American Airlines announced Thursday that it has chosen CFM International to supply engines for its future fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft.
The major U.S. airline had ordered 260 new planes in March 2024, with 85 of those being A321neo aircraft. The remaining orders were divided between Boeing and Brazil-based Embraer.
CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran, faces competition from Pratt & Whitney, which is owned by RTX, in providing engines for Airbus’s single-aisle aircraft.
The new contract also includes CFM providing ongoing maintenance services for the engines over the long term. American’s current A321neo aircraft already use CFM LEAP engines.
Aviation industry experts note that airlines typically prefer using the same engine model across similar aircraft types to streamline their operations and reduce maintenance expenses.
Neither company revealed the financial details of their agreement.
