Evendale-based GE Aerospace signed a deal for 10 CF34-10A spare engines with a Chinese financial leasing company on July 20, marking the first time a lessor has independently purchased those engines rather than an airline or maintenance shop.

The agreement with SPDB Financial Leasing, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow in England, opens a new sales channel for the Princeton Pike corridor's largest employer. Until now, only airlines and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) providers bought CF34-10A spares directly from GE Aerospace.

Mohamed Ali, president and CEO of GE Aerospace Commercial Engines & Services, said the purchase reflects a strong working relationship between the two companies and an expansion of partnerships beyond operators and MROs to include lessors supporting the COMAC C909 program.

The CF34-10A exclusively powers the COMAC C909 regional jet, a Chinese-built aircraft that entered commercial service in 2016. GE Aerospace has supported delivery of 186 C909s to more than 10 carriers, and the fleet has logged over 2 million flight hours with a 99.97% dispatch rate over the past 12 months, according to the company's press release.

SPDB Financial Leasing is a Shanghai-based institution with $930 million in registered capital, jointly backed by Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and COMAC. The firm has delivered more than 120 aircraft to date, with fleet value exceeding $4.35 billion. No delivery timeline for the 10 spare engines has been disclosed.

"Building on this milestone, we look forward to expanding our cooperation with GE Aerospace in areas including asset management for domestically produced aircraft and full-lifecycle engine support," Chairman Peng Wang said in the announcement.

The broader CF34 engine family, which also powers the CRJ and Embraer E-Jets, has sold more than 11,000 engines to 178 operators in 76 countries. Since 2022, GE Aerospace has also licensed HEACO to provide CF34-10A overhaul and repair in China, building out aftermarket support closer to the fleet.

GE Aerospace employs roughly 57,000 people globally and raised its full-year 2026 earnings guidance after a strong second quarter. The COMAC C909 is also gaining international traction, with Air Cambodia signing a purchase agreement for 20 of the jets at Farnborough.