The global representative body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has highlighted the delays in deliveries of new airliners. These delays are having real cost consequences for airlines, the association pointed out at its recent AGM.
“The aircraft order backlog is over 18 000. And the average fleet age has reached a record 15.2 years,” highlighted IATA director-general Willie Walsh, in his 'Report on the Air Transport Industry'. “Moreover, being short over 5 000 more fuel-efficient replacement aircraft that airlines had counted on means missed efficiency gains, not to mention higher lease rates and increased maintenance costs. In total, supply chain failures cost airlines at least $11-billion in 2025. Today’s higher fuel prices will only make that worse.”
From IATA’s point of view, overcoming these ongoing delays in the supply of new aircraft requires implementing four priorities. These are to enhance the visibility of the supply chain; open up the aftermarket; exploit data, digitalisation and AI; and build human capacity.
“Alongside aircraft delivery delays, engine durability issues, shortages of materials and spare parts, and constrained maintenance capacity are disrupting airline operations,” pointed out IATA flight and technical operations director Stuart Fox. “Addressing these challenges will require practical action and cooperation across the aviation value chain.”
