by Elsie Clark | Mar 16, 2026 | MRO IT
The US-Israel attack on Iran has not only caused the cancellation and diversion of tens of thousands of flights: maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) will also be significantly disrupted.
Iran’s ongoing retaliatory strikes on Gulf states, including Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have constrained supply chains and forced the implementation of emergency risk strategies. As airlines evacuate their fleets out of conflict zones, MRO activity is MENA is now reconsolidating around Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The risk of greater damage to aircraft is leading to an increase in MRO activity, while in the long term the war will exacerbate existing supply chain issues.
MRO demand spikes due to conflict
In the short term, the conflict has led to many airlines relocating their fleets away from the Gulf states. Strikes on sites such as Dubai International Airport have further put expensive MRO facilities at risk. And with many thousands of flights cancelled, more aircraft are on the ground than usual, necessitating a pivot to preservation and storage maintenance.
At the same time, aircraft in the air require more thorough inspection and maintenance than usual. With a higher risk of contact with foreign object debris (FOD), regulators are shortening prescribed maintenance cycles to make sure aircraft remain undamaged. And as flight paths are diverted around the conflict zone, aircraft are taking longer routes than they might do normally. This places extra strain on engines and could bring expensive shop visits forward. Inspections on avionics hardware are also stepping up as incidences of spoofing and GPS disruption continue in and around the warring countries.
Conflict exacerbates supply chain issues
Aviation and aerospace logistics have already been hard hit by the pandemic and other geopolitical events. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the current US-Israel-Iran conflict will worsen matters further, disrupting the import and export of critical MRO materials. Transportation via non-maritime means is also surging in price: air cargo costs have gone up by as much as 400%.
MROs will be forced to rely on stockpiles, and in some cases may even be unable to secure the parts needed at a reasonable price. Costs are set to go up, and with the situation remaining uncertain and unstable, it can’t be guaranteed that projects will complete on time.
World leaders are negotiating to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, even if the conflict lasts no more than a few weeks, the aftershocks will be felt for months down the line, especially in MRO. Higher prices and extended backlogs can be predicted in an aviation industry that is already suffering from lengthy delays and turbulence across the supply chain.
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by Elsie Clark | Feb 18, 2026 | MRO IT
Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines have significantly boosted their in-house MRO capabilities with a new US$40 million facility. Situated at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, the facility consists of three new hangars, two for maintenance and one for paint. These provide space for simultaneous line and base maintenance for up to five narrowbodies.
By the end of 2026, another hangar will be constructed, enabling base maintenance for a further five aircraft. Güliz Öztürk, chief executive of Pegasus Airlines, said:
Every investment we make in technical infrastructure takes our operational strength one step further. Our aircraft maintenance centre investment at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport is a strategic milestone in Pegasus’ sustainable growth journey. Our new hangars will not only enable us to manage the maintenance needs of our growing fleet more effectively, but also accelerate our transformation focused on digitalisation and efficiency. By managing our aircraft maintenance processes more quickly and in a more optimised way, we aim to provide our guests with an ever more seamless travel experience.
The facility will support a range of technical processes, from avionics modification to aircraft painting and engine changing. Digitisation has been a key consideration in the construction, with the facility boasting a digital warehouse and tool management system, as well as AI-enhanced occupational health solutions.
Together, the hangars will create 200 jobs. While currently only caring for Pegasus aircraft, in future the airline said they would be open to third-party work as well.
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by Elsie Clark | Feb 10, 2026 | MRO IT
Under a long-term agreement, Embraer will equip Virgin Australia’s fleet of E2s with its AHEAD (Aircraft Health Analysis and Diagnosis) system. AHEAD is designed to help airlines begin a predictive maintenance programme, providing critical information for identifying problem areas before they escalate.
Collecting data inflight and on-the-ground, AHEAD facilitates real-time monitoring of essential aircraft structures. This includes APUs, avionics, flight controls, and hydraulics. Improved sustainable performance is another advantage, as AHEAD limits avoidable fuel burn due to maintenance issues. Overall, the predictive maintenance software can reduce downtime and optimise fleet availability.
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Executive General Manager, Nathan Miller said:
Our E2 jets are a game-changer, delivering a more reliable, efficient and comfortable experience for our customers. The AHEAD tool will help us stay in front of maintenance issues, ensuring we are getting the very best out of our new aircraft and helping us strengthen operational performance across our network.
Virgin Australia already run two E2 jets and have placed firm orders for eight more. Carlos Naufel, President and CEO, Embraer Services & Support, added:
This agreement with Virgin Australia underscores Embraer’s commitment to driving digital innovation in aviation. By integrating the AHEAD platform into the E2 fleet, we are enabling predictive maintenance that reduces unscheduled downtime, optimizes operational efficiency, and lowers maintenance costs. These capabilities help Virgin Australia maximize fleet availability and improve overall operational performance.
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by Elsie Clark | Jan 26, 2026 | MRO IT
Thai Airways are awaiting approval from the board of directors to construct a US$418 million MRO hub at Utapao in Southeast Thailand.
Work on the so-called ‘smart hangar’ would begin in 2027, with 2030 set as a targeted opening date. The proposed site lies beside U-Tapao Rayong–Pattaya International Airport’s second runway, which is currently under construction. Thai Airways will pay the government, who owe the site, through a revenue-sharing model set out over decades.
The new hangar would fill a critical gap in the Thai MRO market. At present, carriers in the country send most of their aircraft abroad for repairs and maintenance, driving up costs and increasing turnaround time. Thai Airways are currently undertaking a growth transformation strategy that will see their fleet expand to 150 aircraft as it targets US$12 billion in revenue by 2033.
As the aviation industry has taken off across Southeast Asia, MRO has become an increasingly pressing issue. Recent years have seen new facilities emerge in Bali, Indonesia, as well as in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
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by Elsie Clark | Jan 16, 2026 | Connectivity, MRO IT
In a new report, Airbus predict that the centre of aviation’s afterservices market is shifting eastwards. The manufacturing and technology firm’s latest Global Services Forecast (GSF) asserts that the sector in China will more than double in value over the next 20 years, rising from US$24.8 billion in 2025 to US$63.8 billion in 2044.
The country hosts the single largest Airbus fleet in the world, with airlines such as China Southern, China Eastern, and Xiamen Air operating hundreds of Airbus aircraft between them. And the growth shows no signs of slowing: domestic passenger volumes grew by 17% in 2025 compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019, and the Global Services Forecast expects China to receive over 9,500 new aircraft in the next two decades.
Airbus add that superior connectivity services will result in huge savings across the Chinese aviation world. The report predicts that the industry will reduce expenses by US$2.2 billion with digital tech ops and a further US$5.7 billion through fuel cost reduction. The digital and connectivity space is the fastest-growing afterservices market in the country: currently worth US$1.8 billion, Airbus predict its value will rise to US$5.1 billion by 2041.
Other important segments in China include off-wing maintenance, which will be increasingly in-demand due to ageing fleets. At the same time, on-wing maintenance will become a US$6.8 billion market to care for the expected 9,500 new aircraft.
Airbus note that training and upskilling will be key to achieving growth: China’s aviation industry will need to be supported by an additional 485,000 personnel by 2044, including pilots and technicians.
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