Production of the new-generation CFM Leap-1A turbofan engines used on Airbus A320neo aircraft will take place at a new facility to be built in Casablanca, Morocco. French engine manufacturer Safran announced that the production line is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2027. The Leap-1A production plan was initiated to meet the growing demand for Airbus narrow-body aircraft.
The Casablanca plant will have an annual capacity of 350 engines, with Safran investing $232 million in the project. In recent years, Morocco has taken on an increasingly important role in Safran’s manufacturing network, which already includes ten production facilities in the country. Currently, all Leap-1A engines are produced at Safran’s Villaroche site near Paris, France.
In 2024, CFM International manufactured a total of 1,400 Leap-1A, Leap-1B (for the Boeing 737 MAX), and Leap-1C (for China’s Comac C919) engines. Safran aims to double its engine production rate by 2028, a move intended to support the rising demand for Airbus narrow-body jets.
