Summary: American Airlines announced that it has selected CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines to equip future deliveries of its Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft. The engine maker, a joint venture owned by GE Aerospace and France’s Safran, will also continue to provide long-term maintenance support. The choice preserves engine commonality on the carrier’s A321neo fleet and follows a March 2024 order that included 85 A321neo jets as part of a 260-aircraft purchase.
In a formal confirmation on Thursday, the U.S. carrier said it will fit forthcoming A321neo deliveries with the CFM LEAP-1A. American’s March 2024 order covered 260 new aircraft in total, of which 85 were A321neos; the remaining aircraft in that order were designated for Boeing and Embraer. CFM International, the engine supplier selected, is a partnership between GE Aerospace and Safran.
The agreement also commits CFM to provide ongoing long-term maintenance support for the engines, the company and the airline said. American Airlines already operates A321neos powered by CFM LEAP engines, so the decision maintains the same engine family across that portion of its narrowbody fleet.
Airlines frequently prefer to standardize on one engine type within a given fleet segment because it reduces operational complexity and can lower costs. In that competitive supplier landscape, CFM International competes with Pratt & Whitney, which is a unit of RTX, to supply engines for Airbus narrowbody models.
Neither American Airlines nor CFM disclosed financial terms for the agreement. The companies limited their public comments to the engine selection, the continued maintenance arrangements and the context of the March 2024 aircraft order.
Context and implications
- American’s March 2024 aircraft purchase totaled 260 jets, including 85 Airbus A321neos, with the remainder allocated between Boeing and Embraer.
- CFM International is jointly owned by GE Aerospace and Safran and will supply LEAP-1A engines and long-term maintenance support for the A321neos covered by the agreement.
- The selection preserves engine commonality on American’s existing A321neo fleet, aligning new deliveries with the current propulsion configuration.
Key points
- Supplier selection - American chose CFM International’s LEAP-1A to power its upcoming A321neo deliveries.
- Order background - The choice follows a March 2024 order for 260 aircraft, which included 85 A321neos; the remainder was split between Boeing and Embraer.
- Operational impact - Maintaining a single engine family across the A321neo sub-fleet simplifies operations and supports cost efficiency.
Risks and uncertainties
- Financial opacity - The firms did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement, leaving commercial and financial details unspecified.
- Competitive dynamics - CFM International competes directly with Pratt & Whitney, a unit of RTX, for narrowbody engine supply, indicating continued supplier competition for future Airbus work.
- Concentration considerations - While engine commonality simplifies operations and lowers costs, it also concentrates a sub-fleet’s reliance on a single engine supplier, which can create dependencies tied to that supplier’s performance and support.
All factual elements in this article are drawn from the announcement concerning the engine selection, the March 2024 aircraft order composition, and the statements that CFM will provide long-term maintenance support. No financial terms were disclosed by the parties.