IndiGo and CFM sign MoU for record 1,000+ LEAP-1A engine order at Farnborough

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CFM International for more than 1,000 LEAP-1A engines to power 510 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, marking the largest single engine order CFM has ever received. 

The agreement was announced July 20, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Beyond the engine order itself, the MoU also covers CFM’s support in setting up an engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility for IndiGo, along with a long-term materials services agreement covering spare parts supply, meant to keep dispatch reliability high and costs predictable as the airline continues to grow.

A decade-long partnership deepens

Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer Designate of IndiGo, said the agreement extends a long-standing relationship with CFM as the airline works toward becoming a truly global carrier. Walsh pointed to CFM’s role as a trusted partner since 2016, supporting a fleet that now numbers more than 375 A320 and A321 family aircraft, and said the LEAP engine’s proven reliability makes it well suited to support IndiGo’s scale and sustainability goals.

IndiGo’s relationship with CFM, a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, dates back to 2016, when the airline operated Airbus A320ceo aircraft powered by CFM56-5B engines. That relationship deepened in 2019, when IndiGo began ordering LEAP-1A engines for its newer A320neo and A321neo fleet.

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace, said the company was honored to renew IndiGo’s trust after a decade of partnership, noting that LEAP engines are now delivering up to twice the time on wing in hot and harsh operating conditions compared to when they first entered service, while maintaining their fuel efficiency and reliability. 

He added that GE Aerospace, which has supported India’s aviation sector for more than 40 years, continues to build out its presence in the country through manufacturing in Pune and engineering work in Bengaluru.

India’s growing role in CFM’s global business

India represents CFM’s third-largest market, with five Indian carriers currently operating more than 400 LEAP-powered aircraft and roughly 2,000 additional engines on order.

Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, called the agreement a reflection of the long-standing trust between IndiGo and CFM, and said India’s importance as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets is driving continued investment in the country, particularly in LEAP engine production and maintenance capabilities. Safran opened its largest LEAP maintenance center last year, a 45,000-square-meter facility expected to eventually handle 300 shop visits annually, equipped with a next-generation test bench.

A fast-growing engine program

CFM has delivered more than 10,000 LEAP engines to date, a pace the company describes as the fastest ramp-up in commercial aviation history. The engine maker continues to roll out upgrades to the LEAP fleet, including a high-pressure turbine durability kit designed to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system meant to ease maintenance demands for airlines.

For IndiGo, which currently operates more than 430 aircraft across roughly 2,200 daily flights to over 140 domestic and international destinations, the new engine order supports continued expansion as the carrier works to scale its operations both within India and internationally.The post IndiGo and CFM sign MoU for record 1,000+ LEAP-1A engine order at Farnborough appeared first on AeroTime.

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