April 23 (Reuters) - GE Aerospace on Tuesday

raised its full-year profit forecast on strong demand for

jet-engine parts and services as carriers keep their older

planes in the air to tide over a shortage of new commercial

aircraft.

The company now expects 2024 operating profit of $6.2

billion to $6.6 billion, compared with its earlier forecast of

$6 billion to $6.5 billion.

Earlier this month, GE completed its breakup into three

companies focused on aviation, energy and healthcare.

Since then, Wall Street analysts have been bullish on the

prospects of the aerospace business, with some citing the

dominant lead of CFM International, GE's joint venture with

Safran, as a supplier to Airbus' A320neo family of

jets, over competing engine maker Pratt & Whitney.

CFM is also the sole supplier to Boeing's 737 MAX family of

jets, which are currently being produced at a lower rate due to

an ongoing safety crisis.

In the near term, however, GE Aerospace stands to gain from

higher sales of spare parts and services - which are priced at a

premium - as airlines are forced to operate older jets.

Engine makers typically sell engines to airlines at a

discount and recoup the money by selling parts and services over

the life of the engine.

"(GE Aerospace) has that crucial balance between OEM and

aftermarket sales, with its large installed base more than

offsetting the losses that come with new engine deliveries,"

Vertical Research Partners analyst Robert Stallard wrote in a

note earlier this month.

Last month, GE Aerospace forecast an operating profit of

about $10 billion in 2028 and said it was targeting an initial

dividend payout at 30% of net income.

(Reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by

Anil D'Silva)