Turkish Airlines and CFM sign MOU for more than 600 LEAP-1B engines

Turkish Airlines and CFM International signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purchase of more than 300 LEAP-1B engines, including spares, to power 100 firm and 50 option Boeing 737 MAX aircraft announced in September 23. The long-term services agreement will cover airline’s entire LEAP-1B engine fleet, including previously ordered and delivered engines, spares, and engines associated with leased aircraft and potential options. Together, these represent more than 600 LEAP-1B engines operated by Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary AJet. It also includes a material services agreement to support the establishment of an engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Türkiye. As Türkiye’s flag carrier, Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet of 96 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft with CFM56-7B engines (including Ajet Fleet), as well as 79 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft powered by LEAP-1B (including AJet fleet). Commenting on the agreement, Prof. Murat Şeker, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, stated: “This new step with CFM will support our growing fleet, network, and the operational efficiency. We are also pleased to strengthen our partnership with CFM through a comprehensive set of services, providing the expertise, reliability, and long-term support needed to develop our LEAP MRO capabilities alongside a long-standing partner.” Turkish Technic CEO and Board Member, Mikail Akbulut said: “With this agreement, we will be able to provide comprehensive maintenance operations for the LEAP engine. As Turkish Technic, we will continue to invest in engine maintenance services as well as our aircraft and component maintenance capabilities in line with our strategy.” Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, said: “This MoU marks a new milestone in our successful relationship with Turkish Airlines, a trusted partner for nearly four decades. It reflects our shared ambition to support the airline’s continued growth and fleet expansion. The MoU demonstrates our broader commitment to an open MRO ecosystem, which provides airlines with flexibility and competitive services to improve operational performance and manage costs effectively.” Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace, said: “We are proud to partner with Turkish Airlines as it continues flying to the most countries in the world. Putting its trust in CFM to provide highly reliable and efficient engines to support the growth of its Istanbul network and engine MRO capabilities is a responsibility we take seriously. We look forward to building on our proven partnership with this next chapter.” In the 10 years since LEAP engines entered service, CFM has delivered more than 10,000 engines that have accumulated over 100 million flight hours. CFM continues to upgrade the LEAP fleet with a high-pressure turbine (HPT) durability kit to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system (RBS). The company is focused on delivering high engine availability through exceptional MRO performance and competitive cost of ownership, with the benefits of aftermarket competition through its open MRO ecosystem. Embraer and Portugália Airlines sign component deal Embraer and Portugália Airlines have signed a Component Pool Program agreement to support the 19 E-Jets fleet operating regional routes. Embraer’s Pool Program will deliver comprehensive component support for twelve E-190 and seven E-195, helping optimize aircraft availability as the airline expands its operations. The Pool Program covers more than 300 aircraft components across multiple systems of the E-Jets and includes advanced exchange services, repair and overhaul solutions. “Following a brief experience with an alternative supplier, after some decades being served by Embraer through its Component Pool Program that we helped to set up during the launch of the Embraer ERJ145, it felt right to return to this Program that always served our needs and helped us grow. More than the Program itself is the Embraer team behind it with whom we relate in a fantastic way. A big thank to Embraer for the flexibility and true partnership during this transition process accommodating all our requirements,” says Mário Lobato de Faria, Portugália Airlines Managing Director. “We are proud to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with Portugália Airlines through this Component Pool Program agreement. Their continued confidence in our solutions is a testament to the value it delivers to operators worldwide. We look forward to support Portugália Airlines and its E-Jets fleet as it connects communities across its network,” says Carlos Naufel, President and CEO, Embraer Services & Support. Embraer’s Pool Program offers comprehensive component support to airlines worldwide, leveraging the company’s technical expertise and extensive services network. The program delivers significant savings and economies in component repair and inventory holding costs, reduces warehousing needs, and operates within a framework of guaranteed performance levels. Embraer Services & Support provides a wide range of customized solutions designed to enhance aftersales experience and support the growing global fleet of Embraer aircraft. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]