Gulf Air and CFM Enhance LEAP-1A Engine Support for A320neo Fleet

Gulf Air and CFM Strengthen LEAP-1A Engine Support for Expanding A320neo Fleet

Renewed Partnership to Enhance Fleet Reliability

Muharraq, Bahrain – Gulf Air and CFM International have reaffirmed their long-standing collaboration by signing an extended agreement for CFM LEAP-1A engine services, aimed at supporting Gulf Air’s growing fleet of A320neo family aircraft. The renewed contract, finalized during the Paris Airshow 2025, includes the acquisition of additional spare engines and is designed to enhance the reliability and operational continuity of the airline’s narrowbody fleet.

As Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air operates one of the most modern fleets in the region, comprising 29 A320neo aircraft powered by LEAP-1A engines. This strategic extension with CFM International secures vital maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacity, ensuring sustained performance amid an increasingly competitive aviation market.

Dr. Jeffrey Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air Group, emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating, “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with CFM, who have been a key partner of our growth since our first CFM engine operations in the 1990s. This agreement will enable us to secure MRO capacity for our fleet and maintain our growth.”

Gaël Meheust, President and CEO of CFM International, expressed his commitment to the partnership, noting, “It’s an honor to further expand our relationship with Gulf Air, a long-standing member of the CFM family. This agreement commits us to provide Gulf Air with the best CFM standards in terms of support, reliability, and utilization for its LEAP fleet.”

Industry Context and Gulf Air’s Strategic Positioning

The enhanced support agreement arrives at a time when engine durability and reliability are under heightened scrutiny across the aviation industry. Recent initiatives, such as GE’s dust-ingestion testing for its GE9X engine and the introduction of a durability improvement kit for CFM LEAP-1A turbofans, reflect the sector’s focus on long-term engine performance. These developments respond to challenges faced by airlines worldwide, including IndiGo’s recovery from Pratt & Whitney GTF engine groundings, underscoring the critical importance of robust engine support.

Gulf Air’s ongoing fleet expansion, which includes recent narrowbody aircraft leases from BOC Aviation, further underscores the necessity for dependable engine solutions. As competitors pursue similar durability enhancements, Gulf Air’s renewed agreement with CFM positions the airline to maintain operational excellence and minimize service disruptions.

Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is one of the Middle East’s earliest established airlines, operating scheduled flights from its Bahrain International Airport hub to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Far East. The airline has earned recognition as a “Five-Star Major Airline” by APEX for 2025, based on verified traveler reviews, and was named “World’s Most Improved Airline” by Skytrax in 2022.

With this extended partnership, Gulf Air aims to reinforce its reputation for reliability and service quality as it navigates a dynamic and competitive aviation landscape.