At the inaugural World Maintenance and Engineering Symposium, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued an urgent call for collaboration across the aviation sector to address persistent aerospace supply chain failures.
Driven by delivery delays, part shortages, and maintenance constraints, these disruptions cost airlines an estimated $11 billion in 2025.
With a global aircraft order backlog exceeding 18,000 planes and the average fleet age reaching a record 15.2 years, airlines are currently short over 5,000 fuel-efficient replacement aircraft.
“The supply chain is under real pressure, but this is not a reason for pessimism. It is a reason for action,” said Stuart Fox, IATA’s Director of Flight and Technical Operations. “These four priorities would be an important step for OEMs, suppliers, MROs, lessors, regulators, and airlines working together to achieve resilient aerospace supply chains.”
To mitigate ongoing operational disruptions and soaring maintenance costs, IATA has detailed four critical action areas:
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Enhance Supply Chain Visibility: IATA urges manufacturers to provide earlier, more reliable data regarding delivery delays, repair turnaround times, and part availability. Clearer communication allows airlines to effectively plan global network operations.
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Open Up the Aftermarket: Longstanding commercial restrictions on tooling, repair instructions, and spares distribution limit competition and inflate waiting times. IATA calls for wider commitment to principles like those in the IATA-CFM agreement, which reinforce access to safe, alternative third-party MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services and certified parts.
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Unlock Data, Digitalization, and AI: Integrating airline maintenance systems with external market intelligence will optimize inventory management and strengthen warranty claims. Furthermore, AI can predict demand and automate manual processes. To support this, IATA is partnering with the International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP) and offering its MRO SmartHub platform to airlines at no cost via a data participation program.
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Build Human Capacity: With Boeing estimating a need for 710,000 new technicians over the next 20 years, IATA emphasizes the need to streamline recruitment, training, and licensing. Expanding training capacity and establishing cross-border skills recognition are essential to filling the labor gap.
In addition to supply chain reforms, IATA is advocating for realistic, globally coordinated timelines regarding mandatory new aircraft equipment and avionics upgrades.
The association has raised concerns with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding deadlines for systems such as GADSS (Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System), ROAAS (Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting Systems), and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast).
“This is not about delaying safety. It is about making safety deliverable,” Fox emphasized. “Global safety improvements require globally coordinated implementation timelines that reflect certification, equipment availability, and installation capacity.”
