IATA warns supply chain issues remain aviation’s biggest pain point

Global air transport faced serious challenges in 2025 due to disruptions in the supply of new aircraft and engines, Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has said.

Walsh said that costs stemming from delayed deliveries of aircraft and engines exceeded $11 billion over the past year, Caliber.Az reports.

“Supply chain problems became the most painful issue for airlines in 2025. Demand for travel clearly outpaced the industry’s capacity: carriers repeatedly faced delays in aircraft and engine deliveries, shortages in maintenance capacity, and rising costs, which are estimated to have exceeded $11 billion,” the statement said.

As a result, airlines were forced to keep existing aircraft in service for longer periods and increase flight utilisation. With load factors approaching 84%, these measures helped cope with peak demand, but Walsh stressed that they represent only a temporary solution.

According to the IATA chief, the industry needs a sustainable path out of the crisis, with 2025 marking the low point and 2026 expected to become a year of recovery.

“Every new aircraft means a quieter and more environmentally friendly fleet, greater capacity, and more routes—exactly what both airlines and passengers are waiting for,” Walsh added.

IATA data show that global air travel demand grew by 5.3% in 2025. International traffic increased by 7.1%, while domestic travel rose by 2.4%.

Following a sharp post-pandemic rebound, the industry has returned to more typical and historically sustainable growth rates. However, this steady growth has once again highlighted two key challenges for aviation: decarbonization and supply chain disruptions.

“Decarbonization is the foundation of the industry’s long-term development. Countries whose economies directly benefit from aviation and for which connectivity is strategically important must establish supportive fiscal policies. This primarily includes accelerating energy sector development and scaling up the production of sustainable aviation fuel,” Walsh emphasised.

By Khagan Isayev