Representatives of Colorful Guizhou Airlines and CFM International sign the $1 billion agreement in Beijing. [Photo/gog.cn]

Southwest China's Guizhou province recently signed a $1 billion purchasing agreement for the LEAP-1A engine with France's CFM International in Beijing, which is the second time that Colorful Guizhou Airlines has cooperated with CFM.

The agreement includes the purchase of five LEAP-1A reserve engines and 40 LEAP-1A engines, as well as the maintenance services of 70 LEAP-1A engines. Colorful Guizhou Airlines was equipped with its first A320neo airplane this October, which carries the LEAP-1A engine produced by CFM.

A joint venture of General Electric Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, CFM produces the latest LEAP-1A engine for civil aircrafts, which can reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission by 15 percent, as well as lower the nitrogen oxide emission and noise levels.

To date, Colorful Guizhou Airlines has nine E190 airplanes and one A320neo airplane used on 30 air routes covering 31 cities. The purchasing agreement is expected to improve airlines' ability to meet the need of more passengers and attract more people to Guizhou.