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CFM International engines are expected to drive the majority of engine events in Europe over the next decade.
Major MRO service events generated by European airline aircraft are expected to comprise 23% of the world’s total of 288,000 major events over the next 10 years, according to Aviation Week’s 2026 Commercial Fleet & MRO Forecast.
Notably, engine events are projected to outnumber airframe events in this market and total $180 billion in demand by 2035, dwarfing the $21.1 billion airframe heavy maintenance market. As the fleet transitions over time, some trends will remain predictable while new ones emerge.
Airbus aircraft—led by the A320 family—are forecast to account for most major MRO service events, resulting in spending that is nearly $20 billion more than on Boeing aircraft in the segment. However, on an aircraft model-level alone, the Boeing 737-800 NG still is expected to generate the most demand over the next 10 years, followed by the A320ceo and A321neo, respectively.
CFM International is forecast to remain the dominant creator of engine events in the period, with the CFM56-7B outpacing both the CFM56-5B and the up-and-coming Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM. As the backlog of engine durability issues (not noted in this data) is resolved in the near future for Pratt & Whitney and CFM, their latest-generation engines are projected to create demand for roughly 1,800 annual overhaul and life-limited parts (LLP) replacement events by 2035 but to be overtaken in the next few years by the venerable CFM56 family.
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