Budget airline Ryanair has just made a hefty investment of $500 million in acquiring 30 new spare LEAP-1B engines to enhance its operational resilience. This move comes as part of an agreement with CFM International and is set to bolster the airline's fleet with the fuel-efficient engines within the next couple of years. With plans to boost their spare engine stock to over 120 units, Ryanair aims to support its current fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft while gearing up for the arrival of the 737-10s starting in 2027.

In a statement released on June 10, 2025, Michael O’Leary, Ryanair's CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with CFM International by stating, “We are pleased to continue to develop our longstanding partnership with CFM. Today’s purchase of 30 new LEAP-1B spare engines is a significant commitment to improve the operational resilience of our Group airlines.” He went on to highlight the environmental benefits of the new engines, mentioning, “These latest technology CFM engines reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat by up to 20 percent when installed on our B737 MAX fleet, which will further widen Ryanair’s cost leadership over competitor airlines in Europe.”

Ryanair, known for operating one of the largest fleets of CFM-powered Boeing jets in Europe, is set to receive the additional engines to power its existing LEAP-powered 737-8-200 aircraft, with the delivery of 29 more units pending from a 2014 order. Additionally, a new order for LEAP-1B engines was placed in 2023 to equip 150 firm and 150 optional Boeing 737-10 aircraft.

Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International, emphasized the strength of the partnership with Ryanair by stating, “This new agreement is another milestone in the long and successful partnership we have built with Ryanair. We look forward to continuing to support Ryanair’s significant growth by providing them with industry-leading reliability and utilization standards.”

Looking towards the future, Ryanair has set ambitious goals to operate a fleet of 800 CFM-powered Boeing 737s and transport over 300 million passengers annually by 2034. With engines posing challenges for airlines and aircraft manufacturers in recent years, Ryanair's proactive initiative with the spare engines is a step towards enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring smooth operations in the face of potential disruptions.