The global aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul market is projected to reach approximately $97 billion in 2026, up from $91 billion in 2025, as airlines continue operating aging fleets amid persistent aircraft delivery backlogs from Boeing and Airbus. The combination of older airframes requiring more frequent and complex maintenance intervals and constrained new aircraft supply is extending the economic life of existing fleets and driving sustained demand for aftermarket services.

A labor shortage in aviation maintenance represents one of the most significant near-term constraints on MRO capacity expansion. FAA-certificated airframe and powerplant mechanics are retiring faster than training pipelines can replace them, with multiple MRO operators reporting that staffing limitations are capping throughput at existing facilities more than hangar space or tooling constraints. Supply chain volatility for aircraft components and raw materials adds further pressure, with lead times on certain parts extending well beyond historical norms.

US-based MRO providers are expanding through both organic facility growth and acquisition activity. Additive manufacturing is emerging as a production method allowing shops to produce certain components on demand, reducing inventory requirements and accelerating turnaround times. The Southeast US remains an active zone for MRO investment, driven by airline hub presence in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville and proximity to major aerospace supply chain networks in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Source: Precision Aviation Group -- https://www.precisionaviationgroup.com/publications/aviation-mro-growth/