Airbus CEO upbeat on new engine technology, but says jury still out

The head of European planemaker Airbus said novel open-rotor technology being tested by engine maker CFM International offers promising efficiencies and reductions in emissions but the "jury is out" on whether it will be commercially viable. CE Guillaume Faury also told reporters on the sidelines of the Global Aerospace Summit, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, that deliveries of the current generation of LEAP engines built by CFM International continue to be late. "They are late in their deliveries," he said. CFM had no immediate comment. In July, the world's largest planemaker issued a profit warning and lowered its target for airplane deliveries by 30 units to 770 aircraft, blaming supply chain problems with items including engines and cabin interiors and notably LEAP delays. Co-owned by GE Aerospace and France's Safran, CFM is the world's largest jet engine maker by volume of engines sold. Its LEAP engines power all Boeing 737 MAX jets and about half of the rival A320neos built by Airbus, where they compete for airline contracts with Pratt & Whitney. CFM, which this month celebrates its 50th anniversary, is testing a collection of technologies that could result in an open rotor engine whose main fan would be larger and more visible in order to grab more air and burn 20% less fuel.<br/>