Ryanair, Europe’s largest passenger airline, and CFM International, a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace, signed a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar engine material services agreement on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The agreement will support Ryanair’s plan to bring engine maintenance in-house, beginning with the opening of two engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) shops slated to initiate operation in 2029.
Under the terms of the agreement, CFM will provide spare parts for Ryanair’s fleet of almost 2,000 B737 engines, as well as support the airline’s growing fleet which is expected to reach 800 Boeing 737 family aircraft. Ryanair anticipates annual purchases of spare engines and parts exceeding $1 billion from CFM, according to a company statement. The contract covers both existing CFM56-7B engines, which power the Boeing 737 NG aircraft, and the newer LEAP-1B engines used on the 737 MAX.
For the past 30 years, CFM has maintained Ryanair’s CFM56 engines under a “power by the hour” contract, a performance-based service agreement. Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary stated the new agreement facilitates the airline’s transition to in-house maintenance. “We are pleased to extend our long-term partnership with CFM with this multi-year, multi-billion-dollar spares support agreement,” O’Leary said. “However, from 2029 onwards, Ryanair expects to bring the maintenance of its engines ‘in-house’, and we are pleased to do so with the help and support of our partners CFM.”
The move comes as engine maintenance capacity is in high demand, driving up costs. Ryanair will place substantial orders for initial spare parts provisioning with CFM to support the opening of the two MRO facilities. The locations of these facilities have not been disclosed.
