Drukair has chosen CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines for five Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, including three A320neos and two A321XLRs, in a move that extends the Bhutanese carrier’s long-running relationship with CFM. The aircraft were ordered in 2024, and the engine decision gives the programme a fresh commercial update as Drukair prepares for fleet growth and longer-range operations across Asia.
The airline already operates one LEAP-powered A320neo alongside three Airbus A319ceo aircraft fitted with CFM56 engines, underlining a degree of fleet continuity in its propulsion strategy. Drukair has worked with CFM since 2004, when it received its first Airbus A319ceo powered by CFM56 engines.
The LEAP-1A selection supports the carrier’s next phase of expansion and its plan to strengthen connectivity, while the A321XLRs will add range to a narrowbody fleet suited to regional and medium-haul services. The update does not change the underlying airframe order, but it confirms the engine choice for the five aircraft already on Drukair’s books.