FTAI Aviation (FTAI) has announced a multi-year maintenance, repair and exchange (MRE) agreement with United Airlines (United), one of the largest CFM56-7B operators. Under the agreement, FTAI will provide engine exchanges in place of traditional shop visits. The partnership, which began with United’s V2500-powered fleet, now covers selected CFM56-7B engines, with scope for the programme to expand over the agreement’s term.
Under the MRE programme, FTAI supplies a serviceable engine ahead of each scheduled United engine removal, then purchases the unserviceable engine, saving the airline the cost and downtime of a traditional shop visit. FTAI adds the acquired engines to its inventory for use across its MRO network. Launched with an initial group of engines in 2026, the programme will expand as further engines become due for removal, with both companies coordinating deliveries around United’s removal schedule.
“United is one of the most respected operators in our industry, and its decision to adopt FTAI’s engine exchange program is a meaningful endorsement,” praised Joe Adams, Chairman and CEO of FTAI. “This agreement allows United to keep its aircraft flying and its maintenance costs predictable, while FTAI takes on the shop visit. We are honored to be selected by an operator of United’s caliber.”
“This is an important step forward in our maintenance program for our Boeing 737 NG aircraft,” said United Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mike Leskinen. “This growing relationship will help us improve utilization for this important part of our fleet as we fly more customers to more destinations.”
This announcement follows last week’s acquisition by FTAI Aviation of 27 Boeing 737-700 aircraft from Canadian airline WestJet, marking one of the company’s largest aircraft transactions to date.
