Supply chain disruption has become the dominant issue shaping aviation maintenance and engineering, IATA Director General Willie Walsh has warned in a recent video previewing the World Maintenance & Engineering Summit 2026. Walsh said disruption to the supply chain, which intensified after the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, now represents the industry’s number one challenge.
He identified a growing bottleneck in engineering and maintenance capacity, particularly centered on engine reliability for narrowbody aircraft, as the second major pressure point. Prolonged shop visits and constrained access to parts are keeping more engines on the ground for longer, driving up leasing and maintenance costs.
Delays in new aircraft deliveries are the third key factor, Walsh noted, leaving the global fleet around two years older on average than planned. Older aircraft require more frequent and intensive maintenance, adding further cost and workload just as capacity is tight.
Aggregating these effects, IATA estimates that airlines will incur about $11.3 billion in additional costs in 2025 linked to inefficiencies stemming from supply chain problems. Walsh also highlighted the broader geopolitical environment as a fifth structural challenge, arguing that growing government spending on military programs is intensifying competition for raw materials needed for commercial aircraft production and repair.