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American Airlines Selects CFM LEAP-1A Engines to Power Future Airbus A321neo Fleet

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American Airlines has confirmed that its future Airbus A321neo deliveries will be equipped with CFM LEAP-1A engines. This decision reinforces a long-standing industrial relationship with CFM International, the joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.

The engines will be installed on the A321neo aircraft that the airline ordered two years ago. Beyond the initial supply, the agreement includes ongoing long-term maintenance support for the company’s LEAP-1A fleet, extending a technical collaboration that is now a structural part of its fleet strategy. The financial terms of the contract—covering both the engine acquisition and the maintenance agreement—were not disclosed.

A Young Fleet with Strong Growth Projections

American Airlines currently operates the youngest fleet among U.S. network carriers, which includes:

In addition to these, there are 120 further A321neo and 35 A321XLR aircraft pending delivery through 2032. All of these units will be powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. The airline also maintains purchase options for an additional 116 A320 family aircraft. If exercised, these units would also incorporate the LEAP-1A, further expanding the engine’s footprint within the carrier’s single-aisle operational structure.

A321XLR: A Differentiator for Network and Product

American recently debuted the Airbus A321XLR, becoming the only U.S.-based airline to operate this model. The introduction of the XLR marks a pivotal step in the evolution of its transcontinental network.

The onboard product features:

The combination of extended range and a renovated cabin positions the A321XLR as a central instrument for optimizing high-density, long-haul routes within the narrowbody segment.

A Relationship Spanning Nearly a Century

The bond between American and GE Aerospace is far from new. According to the airline’s CEO, Robert Isom, the company’s aircraft have flown with GE technology for nearly a century. Today, American operates more mainline and regional aircraft powered by CFM/GE Aerospace than any other airline in the world.

The relationship with the LEAP family began in 2011, when American selected the LEAP-1B for its order of 100 Boeing 737 MAX. Currently, the airline operates 93 Boeing 737 MAX and has 125 more on order. Three years later, it expanded the agreement by choosing the LEAP-1A for its A321neo.

This dual presence—the LEAP-1A on Airbus and the LEAP-1B on Boeing—bolsters technological homogeneity across its narrowbody fleet. With this latest decision, American Airlines deepens a well-established strategic line: controlled growth, technological consistency, and reliance on an engine platform with proven efficiency.

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