Aviation propulsion: Value chain
The few firms that build the world's jets and engines
The few firms that build the world's jets and engines What this tab covers Who does what, from equipment makers to builders, owners, operators, traders and users, with the leading companies at each step.Fuel refiners and SAF producers supply the energy; a few engine makers and airframers build the conversion machines; airlines and lessors run them; engine makers earn much of their money from decades of service.
The chain
Fuel supply (jet fuel and SAF) Engine makers Airframers Operators Maintenance and aftermarket| Stage | What happens | Leading companies |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel supply (jet fuel and SAF) | Refineries make kerosene; SAF plants make drop-in fuel, mostly from waste fats and oils, with the first commercial-scale ethanol-to-jet plant producing from November 2025. Airlines expect to burn 104 billion US gallons in 2026, of which SAF is only about 0.8% (2.4 million tonnes). Neste, the largest producer by its own account, can make 1.5 million tonnes of SAF a year. | Neste (Finland) Diamond Green Diesel (United States) World Energy (United States) Montana Renewables (United States) LanzaJet (United States)45141516 |
| Engine makers | Design and build the turbofans, turboprops and turboshafts; CFM International is a 50/50 joint venture of GE Aerospace and Safran. | GE Aerospace (United States) Safran (France) CFM International (United States and France) Pratt & Whitney, RTX (United States) Pratt & Whitney Canada, RTX (Canada) Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom) Safran Helicopter Engines (France)6781317 |
| Airframers | Integrate engines, wings and systems into aircraft. In 2025 Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft, Boeing 600 and Embraer 78 commercial jets (plus 155 executive jets). China's COMAC is still at low rates: five C919s had been handed over in the first nine months of 2025. | Airbus (Europe) Boeing (United States) Embraer (Brazil) ATR (France and Italy) COMAC (China)1112181920 |
| Operators | Airlines carry about 5.1 billion passengers (2026 forecast) at an 84% load factor, owning or leasing their fleets. | 4 |
| Maintenance and aftermarket | Engines are overhauled every few years; engine makers and partner shops sell parts and service contracts. Pratt & Whitney lists about 20 GTF overhaul shops. | Pratt & Whitney, RTX (United States) GE Aerospace (United States) Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom)7 |
Sources
- Middle East disruptions and high fuel prices halve airline industry profitability (industry outlook) IATA, 2026
- Fact sheet: Fuel IATA, 2026
- French connection: Air France-KLM will use fuel-efficient LEAP engines GE Aerospace, 2022
- GTF engine: the most fuel-efficient engine for single-aisle aircraft Pratt & Whitney (RTX), 2026
- Rolls-Royce announces successful run of UltraFan technology demonstrator to maximum power Rolls-Royce, 2023
- Airbus reports 793 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2025 Airbus, 2026
- The most responsible regional aircraft by design ATR
- Safran Helicopter Engines: the world's leading manufacturer of helicopter engines Safran
- Neste started producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its renewables refinery in Rotterdam Neste, 2025
- U.S. sustainable aviation fuel production takes off as new capacity comes online US Energy Information Administration, 2025
- LanzaJet makes history as the world's first to produce jet fuel from ethanol at commercial-scale plant LanzaJet (PR Newswire), 2025
- ATR powers its aircraft into a sustainable future with the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT engine ATR, 2021
- Boeing announces fourth-quarter deliveries Boeing, 2026
- Embraer reports 91 aircraft delivered in the fourth quarter and surpasses 4Q24 mark to meet 2025 guidance Embraer, 2026
- China's COMAC falls behind on C919 aircraft delivery targets, filings show (Reuters) The Standard (Reuters), 2025