Who makes engines for Airbus aircraft?
Airbus generally designs and builds the aircraft, but specialist manufacturers make its engines. For commercial Airbus jets, the main suppliers are CFM International, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and GE Aerospace; International Aero Engines and Engine Alliance provide additional engine options for particular aircraft.
In our Aviation & Real-World Flying coverage, the key distinction is between the airframe manufacturer and the engine manufacturer. Airbus selects approved powerplants, integrates them with the aircraft and certifies each installation, but it does not normally manufacture the core commercial turbofan itself. Our comparison of Airbus and Boeing design responsibilities explains why the same arrangement is common across the airliner industry.
Which companies make Airbus engines?
The engine supplier depends on the Airbus model and, where alternatives are offered, the configuration selected by the airline.
- CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, makes the CFM56 and LEAP-1A.
- Pratt & Whitney makes engines including the PW1500G, PW1100G-JM, PW6000 and PW4000 families.
- Rolls-Royce makes several Trent variants used across the A330, A340, A350 and A380 families.
- GE Aerospace supplies the CF6 directly and participates in CFM International and Engine Alliance.
- International Aero Engines, usually shortened to IAE, produces the V2500 fitted to many A320ceo-family aircraft.
- Engine Alliance, a GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney joint venture, makes the GP7200 for the A380.
Which engine manufacturer powers each Airbus model?
Most Airbus families use one or more of the following engine combinations; the list covers the principal commercial variants rather than every historical installation.
| Airbus aircraft | Engine examples | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| A220 | PW1500G | Pratt & Whitney |
| A318 | CFM56-5B or PW6000 | CFM International or Pratt & Whitney |
| A319, A320 and A321ceo | CFM56-5 or V2500-A5 | CFM International or IAE |
| A320neo family | LEAP-1A or PW1100G-JM | CFM International or Pratt & Whitney |
| A330ceo | CF6, PW4000 or Trent 700 | GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney or Rolls-Royce |
| A330neo | Trent 7000 | Rolls-Royce |
| A340-200 and A340-300 | CFM56-5C | CFM International |
| A340-500 and A340-600 | Trent 500 | Rolls-Royce |
| A350 | Trent XWB | Rolls-Royce |
| A380 | Trent 900 or GP7200 | Rolls-Royce or Engine Alliance |
Older A300 and A310 variants also used GE CF6, Pratt & Whitney JT9D or PW4000 engines. For the particularly easy-to-confuse narrow-body options, see our detailed guide to A320 engine types and their practical differences.
Can an airline choose any engine for an Airbus?
An airline can choose only from the engine installations certified and offered for that exact aircraft variant. The A320neo family, for example, has CFM LEAP-1A and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM options, while the A350 uses Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines exclusively.
An engine is not a simple interchangeable component after delivery. Different options require matching pylons, nacelles, controls, software, cockpit indications, maintenance programmes and spare-parts inventories. Converting a completed aircraft to another engine family is therefore generally impractical, even when both engines were available to original customers. Our comparison of A320ceo and A320neo powerplants covers a common source of confusion: a CFM56 and a LEAP-1A may share the CFM name, but they belong to different aircraft generations.
Does Airbus make engines for military aircraft or helicopters?
Airbus also relies on specialist suppliers outside its commercial jet business. The A400M uses the Europrop International TP400-D6 turboprop, C295 variants use Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127-family engines, and Airbus helicopters use powerplants from companies such as Safran Helicopter Engines and Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Therefore, calling something an “Airbus engine” usually means an engine installed on an Airbus, not one manufactured by Airbus. To identify the actual maker, check the complete aircraft variant and engine designation rather than the Airbus family name alone.