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Ryanair signs multi-billion-dollar CFM engine services MoU

European LCC Ryanair and CFM International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar engine material services agreement that will underpin Ryanair’s long-term engine maintenance strategy and planned entry into in-house engine MRO.

Under the agreement, CFM will support Ryanair’s engine maintenance programme as the airline prepares to open two dedicated engine MRO shops from 2029, designed to support a fleet approaching 2,000 Boeing 737 engines.

The move marks a significant shift in Ryanair’s maintenance model as it scales operations in line with its fleet growth ambitions.

The multi-year contract commits Ryanair to purchasing all engine spare parts directly from CFM, a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace.

The agreement is structured to support Ryanair’s expansion to 800 Boeing 737 family aircraft, powered by more than 2,000 CFM engines.

Coverage under the contract includes both existing and future CFM56-7B and LEAP-1B engines fitted across Ryanair’s Boeing 737 NG and MAX fleets. As part of its longer-term strategy, Ryanair expects to assume direct responsibility for engine maintenance from CFM once its two European engine MRO facilities become operational towards the end of the decade.

Ryanair’s group chief executive, Michael O’Leary, said: “For the last 30 years, CFM has been maintaining 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 partners CFM.

“Ryanair will place substantial orders for initial spare parts provisioning with CFM to support the opening of each of these two Ryanair engine maintenance facilities. When Ryanair takes over all its engine maintenance in-house, we expect this contract will be worth in excess of $1 billion annually to CFM in spare engines and spare parts supplies.”

O’Leary added: “This new spare parts 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 world’s largest packages of Boeing 737 engines too.”

Olivier Andriès, chief executive of Safran, said: “This new major milestone further strengthens the strategic relationship we have built with Ryanair over the past three decades, and we are proud to support their continued growth through this comprehensive MRO services offering.

“With the ongoing success of the CFM56 and the rapid growth of the LEAP fleet, we are investing to build a global MRO network within an open and competitive ecosystem to help our airline customers optimise fleet efficiency and control operational costs.”

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