Global aviation maintenance spending is running at record levels and is projected to keep climbing through the decade, according to Oliver Wyman's 2026 to 2036 fleet and MRO market forecast. Worldwide MRO demand reached $136 billion in 2025, an 8 percent increase from $126 billion in 2024, and the firm expects spending to approach $193 billion by the end of the decade, nearly double the 2019 level.

The surge is driven largely by an aging in-service fleet. Older aircraft require more frequent maintenance and more replacement parts, which has lifted prices for both components and labor and extended a maintenance supercycle that began after the pandemic. Constrained production of new aircraft is compounding the trend, as airlines keep existing jets flying longer.

Manufacturing shortfalls underscore the point. The forecast notes that Airbus produced about 54 A320-family aircraft per month at the end of 2025 against a target rate of 75 by 2027, while Boeing was cleared to build 42 of its 737 jets per month after targeting higher output. Slower deliveries mean more demand for maintenance on the current fleet.

Regional growth varies widely. Faster expansion is expected in emerging markets, while established fleets in North America and Europe continue to generate the largest base of maintenance work. The combination of fleet aging, delivery delays, and rising parts and labor costs points to sustained upward pressure on maintenance budgets for carriers worldwide over the forecast horizon.

Source: Oliver Wyman -- https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2026/feb/global-fleet-and-mro-market-forecast-2026-2036.html