven firm, five option Airbus A320 family aircraft.

The firm engine order is valued at approximately $US95 million and the airline is scheduled to begin taking delivery in mid-2010.

Libyan Airlines, founded in 1964 as the national flag carrier of Libya, operates scheduled passenger and cargo services within Libya and Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Libyan Airlines and Libya's other state carrier Afriqiyah Airways, have recently been grouped under Libyan African Aviation Holding Company, an organisation created to coordinate the development of the Libyan air transportation.

Capt Mohamed Ibsem, chief executive officer of Libyan Airlines said they were pleased to announce the selection of the highly reliable CFM56-5B/3 engines to power this new Airbus A320 order.

"This acquisition is part of a major fleet development plan that will allow Libyan Airlines to expand its market presence in the region while keeping our overall cost of ownership in check," he said.

On his part, Eric Bachelet, president and CEO of CFM International said they were honoured to welcome Libyan Airlines to the CFM family of operators. "This order demonstrates the airline's trust in the CFM56 engine and we look forward to a long relationship together," he said.

Libyan Airlines' new fleet of CFM56-5B engines will be the Tech Insertion configuration, which was introduced in September 2007.

To date, the fleet of over 800 engines in service worldwide has logged nearly two million flight hours and more than one million flight cycles without a single engine-related event.

Over the engine's life cycle, Tech Insertion will also provide operators with longer time on wing and will lower maintenance costs between five and 12 percent, depending on the thrust rating.

These benefits are achieved through improvements to the high-pressure compressor and the high- and low-pressure turbines.

CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.