Dave Hobbs, VP Sales of aircraft assets specialist company AerFin says global demand for engine maintenance continues to climb, but the parts needed to complete repairs aren’t always keeping pace with that demand.

As airlines work to keep aircraft flying during a period of prolonged supply-chain disruption, engine MRO capacity has become one of the most closely watched pressure points in the market.

Shortages shaping the market

Across multiple fleets, the availability of critical engine material remains the defining feature of the aftermarket.

For the CFM56, the industry-wide shortage of high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades is the single biggest bottleneck. With demand far exceeding the flow of replacement parts, turnaround timelines have stretched significantly.

V2500 SelectOne operators face a different, but related, challenge. As aircraft transitions are expected to rise sharply in the latter part of 2026, demand for both engine and airframe MRO capacity is increasing across the market. Engine shop visit inductions are already rising across all major MROs, placing additional strain on an ecosystem that is not yet seeing a corresponding increase in engine teardowns.

As a result, the supply of used serviceable material remains thin. In practice, this leaves shops more reliant on newly manufactured core parts – and more exposed to the delays affecting original equipment manufacturer (OEM) production lines, at a higher price point. Compounding the issue, some large MROs are prioritising their own fleet customers, reducing the volume of third-party capacity available and pushing more work toward independent repair specialists.

Rising turnaround times – and a widening gap from pre-2020 norms

Turnaround time now varies depending on workscope and engine type. Light workscopes remain manageable, but full overhauls are facing long delays due to parts scarcity.

Typical current turnaround ranges:

CFM56 – 90–120 days for full overhaul / ~45 days for light work

V2500 – 60–70 days / ~45 days

PW4000 – 120+ days / ~60 days

CF6 – 120+ days / ~60 days

PW1100G-JM GTF – 260–365 days

LARA

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