A new deal worth over €1.4 billion boosts France’s Safran, reinforcing its leadership in jet engines with the LEAP-1A.

Saudi Arabia’s new flag-carrier project just gave a powerful boost to a French engine maker that has been quietly reshaping global aviation.

Riyadh Air’s latest order does more than add to Safran’s backlog. It confirms that the LEAP-1A engine is now central to a long-term strategy that blends industrial strength, energy efficiency, and geopolitical ambition.

Riyadh Air’s Big Bet on a New Generation of Engines

Riyadh Air, founded in 2023 under the Vision 2030 plan, aims to turn the Saudi capital into a major hub linking Europe, Asia, and Africa. To get there, the airline needs modern aircraft-and engines that can handle extreme heat, demanding route networks, and rising environmental pressure.

At the Dubai Airshow, the carrier signed an order for 120 LEAP-1A engines from CFM International, the 50/50 joint venture between France’s Safran Aircraft Engines and U.S.-based GE Aerospace. These engines will power 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft, the latest version of one of the world’s most popular single-aisle jets.

Riyadh Air’s LEAP-1A deal, estimated at more than €1.4 billion, strengthens Safran’s hold on the high-volume single-aisle market.

Behind the headline number is a long-term relationship. The contract likely includes spare engines, parts, maintenance, and technical support over multiple years-turning a one-time order into recurring revenue for Safran and GE.

LEAP-1A: Technology Built for Efficiency and Harsh Climates

The LEAP family-short for Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion-entered service in 2016 as the successor to the highly successful CFM56. While the CFM56 powered the rise of low-cost aviation starting in the 1980s, the LEAP targets a new era shaped by fuel costs, decarbonization goals, and tighter noise standards.

Key Performance Gains Over the Previous Generation

Compared with the CFM56, the LEAP-1A delivers improvements that directly affect airline economics:

• About 15% lower fuel burn, translating into major savings over an aircraft’s life.
• CO₂ emissions reduced by roughly 15%, helping airlines meet stricter environmental rules.
• Lower noise levels, easing constraints at major airports and new hubs.
• Lightweight 3D-woven composite fan blades that improve efficiency and durability.
• Advanced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in hot sections, enabling higher operating temperatures and better performance in extreme heat.

For an airline based on the Arabian Peninsula, these design choices are far from cosmetic. Fine dust, sand ingestion, and extreme temperatures can quickly damage engines unless they are built with those conditions in mind.

CFM has developed reinforced high-pressure turbine components and a dedicated durability kit specifically for desert operations. Riyadh Air’s fleet will serve as a large-scale test platform, building on years of operational feedback from other regional operators.

The combination of fuel savings, heat resistance, and real-time health monitoring makes the LEAP-1A a strategic tool for airlines operating in demanding environments.

Technical Snapshot: What’s Under the A321neo Wing

Characteristic	Detail
Fuel consumption	~15% lower vs. CFM56
CO₂ reduction	~15% lower vs. CFM56
Fan diameter	1.98 m
Engine weight	Approx. 2,900 kg
Thrust range	15,000–35,000 lbf (depending on variant)
Core technologies	3D-woven composites, CMC hot parts, optimized nacelles
Maintenance	Continuous health monitoring and predictive analytics
Final assembly	France (Villaroche, Saint-Quentin), U.S. (Durham)

This mix of materials and digital monitoring is designed to reduce unplanned groundings and keep aircraft flying longer between shop visits-something airlines value nearly as much as fuel savings.

A €1.4 Billion Deal-and What It Means for Safran

Safran has not officially disclosed the value of the Riyadh Air contract. Industry estimates, based on past deals, place the price of a single LEAP-1A engine at around €12 million. That suggests at least €1.4 billion for 120 firm engines, before adding spare engines and the long tail of services.

Modern engine deals typically include far more than the hardware. They often cover:

• Spare engines to swap in during heavy maintenance.
• Stocks of critical parts positioned near airline hubs.
• Long-term maintenance agreements priced by flight hours or cycles.
• Technical training for local engineers and pilots.
• On-site support teams during entry into service.

Once all of this is included, the lifetime value of an engine agreement often far exceeds the initial sale. For Safran, that creates a steady revenue stream extending well beyond the current decade.

Engine manufacturers often earn more over decades from maintenance and spare parts than from the initial engine sale.

The order also expands Safran’s presence in the Middle East, a region that is already a major customer for widebody engines and support services. With Riyadh Air’s narrowbody fleet joining the LEAP ecosystem, Safran gains a new customer early in its growth trajectory.

LEAP’s Rise: From Newcomer to Benchmark Engine

The LEAP program has scaled quickly. In less than ten years, CFM has delivered more than 4,000 engines-a pace rarely seen in commercial aviation. Demand has been driven by the Airbus A320neo and A321neo families, along with Boeing’s 737 MAX, all of which rely on efficient single-aisle engines.

More than 1,700 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft already fly with LEAP-1A engines. CFM also holds close to 10,000 LEAP engines on order across all variants. Each new national airline, low-cost carrier, or fleet renewal decision can shift market share for years.

For Safran, LEAP’s success matters beyond short-term profit. Engines anchor industrial capacity in France and the United States, protect engineering jobs, and help fund the next wave of technologies, including hybrid propulsion and hydrogen programs.

A French Industrial Strategy in the Sky

France has steadily positioned itself as a key supplier in forward-looking sectors such as space, low-emissions aviation, and advanced materials. Safran sits at the center of that strategy, with businesses spanning engines, landing gear, avionics, and optics.

Recent moves reflect broader ambitions, from partnerships in New Space to early development work on electric and hydrogen-based propulsion. Each major commercial engine deal strengthens Safran’s financial foundation and its ability to invest in research programs with high technical and financial risk.

Every major export contract strengthens France’s role in tomorrow’s aircraft supply chain-from efficient turbofans to experimental zero-emissions concepts.

Why This Deal Matters for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

For Riyadh Air and the Saudi government, choosing the LEAP-1A is not just a technical decision. It supports a national strategy focused on diversifying the economy, creating aerospace jobs, and reducing reliance on oil revenue.

By selecting a widely used engine with a large installed base, Riyadh Air lowers operational risk. Access to spare parts, trained technicians, and even used engines should remain easier throughout the aircraft’s life than it would be with more niche products.

The airline also sends a clear signal to passengers and regulators: its future fleet will use technology that reduces fuel burn and emissions compared with older jets, while still meeting the demands of a desert-based hub.

What Comes Next: From LEAP to Even Cleaner Propulsion

The LEAP-1A is often described as a transitional engine: far cleaner than the previous generation, but still based on burning jet fuel. The industry is under pressure to go further, with growing focus on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hybrid systems, and hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Safran and GE have already announced work on open-rotor concepts and next-generation engines aiming for at least 20% additional fuel savings beyond LEAP. These efforts will rely on lessons from real-world operations in hot, sandy, congested environments-exactly the conditions Riyadh Air is expected to face.

For airlines, the challenge is sequencing investment decisions. A carrier ordering A321neo aircraft with LEAP-1A engines today typically plans to operate them for 15 to 20 years. Over that period, it will need to combine today’s turbofan technology with SAF, improved flight planning, and possibly lighter cabin configurations to further reduce emissions without sacrificing profitability.

For passengers, the technical choices behind a ticket are usually invisible. But those choices shape ticket prices, airport noise levels, and the climate impact of each trip. Deals like the Riyadh Air–Safran–CFM agreement show how much of that future is decided long before the first flight ever appears on a departure board.