American Airlines has confirmed that its upcoming Airbus A321neos will continue to be powered by the CFM International’s CFM LEAP-1A engines.
On February 19, 2026, American Airlines’ CEO Robert Isom said that the engines will be installed on the Airbus A321neos that were ordered two years ago in 2024.
American has an additional 120 A321neos and 35 A321XLRs on order through 2032, all of which will be powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines.
“American is proud to operate more CFM/GE Aerospace-powered mainline and regional aircraft than any other airline in the world, and American’s aircraft have flown with GE Aerospace technology for almost a century,” said Isom. “We are excited that CFM LEAP engines will power our next phase of A321neo deliveries, maximizing the power of our fleet investments to deliver the best network to our customers utilizing the best-performing engine in the business.”
American also has options to purchase 116 additional A320neo family aircraft from Airbus which, if exercised, will also be outfitted with the CFM LEAP-1A engine.
The US-based carrier currently has 84 A321neos and following its debut in December 2025, five A321XLRs in its fleet.
“We are proud to be under wing powering American’s modernized fleet, and appreciate their continued trust,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and CEO at GE Aerospace. “We are committed to delivering best-in-class LEAP engines to support the growth of American’s network as they serve more destinations for their customers.”
American first selected the CFM LEAP-1B engine in 2011 when it announced its purchase of 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The relationship expanded three years later when American chose the LEAP-1A engine for its order of A321neos.
Commenting on LinkedIn, American’s Chief Procurement Officer, Dan Bartel said: :From a procurement and fleet strategy perspective, this agreement reflects a rigorous, data‑driven evaluation focused on total cost of ownership, operational reliability, sustainability performance, and long‑term value. The LEAP‑1A delivers strong fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and competitive maintenance economics—outcomes that matter not just for today’s operation, but across the full lifecycle of the fleet.”