Labor shortages, material cost inflation, and geopolitical tariff exposure defined the aviation MRO supply chain landscape in 2026, according to Oliver Wyman's annual MRO supply chain trends report. For the first time, geopolitical instability and tariffs entered the top-two list of MRO disruption categories -- a structural shift from prior years when material lead times and technician availability dominated the concern list.

The global active commercial fleet composition underscores the maintenance workload ahead: narrowbody aircraft -- primarily the Boeing 737 family and the Airbus A320neo family -- represent 60% of in-service aircraft in 2026 and are projected to reach 70% of the fleet by 2035. These aircraft types require high-frequency shop visits, putting sustained pressure on qualified Part 145 repair station capacity. The global airline fleet is now spread across approximately 34,600 active aircraft, and no major airline family has excess MRO slots to absorb industry-wide demand spikes.

Material costs carry compounding risk in 2026. Raw material price volatility tied to the broader global tariff environment has forced MRO operators to recalibrate their parts procurement strategies, with many shifting toward longer-term supplier agreements and strategic inventory buffers. The average MRO material markup over list price increased in 2026 as supply constraints tightened across both OEM and aftermarket channels.

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Source: Oliver Wyman -- https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2026/apr/aviation-mro-labor-and-material-supply-chain-paradigm.html