Delivering Certainty for a Growing LEAP Fleet
The rapid expansion of the global CFM International LEAP fleet is creating a new aftermarket challenge. As engines accumulate flight hours and repair demand increases, operators must consider whether their support network will have sufficient capacity to meet tomorrow’s requirements for all parts, LRUs included.
According to industry data, the number of LEAP engines in service is expected to more than double in the coming years. This will increase demand for not only engine shop capacity, but also for the repair of the critical LRUs.
“Listening to customers, the need is straightforward: greater resilience and less turnaround-time risk,” says Gerald Steinhoff, Chief Commercial Officer at HAECO. “But capacity alone is not enough. Customers need a partner with authorized capability, dependable performance and the confidence to plan.”
Recognizing this emerging challenge, HAECO is extending its existing engine and component expertise into LEAP LRU support, helping build the capacity needed before future bottlenecks emerge.
Capacity constraints lengthen turnaround times, increase pressure on spare holdings and make fleet planning less predictable. Access to additional authorized repair capacity strengthens operational resilience and reduces dependence on a limited number of locations.
These considerations are particularly relevant in Asia Pacific, one of the fastest-growing regions for LEAP-powered fleets. As operators around the world prepare for increasing repair demand, HAECO and Woodward have established a long-term strategic partnership to expand authorized repair capacity closer to customers and strengthen the global support network.
“Our commitment is to create certainty for customers,” Steinhoff says. “That means increasing choice, reducing exposure to bottlenecks and delivering predictable outcomes.”
HAECO is addressing these needs by establishing the first Woodward Elite Licensed Repair Service Facility capability in Asia Pacific, scheduled to open in phases beginning in 2027. Located in Hong Kong, it will leverage the city’s status as the busiest global air cargo hub to provide efficient logistics for global LEAP operators, while bringing support significantly closer to customers in Asia Pacific and Chinese Mainland.
“This new capability is built on our established engineering experience,” says George Edmunds, Group Director Component & Engine Services at HAECO. “Our Global Engine Support business already provides responsive engine services across an international network, while our GE90 T&M work demonstrates the technical discipline required for complex engine programs.”
HAECO’s entry into this LRU market offers operators greater flexibility. As an independent MRO, HAECO can support customers' preferred inventory and sourcing strategies rather than directing them towards an integrated asset solution.
Repairs will be supported by Woodward-approved processes, tooling, technical data and training, providing the technical control and consistency required for operators to plan with confidence. HAECO will deliver a full suite of MRO services for Woodward’s entire product portfolio of fuel control, engine actuation, and air management systems supporting the LEAP engine family.
“The license gives us the foundation. Our people deliver the outcome,” Edmunds says. “We're bringing decades of engine and component MRO experience and have a proven track record of delivering high-quality work on time.”
As LEAP fleets mature, operators will increasingly judge repair providers by more than technical capability. Network resilience, flexibility, controlled processes and consistent delivery will all matter. Together, they provide something increasingly valuable in a constrained aftermarket: certainty.