ISTANBUL- Turkish Airlines (TK) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CFM International for more than 300 aircraft engines and long-term maintenance services covering a fleet of over 600 engines. The agreement supports the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX expansion and includes plans to develop engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Türkiye.
The agreement follows Turkish Airlines’ order announced in late September for up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, comprising 100 firm orders and 50 options. The new engines, including spare units, will power these aircraft, while the service package will cover the LEAP-1B engines operated by Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary AJet (VF), including engines already delivered, previously ordered, installed on leased aircraft, and associated with potential future options.
Turkish Airlines CFM Engine Order
The agreement covers more than 300 LEAP-1B engines, including spare engines intended to support Turkish Airlines’ planned Boeing 737 MAX deliveries. The long-term service arrangement extends beyond the newly purchased engines, covering the airline’s wider LEAP-1B fleet and that of AJet.
This broader coverage will allow the airline group to coordinate engine maintenance as its narrowbody operations expand. It also includes engines powering leased aircraft, giving the agreement a wider scope than a conventional purchase tied only to newly delivered aircraft.
Turkish Airlines currently operates 79 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft equipped with LEAP-1B engines, alongside 96 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft powered by CFM56-7B engines.
These figures include the airline’s existing fleet, while the new aircraft order would provide additional capacity as deliveries progress.
The agreement was signed in Istanbul by Turkish Airlines Chairman Murat Seker, Turkish Technic CEO Mikail Akbulut and Safran CEO Olivier Andries. CFM International is jointly owned by GE Aerospace and Safran, making the deal significant for both companies’ long-term engine services business.
Türkiye Engine MRO Expansion
A key part of the memorandum is a material services agreement supporting the establishment of a LEAP engine maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Türkiye. The initiative would expand Turkish Technic’s capabilities beyond its established aircraft and component maintenance operations.
Akbulut said Turkish Technic would develop comprehensive LEAP engine maintenance services while continuing investments across its existing technical operations.
The planned facility could strengthen the airline group’s ability to support its growing fleet, although the companies have not specified a location, opening date or investment value in the announcement.
Turkish Airlines Chairman Seker said the agreement would support fleet and network expansion while improving operational efficiency. He also highlighted the importance of technical expertise, reliability and long-term support as the airline develops its engine maintenance capabilities.
Andries described the agreement as another milestone in a partnership spanning nearly four decades. GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr. also said the cooperation would support the expansion of Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul-based network and the development of its maintenance capabilities.
LEAP Engine Fleet Growth
The agreement builds on the wider adoption of CFM’s LEAP engine family across commercial aviation. CFM International reported that it had delivered more than 10,000 LEAP engines since the family entered service a decade ago, with the fleet accumulating over 100 million flight hours.
For Turkish Airlines, securing long-term engine support alongside its aircraft expansion could help coordinate maintenance requirements as its Boeing 737 MAX fleet grows.
The inclusion of AJet also brings the subsidiary’s LEAP-1B engines into the service arrangement, providing a common framework across the group’s operations, AA flagged.
The planned MRO development in Türkiye adds an industrial dimension to the agreement. Alongside engine procurement and long-term services, the initiative aims to strengthen local technical capabilities as Turkish Airlines expands its fleet and international network.
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