Aviation MRO
Aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) encompasses the inspections, repairs, modifications, and overhauls required to keep aircraft airworthy. The global aviation MRO market entered a structural super-cycle in the mid-2020s, driven by aging fleets (record average fleet age of 15.2 years), aircraft delivery delays, an order backlog exceeding 18,000 units, sustained post-pandemic air travel demand, and the rapid expansion of next-generation engine programs.[^c8][^c3] After reaching USD 114 billion in 2024 — exceeding the pre-COVID peak — the market grew to over USD 136 billion in 2025, with spending projected to approach USD 193 billion by the end of the decade.[^c1][^c2][^c4]
The July 2026 Farnborough International Airshow underscored the scale of MRO activity, with MTU Aero Engines securing approximately USD 500 million in orders across narrowbody and widebody programmes, and multiple major service agreements signed.[^c10] CFM International secured simultaneous FAA and EASA certification for the LEAP-1B HPT durability kit and engine-level certification for the reverse bleed system, extending LEAP time-on-wing in harsh environments.[^c11] Lufthansa Technik deepened its presence in Portugal with a EUR 223 million investment contract for a 50,000-square-metre component MRO facility, while also entering rotary-wing MRO through a Chinook sustainment partnership with Boeing. Collins Aerospace and Etihad Engineering established a nacelle and thrust reverser MRO joint venture in Abu Dhabi, and StandardAero signed a multi-year LEAP engine LeaseTEAM agreement with lessor Avolon.
The sector is governed by a complex regulatory framework. In Europe, [[EASA Part 145]] establishes certification requirements for maintenance organizations and, since 2022, has mandated [[Safety Management Systems]] (SMS). In the United States, [[FAA Part 145]] regulates repair stations, with SMS requirements expanding to U.S. stations holding EASA approvals. [[EASA Part-IS]], effective 22 February 2026 for Part-145 organizations, requires the integration of information security management systems with existing safety and quality frameworks, with enforcement audits now underway.
The MRO industry is contending with a severe [[Technician Shortage]], with Boeing's 2025 Pilot and Technician Outlook projecting a need for 710,000 new maintenance technicians globally over the next 20 years.[^c5] The ARSA 2026 Global Fleet and MRO Market Report projects a maintenance workforce supply deficit of approximately 43,000 (24%) by 2027, with the bleakest scenario at over 48,000 (27%), corresponding to approximately USD 14 billion in unrealized annual revenue.[^c12] Technology adoption is accelerating across the sector, with AI adoption among MRO organizations reaching 67% in 2026.[^c7]
Engine OEMs are investing over a billion dollars each in MRO capacity expansion. CFM's open MRO ecosystem now includes eight Premier MRO shops globally, with MTU Maintenance Fort Worth, Iberia Maintenance, and SSAMC added in the past 18 months. Safran inaugurated a USD 140 million LEAP MRO complex in Queretaro, Mexico and partnered with SIA Engineering Company for a USD 118 million joint-venture LEAP facility in Singapore. In China, ST Engineering and SF Airlines inaugurated a new airframe MRO facility in Ezhou, while SSAMC became China's first LEAP Premier MRO provider, authorized for the LEAP-1C powering the COMAC C919.[^c6] Major carriers such as Emirates are investing in large-scale in-house MRO facilities, including a USD 5.1 billion engineering complex at Dubai South, creating a structural shift as airlines increasingly act as their own maintenance providers. Fuel price volatility in 2026 has added a new layer of complexity, though regulated maintenance requirements ensure demand remains resilient.[^c9]
Sustainability is an increasing priority, with [[Aircraft End-of-Life and Sustainability]] practices including AFRA-certified recycling, used serviceable material (USM) programs, and CORSIA offsetting obligations now in effect with a positive sectoral growth factor. See the individual market, company, and technology pages for detailed breakdowns.