Safran offers Leap-1B lease to address turbine disk durability issues

:: Adrien Daste / Safran

Safran, the French partner in the CFM International joint venture, will rely on a pool of spare Leap-1B engines to manage durability issues affecting the high-pressure turbine disks. The announcement was made by Safran CEO Olivier Andriès during the company’s annual press conference.

In late 2025, CFM International reduced the life limit for this specific component. Consequently, operators of the earliest Boeing 737 MAX aircraft—which are powered by the Leap-1B—may face engine shortages. The program’s American partner, GE, is currently developing an improved part, but it is not expected to be ready until the second half of 2026.

Andriès suggested that operators can lease replacement engines from SES, a specialized engine leasing firm based in Shannon, Ireland, which Safran co-owns with the lessor AerCap. According to the CEO, SES owns hundreds of Leap engines.

Currently, Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines is the sole operator of the Boeing 737MAX in Central Asia. Its fleet includes seven MAX-8 aircraft and five of the higher-capacity MAX-9 variant. The carrier awaits delivery of two additional Boeing 737MAX-8s this year.

Furthermore, another Kazakh carrier, Vietjet Qazaqstan, expects to receive its first two MAX-8s in 2026. Tajikistan’s flag carrier, Somon Air, is also scheduled to get its first two MAX-8 aircraft later this year.