Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, cautions that aviation supply chain disruptions may persist for as long as five more years, creating continued frustration for airline managers and delaying a complete recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Nassau, Bahamas, on October 29, Walsh noted that, based on discussions with airline CEOs at the event, supply chain issues within the industry are “probably not getting worse, but they’re not improving either.” The recent machinists’ strike at Boeing is one of the latest setbacks impacting post-pandemic recovery in the sector.
“Uncertainty poses challenges for airlines attempting to plan their programs, networks, and growth for 2025 and 2026,” Walsh remarked. “We’re seeing a lot of caution regarding expanding capacity. No one is certain whether aircraft on order will be delivered on time or if in-service aircraft will remain operational, given the continued supply chain constraints.”
He emphasized that while the industry is adapting, a full resolution could still take up to five years.
Additionally, new technologies are causing further difficulties. Certain advancements, such as Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan (GTF) engines, have faced performance issues, creating added challenges. “Engine reliability concerns suggest we might have pushed some technologies a bit too far,” Walsh observed. “The expected ‘hours on wing’ are not being achieved as before.”
Walsh added that no one anticipated the extent of challenges faced by the industry. According to mid-October data from Cirium, airlines globally operate 2,167 GTF-powered jets, primarily A320neo models. Of these, 687 jets—32% of the fleet—were in storage for at least 30 days, marking an increase from August when 647 jets with GTF engines were stored.
