In August 2024, the CFM56 powered 55% of all narrowbody flights, and 38% of all commercial flights full stop.
Aviation Week’s Tracked Aircraft Utilization tool shows that the CFM56-7, which powers the Boeing 737NG fleet, accounts for the majority of the CFM56’s total utilization. Even with a 737NG fleet that is almost 500 aircraft smaller than in 2019, the CFM56-7 is still powering over 750,000 flights per month.
With the 737NG maturing and the make-up of the 737NG fleet changing, in part due to the larger numbers of passenger-to-freighter conversions ongoing—73 were converted in 2023 alone—the utilization profile of the 737NG has changed slightly. Cargo aircraft traditionally have a lower utilization profile than their passenger counterparts.
However, the CFM56-7 is still very much in its prime. Over 4,500 aircraft powered by the CFM56-7 are still expected to be in service by the end of 2034, according to the upcoming Aviation Week 2025 Fleet & MRO Forecast.
The CFM56-5A/B that equip the A320 family powered over half a million flights in August 2024. Showcasing the importance of the CFM56, 58% of the prior-generation A320 fleet are powered by the engine. Data also shows that the average number of flights per aircraft per month is slightly higher on the A320s versus the 737NG. Factors that could feed into this include stage length and aircraft roles, as mentioned above with the NG being favored for passenger-to-freighter conversions.
Even though “next-generation” engines the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G (GTF) and the CFM Leap 1 have been introduced, combined these powerplants accounted for less than 20% of the total commercial flights in August, which underlines the important role the CFM56 still has to play.
This data was put together using Aviation Week’s Tracked Aircraft Utilization tool, for more information click here:
This data was put together using Aviation Week’s Tracked Aircraft Utilization tool.
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