“We are proud to return to Farnborough as a pure-play aerospace company, well-positioned to define flight for today, tomorrow, and the future,” said Larry Culp, Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace. “This is a critical moment for us to come together and focus on key issues, including safety, quality, and delivery, while also looking ahead to address sustainability with innovative technology.”

Investment in MRO Capabilities

GE Aerospace kicked off the airshow with a significant announcement: a $1 billion investment in its global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network over the next five years. This funding will enhance the company’s capacity to meet the growing demands of both widebody and narrowbody aircraft. The investment will support the addition of engine test cells and cutting-edge technology, including advanced inspection techniques designed to reduce turnaround times and expand component repair capabilities in GE’s overhaul shops.

CFM International, a 50-50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, is following a similar path with its MRO ramp-up plan. Safran announced its own investment to expand the global overhaul and repair network for CFM LEAP engines, which power Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family aircraft.

GE Aerospace also secured several new service contracts and extensions during the show. Notably, the company extended its service agreement with TUI Airline, covering MRO services for TUI’s GEnx-powered Boeing 787 fleet, and renewed a six-year TrueChoice Service agreement with Thai Airways for GE90-powered Boeing 777 aircraft. In addition, GE Aerospace and HAECO Group extended their GE Branded Services Agreement for GE90 engines through 2040, solidifying HAECO’s role in the MRO global network for the GE9X engine.

Widebody Aircraft Momentum

The market for widebody aircraft continues to gain momentum, and GE Aerospace played a key role in this sector at the airshow. Just before Farnborough, the company shipped its first GE9X production engine to Boeing, where it will power the new 777X commercial jet. Boeing, in collaboration with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, has already begun flight tests as part of the certification process for the 777X.

On the second day of the airshow, Qatar Airways expanded its existing order of Boeing 777-9 jets by adding 20 more to its fleet, which includes a commitment to 40 additional GE9X engines and a long-term service agreement. Additionally, National Airlines and Turkish Airlines both signed agreements for GE90 engines to power their Boeing 777F cargo planes.

Demand for GE’s GEnx engine, the fastest-selling high-thrust engine in the company’s history, also surged at Farnborough. Japan Airlines ordered 40 GEnx-1B engines for its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, while EVA Air and International Airlines Group committed to additional GEnx engines and service agreements for their fleets.

Narrowbody Engine Growth

The narrowbody engine market also saw significant activity, with orders for CFM LEAP engines continuing at a robust pace. Avolon, a leading global aviation finance company, ordered 150 LEAP-1A engines for its new Airbus A320neo aircraft, along with purchase rights for 150 more. Nordic Aviation Capital and Macquarie AirFinance also finalized deals for LEAP engines to power their respective A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

In the regional jet sector, GE Aerospace announced that American Airlines finalized an order for 180 CF34-8E engines to power its fleet of new Embraer E175 regional jets. “The CF34 engine has a long track record of success with American Airlines, and we’re grateful the American team is putting its trust in us again,” said Russell Stokes, President and CEO of Commercial Engines and Services.

Strengthening Defense Partnerships

GE Aerospace’s Defense & Systems division also made headlines, signing a memorandum of understanding with Kratos Turbine Technologies to collaborate on the development and production of small, affordable engines for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and collaborative combat aircraft. The partnership, which has already seen successful ground tests, will move into altitude testing next year at GE’s Evendale, Ohio, facility.

“Our defense customers have a growing interest in small, affordable engines to meet their evolving mission requirements,” said Amy Gowder, President and CEO of Defense & Systems. “This agreement furthers our efforts in this dynamic military segment.”

Pioneering Sustainable Aviation

Sustainability was a key focus for GE Aerospace at Farnborough. CFM International provided updates on the Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program, which has completed over 250 tests in preparation for full-scale tests of its Open Fan engine architecture. Both GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines are heavily involved in the RISE program, which aims to reduce CO2 and non-CO2 emissions.

GE Aerospace also announced a new cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance computational modeling and simulation capabilities. The collaboration leverages ORNL’s Frontier supercomputer, the world’s fastest, to digitally simulate jet engine components before physical prototypes are built. “Supercomputing and access to Frontier is changing the way we design jet engines, allowing us to solve previously impossible problems,” said Mohamed Ali, Senior Vice President of Engineering for GE Aerospace.

With its debut as a standalone company, GE Aerospace made a strong impression at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, showcasing its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships across the aviation industry.