The International Air Transport Association (IATA) have unveiled four areas for focus to resolve aviation’s supply chain issues.
Geopolitical tensions and the lingering aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic have caused disruption across global supply chains for years now. Leading manufacturers Airbus and Boeing still have huge delivery backlogs that frustrate airline expansion plans, forcing older planes into service for longer. These complications act as a brake on aviation’s growth despite improved efficiencies, reduced bureaucracy, and the deployment of technology.
Stuart Fox, IATA’s Director, Flight and Technical Operations, has outlined four areas where the industry needs to improve to manage supply chain disruption better. In a speech at the IATA World Maintenance and Engineering Symposium in Madrid, he emphasised the importance of:
- Improved visibility and information sharing between airlines and manufacturers, to avoid bottlenecks and support operational planning.
- Boosting aftermarket competition, including widening access to third-party MRO and reducing restrictions on repair instructions. This will reduce costs and waiting times.
- Use of technology and data, including AI. Integrating systems and accelerating automation will produce aircraft management.
- Invest in the workforce as a shortage of technicians looms. Tech can help plug gaps, but the aviation industry still needs to establish clear training pathways and expand recruitment.
Fox concluded:
The supply chain is under real pressure, but this is not a reason for pessimism. It is a reason for action. These four priorities alone are not complete solutions. But they would be an important step for OEMs, suppliers, MROs, lessors, regulators, and airlines working together to achieve the resilient aerospace supply chains that global connectivity needs.
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