FARNBOROUGH, England—AFI KLM E&M and lessor AerCap have formalized plans to establish a CFM International Leap leasing joint venture to ease asset availability constraints as the global fleet of aircraft powered by the engine family continues to expand.
Building on a memorandum of understanding signed by both parties at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, the 50-50 JV will provide spare engine support to AFI KLM E&M customers operating Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft equipped with Leap engines. In total, AFI KLM E&M’s customer base numbers almost 3,000 aircraft operated by around 200 major airlines worldwide.
The first phase of the agreement will see the two companies jointly acquire some 40 new CFM Leap-1A and Leap-1B spare engines. The initial four engines are expected to enter the jointly owned and managed leasing pool in early 2027, giving operators additional access to replacement assets while their engines are undergoing maintenance. Further deliveries are expected through to 2032, subject to necessary regulatory approvals.
“The signing of this agreement to establish a joint venture with AerCap amounts to a significant strategic move in addressing the changing needs of the Leap engine market,” said Anne Brachet, executive vice president of AFI-KLM E&M.
Tom Slattery, AerCap Engines' executive vice president, added, “Together, we will provide reliable and flexible engine support solutions to AFI KLM E&M customers operating Leap-powered aircraft worldwide, guaranteeing they have access to critical spare capacity as Leap-powered fleets continue to expand.”
According to Aviation Week’s Fleet & MRO Forecast data, the future fleet growth for aircraft powered by Leap 1A and 1B engine variants is expected to grow at a 12.9% compound annual growth rate from this year through to 2035. MRO demand is anticipated to be strong, with the same forecast predicting a spend of $267.3 billion during that same 10-year period.
Since gaining Leap MRO approval, AFI KLM E&M has worked to fully industrialize maintenance for both the -1A and -1B at its engine shops in Paris and Amsterdam. Both facilities are now equipped to perform full performance restoration shop visits and test both engine variants. CRMA, the company’s Paris-based engine parts repair subsidiary, has also ramped up its capability to perform combustor repairs on both Leap models.
Earlier this year, Roy de Vries, AFI KLM E&M’s director of engines product, network and industrial development, told Aviation Week that the company is prioritizing the acceleration of piece-part repairs on the engine, instead of relying heavily on expensive part replacement.
Related Content
