Turkish Airlines engines are at the center of an October 16, 2026 memorandum of understanding with CFM International covering the purchase of more than 300 LEAP-1B engines, including spares. The engines would power 100 firm Boeing 737 MAX orders and 50 aircraft options, while a broader services package would cover more than 600 engines.
Key Takeaways
- The engine purchase is outlined in a memorandum of understanding, with 50 of the associated aircraft remaining optional.
- Services coverage exceeds 600 engines because it extends beyond the new aircraft to the wider Turkish Airlines and AJet fleet.
- The package includes material support for a planned engine maintenance facility in Turkey.
Table of Contents
- Turkish Airlines engines package separates purchases from services
- Maintenance plans extend the agreement beyond engine supply
- Existing aircraft provide a substantial operating base
- Conclusion
Turkish Airlines engines package separates purchases from services
The Turkish Airlines and CFM memorandum outlines two different commitments: engines for fleet expansion and long-term support for a larger engine population. The purchase component comprises more than 300 LEAP-1B engines, including spares, for up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The services agreement would cover previously ordered and delivered engines, spares, engines associated with leased aircraft and potential options. Together, these represent more than 600 engines across Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary AJet. That larger figure describes services coverage, not the number of new engines being purchased.
For Boeing, the announcement concerns engine support for aircraft orders already announced. It is not an additional order for 150 aircraft, and the 50 options should not be counted as firm purchases.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Existing Boeing 737 MAX fleet | 79 aircraft powered by LEAP-1B engines, including AJet. |
| Existing Boeing 737 Next Generation fleet | 96 aircraft powered by CFM56-7B engines, including AJet. |
| CFM ownership | 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines. |
Maintenance plans extend the agreement beyond engine supply
The MoU also includes a material services agreement to support the establishment of an engine maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Turkey. The facility remains a planned development, rather than an operating site announced as completed.
Turkish Technic Chief Executive Mikail Akbulut said the agreement would enable comprehensive LEAP engine maintenance operations. Turkish Airlines Chairman Murat Şeker said the package would support fleet growth, operational efficiency and the development of LEAP maintenance capabilities.
The maintenance component gives the agreement a wider operational scope than engine procurement alone: it links new aircraft requirements with support for the airline group's existing and future engine fleet.
Existing aircraft provide a substantial operating base
At the announcement, Turkish Airlines and AJet already operated both LEAP-powered 737 MAX aircraft and older CFM56-powered 737 Next Generation aircraft. The new package builds on that established relationship with CFM, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.
Conclusion
The MoU brings engine procurement, fleet-wide services and planned local maintenance capacity into one package. Implementation of those arrangements remains the next step; the announcement provides no delivery schedule or facility opening date.
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