Author name: Aviation World

Published on 20th July 2026 Landmark deal includes creation of MRO capabilities for IndiGo’s growing fleet FARNBOROUGH – 20 July 2026 IndiGo, India’s largest airline and one of the world’s fastest-growing carriers, today announced it has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with CFM International for an order of 1,000+ LEAP-1A engines to power 510 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. This will be the largest single order ever placed for LEAP engines and a record for CFM International. The MoU also includes CFM’s extensive support in establishing IndiGo’s upcoming engine MRO facility (maintenance, repair and overhaul) and support IndiGo’s rapidly growing fleet through long term material services agreement, including supply of spare parts, ensuring high dispatch reliability, predictable costs, and world-class support as the airline further scales its operations. On this occasion, Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer Designate, IndiGo said, “As IndiGo embarks on its next phase of growth towards becoming a truly global airline, we are delighted to extend our long-standing partnership with CFM International for the engines powering future deliveries of our Airbus A320/321neo Family aircraft fleet. CFM has been a trusted partner in our growth journey since 2016, supporting a fleet that now exceeds 375 A320/321 Family aircraft. The LEAP engine’s industry-leading proven reliability makes it the ideal choice to support our scale, operational resilience and sustainability ambitions. This partnership reinforces our commitment to providing safe, reliable and efficient travel across an ever-expanding network in India and around the world.” IndiGo has been a valued CFM customer for 10 years. In 2016, the airline operated a sub-fleet of Airbus A320ceo Family aircraft powered by CFM56-5B engines. In 2019, IndiGo deepened its relationship with CFM, ordering LEAP-1A engines for their newest fleet of Airbus A320/321neo Family aircraft. “IndiGo has trusted CFM to support its performance for a decade now, and we’re honored to renew that trust with today’s agreement. LEAP engines are delivering up to twice the time on wing in hot and harsh operating environments than when they entered service, while continuing to provide fuel efficiency and reliability,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at GE Aerospace. “As we continue to strengthen the program to best serve our customers, GE Aerospace is also proud to build on more than 40 years of support for India’s aviation sector. With a strong installed base, manufacturing in Pune, a broad local supplier network, and advanced engineering in Bengaluru, we remain committed to supporting IndiGo’s growth and expanding our presence in India.” CFM has a long-standing footprint on the Indian subcontinent, as India is CFM’s third-largest market, with five Indian carriers operating more than 400 LEAP-powered aircraft and 2,000 engines on order. “This historic milestone reflects the long-standing partnership between IndiGo and CFM. It underscores the trust that airlines place in the performance and value delivered by the LEAP engine”, said Olivier Andriès, Chief Executive Officer of Safran. “As one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, India is of strategic importance to Safran. Through our continued investments in the country, particularly in LEAP engine production and MRO capabilities, we are strengthening our long-term commitment to supporting IndiGo’s remarkable growth and to contributing to the development of Indian aerospace industry.” Last year, Safran inaugurated its largest MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) center for the LEAP engine. The 45,000-square-meter facility will ramp up to a capacity of 300 LEAP shop visits a year and boast a next-generation test bench. With more than 10,000 engines delivered to date, CFM LEAP engines have experienced the fastest ramp in commercial aviation history. CFM continues to upgrade the LEAP fleet with a high-pressure turbine (HPT) durability kit to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system (RBS) to lower airline maintenance burden. The company is focused on delivering high engine availability through exceptional MRO performance and competitive cost of ownership, with the benefits of aftermarket competition through its open MRO ecosystem.

Farnborough, United Kingdom (July 20, 2026) De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (“De Havilland Canada”) today announced that Widerøe, Scandinavia’s largest regional airline, has signed an agreement to implement De Havilland Canada’s new Dash 8-400 A-Check Escalation Program across its fleet of 17 aircraft. Under the agreement, Widerøe will become the first Dash 8-400 operator to adopt the new maintenance program, which extends the interval between scheduled A-Checks from 800 to 1,200 flight hours. By reducing the number of routine maintenance inspections required, the program allows aircraft to spend more time in service while maintaining the highest standards of safety and airworthiness. Implementation of the program is now underway and is expected to be completed over the next 12 months. The longer maintenance interval will help Widerøe reduce aircraft downtime, increase fleet availability, and lower the labour and material costs associated with scheduled maintenance. “We’re continually looking for ways to help our customers improve fleet performance,” said Rob Mobilio, Chief Commercial Officer for De Havilland Canada. “This new program will reduce maintenance costs and allow operators to spend less time in the hangar and more time in the air, while maintaining the high safety and reliability standards the Dash 8 is known for. We’re pleased that Widerøe is leading the way as our launch customer.” De Havilland Canada’s confidence in the program builds on its longstanding relationship with Widerøe. In 2021, the two companies successfully introduced similar maintenance interval extensions for Widerøe’s Dash 8-100, -200 and -300 aircraft, increasing the time between both A-Checks and C-Checks while maintaining the same high standards of safety and reliability. “We’re pleased to continue working with De Havilland Canada to improve the efficiency of our Dash 8 fleet,” said Werner Skaue, Director of Aircraft Trading for Widerøe. “Extending the time between scheduled maintenance will help us keep more aircraft in service while continuing to deliver the safe, reliable operation our passengers expect.” The agreement reflects De Havilland Canada’s ongoing commitment to developing practical maintenance solutions that help operators improve fleet availability, reduce operating costs, and maximize the value of their Dash 8 aircraft.

FARNBOROUGH, England – July 20, 2026 CFM International and BOC Aviation Limited have finalized a firm order for up to 200 LEAP-1A and 100 LEAP-1B engines to power Airbus A320neo family and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that BOC Aviation had previously ordered. CFM engines have powered part of BOC Aviation’s fleet since 1998. The Singapore-based leasing company placed its first order for LEAP-1A engines in 2013 and, today, these engines power more than 240 aircraft in BOC Aviation’s portfolio. “This is our largest ever engine transaction and it will propel our growth from this decade into the next,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. “The significant emissions reductions and lower fuel-burn characteristics of the CFM LEAP engine family align with our commitment to building one of the most environmentally friendly fleets of any major lessor.” “We are honored to be such an integral part of BOC Aviation’s long-term strategy, both in terms of fleet growth as well as achieving its important sustainability goals,” said Gaël Méheust president and CEO of CFM International. “We value the deep relationship our two companies share and are committed to delivering the product attributes and support that BOC Aviation and its customers have come to rely on from CFM.” With more than 10,000 engines delivered to date, CFM LEAP engines have experienced the fastest ramp in commercial aviation history. CFM continues to upgrade the LEAP fleet with a high-pressure turbine (HPT) durability kit to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system (RBS) to lower airline maintenance burden. The company is focused on delivering high engine availability through exceptional MRO performance and competitive cost of ownership, with the benefits of aftermarket competition through its open MRO ecosystem.

At the Farnborough International Airshow, Eve Air Mobility announced two major agreements totaling up to 46 eVTOL aircraft, securing a powerful new leasing partnership with Shearwater Global Capital and a strategic regional deployment network with Swiss-based Moov Airways. Shearwater LOI – Up to 16 eVTOLs: Shearwater Global Capital, the specialized aviation finance company of private credit firm Bay Point, is expanding its platform to include emerging asset classes. By leveraging Eve’s industry-leading backlog, Shearwater will offer innovative leasing solutions that lower the barrier to entry, helping operators globally accelerate fleet deployment and access sustainable aircraft. Read the full press release here Moov LOI – Up to 30 eVTOLs: Moov, a Swiss startup building the “Atlantic Gateway” intercontinental network, will explore how zero-emission eVTOLs can transform regional mobility, airport-to-resort shuttles, and sightseeing across Cabo Verde’s key islands (including São Vicente, Santo Antão, Sal, Praia, and Boa Vista). Read the full press release here Why this matters: Both partnerships bring unmatched operational discipline. Shearwater possesses deep asset-based lending expertise, while Moov’s leadership team boasts over 150 years of combined aviation experience from carriers like Azul, Swiss, Etihad, and FedEx. Combined with Eve’s backing from Embraer’s 56-year aerospace legacy, these initiatives are primed for safe, scalable execution.