Delta TechOps, Delta Air Lines’ subsidiary dedicated to Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) activities, has been licensed to support CFM LEAP-1A and CFM LEAP-1B engines.
As such, Delta TechOps, which already became the first MRO provider capable of servicing the LEAP-1A engine back in 2022, has also become the first operator capable of supporting both versions of this new generation engine.
Engine maker CFM International developed the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B to power the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families of aircraft, respectively.
Interestingly, while Delta Air Lines operates 92 Airbus A321neo aircraft and has another 97 of this type on order, all of these aircraft are powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, rather than the CFM LEAP-1A. From now on, though, Delta TechOps will be able to leverage these capabilities to service third-party operators, which already account for a significant portion of its workload.
“As the LEAP fleet grows, operators need more options and Delta is ready to help meet that demand with capability across both LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines,” stated Marc Meredith, Chief Commercial Officer for Delta TechOps, in the press release announcing the LEAP-1B licensing.
However, the US carrier will be able to use the newly acquired LEAP-1B capability in-house from next year. At present, Delta Air Lines does not operate any version of the B737 MAX, but from 2027 it is set to start taking delivery of the 100 B737 MAX 10 aircraft it ordered back in 2022.