‍ATLANTA — Korean Air’s (KE) Boeing 737 MAX fleet has a new friend in Atlanta, with today’s announcement of a new third-party maintenance contract with Delta TechOps, supporting the jets’ CFM LEAP-1B engines.

The deal makes Delta TechOps the sixth CFM Premier MRO provider for LEAP engines under CFM’s Branded Services Agreement globally, and the first in North America.

“As airlines transition to next-generation aircraft, the need for advanced engine maintenance is surging,” said Alain Bellemare, EVP – president of International and chairman of Delta MRO. “Delta TechOps’ LEAP-1B expertise demonstrates our ability to meet this demand with unmatched proficiency — setting the benchmark for technical mastery and innovation in the global MRO industry.”

Jongseok Yoo, EVP and chief safety and operating officer at Korean Air, also stated, “We have great confidence in Delta TechOps’ world-class technical expertise and maintenance quality, and we expect this agreement to further enhance our collaboration across the full spectrum of MRO. This LEAP-1B engine agreement is a testament to our mutual focus on achieving the highest standards of operational assurance for our next-generation fleet.”

Delta TechOps has a history of providing engine maintenance for Korean carriers, previously supporting General Electric CF6s on Asiana Airlines’ now-merged Boeing 747-400, 767-300, and 767-300ER fleets.

“Next-generation engines demand next-generation support, and this is where Delta TechOps excels,” says John Laughter, EVP – chief of operations and president of Delta TechOps. “Our LEAP-1B capability is powered by the expertise of the best people in the industry, built on decades of knowledge and a commitment to innovation — delivering the performance and reliability that keep fleets flying.” 

The deal sets the stage for each airline to introduce the yet-to-be-certified 737 MAX 10. Delta (DL) holds an order for 100 while Korean signed up for 62, totalling 162 between the two, representing 324 LEAP-1B engines, not including spares.