GE Aerospace Soars to New Heights in Q3 2026 with Record-Breaking Performance
GE Aerospace delivered a stellar performance in the third quarter of 2026, as announced by Chairman and CEO Larry Culp during the company's earnings conference call on October 20th. The quarterly results showcased the company's unwavering commitment to its purpose - "to invent the future of flight, lift people up, and bring them home safely."
At any given moment, nearly one million people are flying on aircraft powered by GE Aerospace's technology. This staggering figure underscores the responsibility that drives everything the company does. In Q3 2026, GE Aerospace delivered strong results, with demand remaining solid across the business, even in a dynamic environment. Third-quarter orders soared 49%, led by commercial engines and services (CES), which rose 58%. Commercial services also showed strength, with orders increasing 23% in the quarter and 30% year-to-date.
These impressive numbers have GE Aerospace well-positioned to close out 2026 on a high note. The company now expects low double-digit services growth in 2027, buoyed by its backlog of over $170 billion. Notable agreements announced during the Farnborough Airshow included commitments for more than 1,800 engines, including an agreement with IndiGo for the largest LEAP agreement ever - more than 1,000 LEAP-1A engines to power its A320neo aircraft.
Just last week, GE Aerospace announced a significant deal with Turkish Airlines, involving over 300 LEAP-1B engines to power its 737 MAX fleet. This agreement was accompanied by a long-term service agreement for the entire LEAP-1B fleet of more than 600 engines. Total company revenue increased 18% in the quarter, with CES rising 21% and Defense and Propulsion Technologies (DPT) increasing 7%. Operating profit grew 30%, and margins expanded to 22.5%, a significant jump of 220 basis points year-over-year.
EPS increased 36%, and GE Aerospace generated more than $2 billion in free cash flow. The company's performance builds on the progress made during the first half, with year-to-date orders up 49%, revenue rising 23%, EPS growing 28%, and a remarkable 105% free cash flow conversion.
In light of these exceptional results, GE Aerospace is raising its 2026 guidance, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to investing in customer needs and advancing current and future technologies. The acquisition of Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) will enable GE Aerospace to expand capacity for mission-critical castings, while the annual R&D spend of over $3 billion will drive innovation.
GE Aerospace's CEO Larry Culp expressed gratitude to the entire team and supplier partners for their dedication to delivering for customers. He emphasized that Flight Deck is at the heart of how GE Aerospace drives safety, quality, delivery, and cost. The company has made significant progress with commercial services revenue up 26% year-to-date and total engine deliveries increasing 21%. This momentum will be further accelerated by AI, as demonstrated by an AI-enabled tool developed to automate technical records collection at Celma, the largest MRO site.
