Aero Norway has secured its first maintenance contract for CFM International LEAP engines, signing a multi-year offload agreement with GE Aerospace to repair high-pressure turbine modules at its Stavanger facility.

Announced on October 1, 2026, the deal marks a strategic expansion for the ITP Aero subsidiary beyond its legacy CFM56 focus. The agreement provides GE Aerospace with critical third-party capacity as the LEAP engine family enters its first major cycle of performance restoration shop visits.

Expanding the open MRO ecosystem

The contract specifically covers high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor and HPT stage 2 nozzle assemblies for both the CFM LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B variants. Aero Norway previously held a CFM International license for LEAP maintenance but is now officially activating its physical repair capabilities through this module agreement.

In a press release issued by the company, Aero Norway Chief Executive Officer Neil Russell described the contract as a significant milestone in the facility’s transition to next-generation propulsion systems.

“Together, our objective is to expand capacity within the ecosystem, delivering efficient, high-quality engine MRO support to customers. This agreement reflects the confidence placed in Aero Norway’s highly skilled technicians, as well as our steadfast commitment to quality.”

GE Aerospace is actively expanding its network of third-party maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers to address industry-wide capacity challenges. Flavio Gregorio, Vice President of CFM LEAP and RISE Programs at GE Aerospace, stated that the partnership reflects a commitment to working with technically astute providers to support high engine availability for commercial operators.

ITP Aero’s aftermarket consolidation

The GE Aerospace contract follows a period of structural change for the Norwegian facility. In February 2026, Spain-based ITP Aero completed its acquisition of Aero Norway to strengthen its position in the global aerospace aftermarket and expand its European MRO capabilities.

ITP Aero has been steadily growing its aftermarket footprint across multiple engine platforms. This expansion includes entry into the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network and the acquisition of BP Aero in the United States.

Alan Jones, Executive Vice President of MRO at ITP Aero, noted that the LEAP agreement demonstrates how the parent company is building complementary capabilities across its group to meet surging demand.

“This agreement is another example of how the ITP Aero Group is scaling its MRO footprint and capabilities in line with the evolving needs of the market. CFM LEAP is a key growth engine for our MRO strategy.”

Addressing the narrowbody maintenance crunch

The CFM LEAP engine family, produced by the 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, succeeded the ubiquitous CFM56. The LEAP-1A powers the Airbus A320neo family, while the LEAP-1B equips the Boeing 737 MAX family.

According to industry data reported by AviTrader, there are currently over 8,000 active CFM LEAP engines in service globally, with a production backlog exceeding 10,000 units.

The narrowbody engine MRO market is currently constrained by capacity shortages, supply chain disruptions, and long lead times for life-limited parts. The rapid influx of early-delivery LEAP engines requiring their first performance restoration shop visits has forced original equipment manufacturers to offload module repairs to trusted independent facilities.

Aero Norway has traditionally focused on legacy CFM56 engines, specifically the CFM56-3, CFM56-5B, and CFM56-7B variants. Transitioning to the LEAP platform ensures the Stavanger facility remains integrated into the next generation of narrowbody propulsion maintenance as the CFM56 fleet gradually ages out of peak shop visit cycles.

AirPro News analysis

We view GE Aerospace’s decision to offload specific high-pressure turbine modules to Aero Norway as a necessary pressure-release valve for the strained LEAP MRO network. The HPT section is highly stressed and requires intensive maintenance during performance restoration shop visits. By breaking down full shop visits and distributing module-level repairs to specialized third-party facilities, OEMs can alleviate localized choke points. This distributed approach is critical for keeping turnaround times manageable and maintaining engine availability for airlines currently facing severe narrowbody aircraft shortages.

Exel Composites and French-Canadian aeronautical company FLYING WHALES have officially opened a purpose-equipped production line in Joensuu, Finland, to manufacture carbon fiber tubes for the LCA60T heavy-lift airship. The inauguration on September 30, 2026, marks the beginning of the process validation phase for the aircraft’s structural components.

In a press release issued to mark the milestone, Exel Composites confirmed that the new facility will produce the continuous pull-wound carbon fiber tubes that form the rigid skeleton of the airship. The process validation phase is a critical aerospace manufacturing step designed to demonstrate that the pull-winding process can meet the strict repeatability and environmental controls required for the structural frame.

Transitioning to process validation

The shift into process validation requires Exel Composites to prove the consistency and quality of its manufacturing techniques before full-scale serial production begins. The validation phase will test the facility’s ability to maintain precise environmental controls, including strict parameters for temperature, humidity, and air cleanliness, which are mandatory for aerospace-grade composite manufacturing.

The scale of the manufacturing effort is substantial. The LCA60T, which stands for Large Capacity Airship 60 Tons, measures 200 meters in length. Its rigid frame relies entirely on the lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber tubes produced at the Joensuu factory.

The September 30, 2026, announcement also provided an updated figure for the material required to build the aircraft. Exel Composites stated that a single LCA60T frame will require approximately 80 kilometers of pull-wound carbon fiber tubes. This represents an increase from earlier financial releases issued by the company in 2024 and 2025, which estimated the requirement at 75 kilometers per airship.

Developing the heavy-lift logistics market

Founded in 2012, FLYING WHALES is developing the LCA60T to address logistical bottlenecks in remote and landlocked areas. The aircraft is designed as a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) hybrid helium-electric airship. Its primary operational advantage is the ability to load and unload up to 60 tons of cargo while hovering, functioning similarly to a floating crane. This capability eliminates the need for traditional ground infrastructure, such as runways or reinforced landing pads.

The target market for the LCA60T includes industries that require the transport of oversized or heavy equipment to inaccessible locations. Projected use cases involve moving wind turbine blades, extracting timber, and delivering power pylons to remote construction sites.

The environmental profile of the airship is a central component of its market positioning. Dassault Systèmes, a corporate partner on the program, projects that the LCA60T’s distributed electric propulsion system will reduce emissions by approximately 70 percent compared to traditional cargo planes and heavy-lift Helicopters. Future iterations of the airship are targeting up to a 90 percent reduction in emissions.

From prototyping to commercial operations

The opening of the Joensuu production line follows several years of collaboration between the two companies. Exel Composites and FLYING WHALES initially announced a research and development partnership in 2024 to focus on the prototyping of the composite tubes. This R&D phase culminated in February 2025, when Exel Composites signed a formal contract with FLYING WHALES for the delivery of the pull-wound components.

Commercial interest in the platform has continued to develop alongside the manufacturing milestones. According to reporting by Breakbulk Americas, FOX Brasil signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with FLYING WHALES on July 24, 2026. The agreement explores the deployment of the LCA60T Cargo aircraft in Brazil to support heavy-lift logistics in the mining, power, and renewable energy sectors.

With the process validation phase now underway, the program is moving toward its next major operational milestones. FLYING WHALES anticipates the first flight of the LCA60T prototype will take place in 2027. If the flight test and certification campaigns proceed on schedule, the company expects to begin commercial operations in 2029.

AirPro News analysis

The transition to process validation is a major de-risking event for the LCA60T program. Rigid airships have historically struggled to bridge the gap between conceptual design and serial manufacturing, often faltering when bespoke prototyping must be scaled into repeatable industrial production. By establishing a dedicated line capable of maintaining aerospace-grade environmental controls, Exel Composites and FLYING WHALES are addressing this historical bottleneck directly.

The upward revision in the required tube length from 75 kilometers to 80 kilometers per frame highlights the iterative reality of aerospace structural engineering. As the design matures toward its final certifiable configuration, structural reinforcements and design tweaks inevitably alter material requirements. For Exel Composites, proving the continuous pull-winding process at this unprecedented scale is as much a test of industrial logistics as it is of composite engineering. If the validation phase is successful, it will cement a novel supply chain model for the next generation of heavy-lift airships.

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire Sepang Aircraft Engineering (SAE) from Airbus, expanding its in-house maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities to capture growing third-party demand in the Asia-Pacific region.

Announced in an October 1, 2026, press release, the transaction transfers full ownership of the Kuala Lumpur-based facility to the parent company of Malaysia Airlines. The acquisition adds dedicated Airbus A320-family expertise, specialized component repair services, and a closed-door paint hangar to MAG’s existing engineering portfolio, supporting the group’s Long-Term Business Plan 3.0 (LTBP 3.0) revenue diversification strategy.

Strategic expansion of MAB Engineering

The integration of SAE will directly complement the capabilities of MAB Engineering, the in-house maintenance arm of MAG. SAE operates as an independent aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The facility features two hangars with a combined floor area of 50,000 square meters, capable of accommodating up to eight commercial aircraft simultaneously for major maintenance checks.

Beyond heavy maintenance, the SAE facility houses Malaysia’s first eco-friendly closed-door dedicated paint bay. This infrastructure allows MAG to internalize aircraft painting requirements while offering the service to third-party operators across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market.

Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of MAG, framed the acquisition as a disciplined capital deployment amid a challenging global environment. He noted that volatile fuel prices and an uncertain operating environment have put immense pressure on the aviation sector, prompting strategic moves to control costs and secure additional revenue streams.

“Against this backdrop, as we execute LTBP 3.0, we remain focused on making disciplined investments in areas where we see a clear pathway to sustainable value creation,” Bakar said. “This means being deliberate about where we deploy capital and prioritising opportunities that strengthen our core businesses, diversify revenue and support the Group’s long-term growth aspirations.”

“SAE further complements MAB Engineering’s existing capabilities through its A320 expertise, dedicated paint hangar and specialised component repair services, while building on the strong technical, operational and quality foundations developed under Airbus’ stewardship,” Bakar added.

The evolution of Sepang Aircraft Engineering

Founded in 2007, SAE has operated as a key MRO provider in Southeast Asia for nearly two decades. Airbus initially acquired a partial ownership stake in the company in 2011. In September 2017, SAE opened its second hangar to expand capacity, and the following month, Airbus acquired the remaining shares to make SAE a fully owned subsidiary. At the time, Airbus positioned the acquisition as a primary driver for its regional services growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific market.

The transition of ownership to MAG aligns with Malaysia’s broader ambition to establish itself as a leading aerospace hub in the region. The Asia-Pacific MRO market is experiencing significant growth driven by expanding airline fleets, prompting operators to secure maintenance capacity and develop third-party revenue streams.

The financial terms of the October 1, 2026, acquisition have not been disclosed. The transaction is targeted for completion in 2027, subject to customary conditions precedent, including regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

AirPro News analysis

Airbus’s decision to divest SAE marks a notable shift from its 2017 strategy, when the manufacturer actively acquired MRO facilities to build out its services portfolio. For MAG, bringing SAE under its corporate umbrella secures critical maintenance capacity in a constrained global supply chain. As airlines face extended aircraft utilization due to new delivery delays, controlling MRO infrastructure provides a hedge against rising third-party maintenance costs and creates a lucrative revenue channel from other regional operators.