Ryanair and CFM International (CFM) have signed an MoU for a long-term material services agreement to support Ryanair’s entire fleet of approximately 2,000 CFM56 and LEAP engines powering its Boeing 737 aircraft.
The MoU, announced by Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, and Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, one of CFM’s two parent companies, covers the supply of spare parts and component repairs from CFM for two new engine MRO facilities that Ryanair plans to establish in Europe from 2029. CFM will also provide interim support through a services agreement for both CFM56 and LEAP engines until Ryanair’s MRO sites become fully operational.
The agreement marks a new milestone in the long-standing partnership between Ryanair and CFM, which dates back to 1998. Ryanair operates the world’s largest fleet of CFM-powered Boeing aircraft and Europe’s largest fleet of CFM56 engines, powering more than 400 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. The airline currently has more than 200 LEAP-1B-powered Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in service and has placed an order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, with a further 150 options.
Michael O’Leary said: “We are pleased to extend our long-term partnership with CFM through this multi-billion-dollar spares support agreement. For the last 30 years, CFM has maintained all of Ryanair’s CFM56 engines under a long-term ‘power by the hour’ contract. However, from 2029 onwards, Ryanair expects to bring the maintenance of its engines in-house, and we are pleased to do so with the help and support of our partner CFM. Ryanair will place substantial initial spare parts orders with CFM to support the opening of each of these two engine maintenance facilities. Once Ryanair brings all engine maintenance in-house, we expect this contract to be worth in excess of US$1bn annually to CFM in spare engines and spare parts supply. This new agreement extends our 30-year partnership with CFM, and we look forward to working closely with CFM, Safran and GE to support what will be one of the world’s largest commercial aircraft fleets and one of the largest Boeing 737 engine portfolios globally.”
