American Airlines May be Near $2.6 Billion Order for CFM Engines

American Airlines is said to be close to finalizing an order for 200 CFM International engines worth $2.6 billion, according to a report by Reuters. Reuters cites sources who say American Airlines will buy 200 of CFM's LEAP engines for placement in 100 Airbus A320neo jetliners on order. The deal would be a loss for United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney unit, which makes a competing turbofan engine also used on the A320neo. As the 100 A320neos are part of American's larger order for 460 Airbus and Boeing planes, it could mean more orders for CFM engines in the future. CFM's LEAP-1A engine is expected to be up to 15% more fuel efficient than the CFM engine used on current A320s.