Ryanair and CFM International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a long-term material services agreement covering the airline’s fleet of approximately 2,000 CFM56 and LEAP engines.
Announced by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary alongside Safran CEO Olivier Andriès, the deal will supply spare parts and repair services for two new engine MRO facilities Ryanair plans to establish in Europe from 2029. CFM will continue supporting both engine types until those shops become fully operational.
The agreement deepens a partnership stretching back to 1998. Ryanair currently operates Europe’s largest CFM56-powered fleet, with over 400 Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft. The airline also flies more than 200 LEAP-1B-powered Boeing 737 MAX 8s, with firm orders for 150 MAX 10 aircraft and options for 150 more.
Historically, CFM has maintained Ryanair’s engines under power-by-the-hour contracts. Under the new model, Ryanair will bring maintenance in-house while CFM provides initial spares provisioning for the new facilities. O’Leary described it as a multi-billion-dollar agreement, estimating that once Ryanair handles all engine work internally, the contract could exceed $1 billion annually in spare engines and parts.
“We are pleased to extend our long-term partnership with CFM,” O’Leary said. “For the last 30 years, CFM has maintained all our CFM56 engines, but from 2029 onwards, we expect to bring maintenance in-house with the help of our partner. We look forward to working closely with CFM, Safran, and GE to support one of the world’s largest commercial fleets.”
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, noted the agreement strengthens a three-decade relationship. “We are proud to support Ryanair’s continued growth through this comprehensive MRO offering,” he said, adding that CFM is investing in its global MRO network to help customers optimize efficiency and control costs.
GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO Lawrence Culp, Jr., emphasized the importance of supporting Ryanair’s capacity needs. “This MoU demonstrates our commitment to an open MRO ecosystem that supports growing demand while reducing cost of ownership,” he stated.
CFM’s LEAP engines, featuring composite fan blades and ceramic matrix composites, offer 15% better fuel efficiency and 15% lower CO2 emissions compared to CFM56 models. Backed by advanced health monitoring, they continue achieving mature reliability across narrowbody fleets.
