GE Aerospace Invests Upwards of $130M to Expand, Upgrade European Facilities

By year-end 2026, GE Aerospace will invest over $130 million in its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and component repair facilities in Europe. The planned investment, part of the company’s $1 billion MRO spending surge approved in early 2024. The company aims to meet the increasing demand for services between GE Aerospace and CFM1 installed base. These funds will support engine test cells, new equipment, and new technology such as AI-powered enhanced inspection techniques. The AI enhancements will reduce turnaround times and expand component repair capability.

But the lion's share of this investment will support its CFM LEAP engines, which are growing in demand. The fleet boasts more than 3,300 in-service LEAP-powered aircraft and over 10,000 additional engines in backlog.

Many of the investments are made as employees work to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost through FLIGHT DECK—GE Aerospace’s lean operating model focused on systematic, customer-driven approaches to running its business.

“Our MRO facilities in Europe play a key role in our global services network and this investment will help us meet demand and keep customers’ fleets flying safely,” said Russel Stokes, GE Aerospace President and CEO, Commercial Engines and Services. “Our focus on creating capacity and new capabilities underscores our commitment to safety, quality, and delivery, not only for our customers, but for the millions of people who fly with our products underwing.”

Another portion of MRO funding will increase the capability at XEOS—a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik, located near Wroclaw, Poland. The site is shifting its focus to exclusively service LEAP engines, supporting increased demand for the engine’s overhaul and repair.

XEOS facility in Poland; image credit: GE Aerospace

Investment Breakdown

• United Kingdom: approximately $75 million
• Overhaul facility in Nantgarw, Wales
• Overhaul facility in Prestwick, Scotland
• On-wing support facility in London, England
• Wroclaw, Poland: approximately $30 million
• XEOS overhaul facility 2
• Budapest, Hungary: approximately $25 million
• Component repair facility

GE Aerospace News

This week, the Indian Navy selected GE Aerospace’s LM2500 to power its new NGMV fleet, built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. in Kochi, India. GE Aerospace will deliver six LM2500 marine gas turbine engine kits for assembly and test by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.’s (HAL) Industrial and Marine Gas Turbine Division in Bangalore. In addition, GE Aerospace will deliver its composite base, enclosure, and a full suite of gas turbine auxiliary systems.

HAL assembled and tested all LM2500 gas turbines currently installed on the Indian Navy’s P17 and P17A frigates, as well as the IAC-1 Vikrant aircraft carrier. In 2023, HAL and GE Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their capabilities to include assembly, inspection, and testing of the LM2500 marine gas turbine. To date, GE Aerospace delivered 24 marine gas turbine kits to HAL for the Indian Navy.

In early October, GE Aerospace provided its 52,000-employee workforce with a new software-based assistant—AI Wingmate. The company collaborated with Microsoft to use Azure AI, including Azure OpenAI Service, to bring enhanced security, compliance, and responsible AI inside GE Aerospace’s network. Employees can use AI Wingmate to collaborate on new ideas, new learnings, and new initiatives to improve air travel.