Safran lifts full-year forecast for CFM Leap engine deliveries

Venture hands over more than 1,000 Leap powerplants in first six months.
French aerospace firm Safran has hiked its full-year forecast for CFM International Leap engine deliveries, expecting a “high teens” percentage rise on last year.

This is an improvement on the previous outlook of 15%.

Safran gave the revised figure in a half-year briefing during which it disclosed that it had delivered 510 Leap engines in the second quarter, taking its total for the first six months to 1,030 – up more than 40%.

This was the fourth consecutive quarter for which the company had handed over at least 500 Leap powerplants, which are fitted to Airbus A320neo-family and Boeing 737 Max jets.

Recurring operating income for the company’s propulsion division rose by 28% to €2.25 billion ($2.56 billion).

Safran says this figure was “most supported” by strong civil aftermarket activity, notably higher CFM56 spares sales, but partially mitigated by the higher Leap deliveries with a decreasing spare engine ratio.

Chief executive Olivier Andries describes the company’s first-half as “exceptional”.

“The Middle East conflict barely impacted our performance,” he adds.

Services accounted for 64% of first-half propulsion division revenues of €9.2 billion.

Recurring operating income for the interiors division doubled to €54 million, despite a fall in revenues to €1.4 billion.

Safran says the interiors business experienced volume growth from Airbus A350 lavatories – up from 163 to 309 – as well as A320 and Boeing 737 galleys.

There was a “strong catch-up” in the second quarter on business-class seat deliveries, it adds, with total deliveries increasing by 4% to 1,282.

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