A widening shortage of certified aircraft mechanics and steadily rising labor costs are straining the US aircraft maintenance sector even as demand for its services climbs, according to an Oliver Wyman survey of the industry. Research points to a shortfall of roughly 17,800 certified mechanics in the United States, a gap projected to expand toward 22,000 by 2027.
The labor squeeze is reshaping cost structures. Average maintenance labor rates have settled into annual growth of 5.5 to 6.0 percent, roughly double the pre-pandemic baseline near 3 percent. Operators face the dual pressure of finding enough qualified technicians and paying more for the ones they hire.
Demand for maintenance work continues to grow. Aging fleets, delivery backlogs for new aircraft, and higher aircraft utilization have combined to keep shops busy across line, component, and heavy maintenance segments. Industry analysts describe the current stretch as a maintenance super cycle, a prolonged period of elevated activity.
Training providers are responding by expanding and modernizing course offerings to move more technicians into the workforce. Closing the gap will take time given the certification requirements involved. For US carriers and independent shops, workforce planning and retention have become central to keeping aircraft available as flying hours rise.
Source: Oliver Wyman / Consulting.us -- https://www.consulting.us/news/13447/shortages-high-costs-loom-over-growing-aviation-maintenance-sector-oliver-wyman-survey