China Eastern Picks CFM LEAP‑1A to Power 101 A320neo‑Family Jets

Overview

• China Eastern confirmed it selected CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines to power 101 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, ordering 202 engines for the fleet upgrade.
• A signing at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai formalized the engine agreement on Nov. 6 between Airbus and China Eastern and included spare engines and a long-term maintenance services pact.
• GE Aerospace reported an additional spare-engine package of 14 units that spans LEAP-1A, LEAP-1C and older CFM56-7B types to support operational readiness.
• The aircraft order, placed in March 2026, covers A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR models with deliveries scheduled from 2028 through 2032 and expected effects on route range and capacity from the XLR frames.
• The deal builds on decades of China Eastern–CFM ties and on LEAP’s service record of more than 10,000 deliveries and 100 million flight hours while CFM rolls out technical upgrades aimed at longer time-on-wing and lower maintenance costs, which should help the airline predict operating availability and costs.