It’s a strange moment for aviation. On one hand, the headlines are dominated by disruption. Conflict in the Middle East continues to unsettle global operations, pushing up fuel and insurance costs while forcing airlines to rethink routes and schedules almost in real time. For MRO, that translates into knock-on complexity – unpredictable utilisation patterns, shifting maintenance windows, and yet more pressure on already fragile supply chains. But zoom out, and the picture looks very different.

The latest Long-Term Demand Projections from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) suggest global passenger demand will more than double by 2050. As its director general Willie Walsh put it: “The outlook for air travel is positive. People want to travel… that is good news for global economic and social development because aviation growth will catalyse opportunities, including jobs, around the world.” It is an upbeat message, but behind it sits a simple reality: every additional flight, every extra aircraft, every extended lease cycle ultimately lands on the shoulders of maintenance. And those shoulders are already under strain.