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Global Commercial Aviation MRO Market Overview (2025/26)

The global commercial aircraft MRO market was valued at approximately USD 96.29 billion in 2025/26, with projections pointing to USD 122.55 billion by 2030/31 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.94%. This robust growth is driven by several converging forces:

Top 10 Commercial Aviation MRO Companies — 2025/26 Rankings

The following rankings are based on estimated MRO revenue, breadth of services, geographic reach, technological capability, customer base, and market recognition from industry analysts, including Aviation Week, Oliver Wyman, and independent 91ÖÆƬ³§. Where 2020 rankings are compared, notable shifts are highlighted.

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Established in October 1994 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Technik remains the world's largest independent commercial aviation MRO provider by revenue and service breadth. The company operates through a global group of 35+ subsidiaries and joint ventures across five continents, offering the most comprehensive end-to-end MRO portfolio in the industry — covering airframe, engine, component, cabin, VIP aircraft, and digital services.

Key Highlights: In March 2025, Lufthansa Technik and GE Aerospace jointly opened the USD 267 million XEOS LEAP engine maintenance centre in Poland, targeting 250 engine overhauls annually. In April 2025, Lufthansa Technik launched a dedicated Used Serviceable Material (USM) business for North American clients, capturing growing demand for cost-effective part sourcing. The company has also invested heavily in digital solutions including its AVIATAR open platform for predictive maintenance, now used by dozens of airlines globally. (Up from #3 in 2020)

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Following the separation of GE HealthCare and GE Vernova, GE Aerospace has emerged as a pure-play aviation company with its MRO operations central to its business model. GE Aerospace provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul for its extensive portfolio of commercial jet engines — including the dominant CFM56, CF6, GE90, GEnx, LEAP, and GE9X families — through one of the largest global MRO service networks in aviation. Its MRO service reach spans hundreds of partner facilities worldwide.

Key Highlights: GE Aerospace committed over USD 1 billion in global MRO facility investments through 2026, including USD 130 million in European component repair facilities announced in October 2024. The company is the primary MRO partner for CFM International's LEAP engines, critical to the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo families. GE Aerospace's scale, engine installed base, and long-term Total Care agreements with major carriers secure its position near the top of this ranking. (New entry — previously listed as GE Aviation)

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ST Engineering Aerospace, the aviation arm of Singapore's ST Engineering conglomerate, is consistently ranked as the world's largest airframe MRO provider by capacity. Operating from facilities in Singapore, the United States (Mobile, Alabama; San Antonio, Texas), and Europe, the company serves commercial and government aviation customers with a full spectrum of airframe, engine, component, and cabin MRO services. Aviation Week's most recent Top 10 MRO survey confirmed ST Engineering as the #1 airframe MRO globally.

Key Highlights: ST Engineering has expanded its North American footprint significantly, capitalizing on demand from US carriers and government clients. The company's investment in digital MRO, including automated structural inspection and AI-driven maintenance scheduling, reinforces its competitive position. Its diversified revenue base across military and commercial customers provides stability in volatile market cycles. (Up from #2 in 2020, where it was listed as 'ST Aerospace')

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AFI KLM E&M is the joint MRO entity of the Air France-KLM Group, operating as a market leader in commercial aviation MRO across engines, airframes, components, and avionics. With facilities at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol airports, supplemented by a global network of affiliates and third-party customers, the company serves both its parent group and a diverse roster of external airline clients worldwide.

Key Highlights: In 2024, AFI KLM E&M unveiled AI-powered maintenance scheduling systems for Airbus A320 and A350 fleets, setting a new benchmark for data-driven MRO planning. The company's MRO Lab innovation program continues to pioneer developments in technician mobility tools, IoT-connected aircraft systems, and Big Data-driven predictive maintenance. Third-party revenues — which now rival the internal group business — have grown substantially as airlines seek to outsource maintenance to high-quality external providers. (Previously ranked #4 — stable)

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HAECO Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific since November 2018, is one of Asia's most comprehensive MRO conglomerates. Operating major facilities in Hong Kong, Xiamen, Jinjiang, and the United States (HAECO Americas in Greensboro, NC), HAECO provides airframe, line maintenance, component, cabin, and freighter conversion services to over 80 airline customers globally. Aviation Week's survey ranks HAECO consistently as the #2 global airframe MRO by capacity.

Key Highlights: HAECO has significantly expanded its freighter conversion business, capitalizing on the surge in e-commerce driven air cargo demand. The group's multi-site strategy in mainland China, including TAECO in Xiamen and TEXL in Jinjiang, positions it to serve the world's fastest-growing aviation market. HAECO Americas continues to attract US carrier heavy maintenance contracts. (Previously ranked #1 as 'Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering' — adjusted based on revenue size relative to newer competitors)

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Safran is a French multinational aerospace and defense group whose engine MRO capabilities — primarily through CFM International (a 50/50 joint venture with GE Aerospace) — make it one of the most important MRO players in commercial aviation. Safran's CFM56 engine powers thousands of Boeing 737 Classic/NG and Airbus A320ceo aircraft worldwide, while the LEAP engine (also produced by CFM) is the exclusive powerplant for the 737 MAX and one of two options for the A320neo family. Safran operates a global network of engine maintenance shops and authorized service centers.

Key Highlights: Safran's integrated position as both OEM and MRO provider creates a powerful competitive advantage. Its portfolio also includes avionics and cabin MRO through Safran Avionics and Safran Seats. The company has expanded MRO capacity in Asia and the Middle East to capture growing demand in these high-growth regions. (New entry — elevated by scale of CFM engine MRO activity)

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Delta TechOps, the MRO division of Delta Air Lines, is the largest airline-owned MRO provider in North America and one of the most respected in the world. Established in 1929 alongside Delta Air Lines itself, the division has grown into a full-service MRO powerhouse offering heavy airframe maintenance, engine overhauls, component repair, and avionics services — not only for Delta's own fleet but for a growing roster of third-party airline customers spanning cargo, charter, and commercial aviation.

Key Highlights: In mid-2025, Delta TechOps approached USD 1 billion in annual third-party revenue, a milestone reflecting growing external demand for its capabilities. The company has invested heavily in predictive maintenance technology and workforce development, with a strong focus on next-generation aircraft types including the Airbus A321neo and Airbus A350. Its Atlanta super-hub concentration model offers cost advantages and deep technical expertise. (Previously ranked #7 — stable)

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AAR Corp. is North America's largest publicly traded independent aviation MRO and supply chain company, providing a wide array of services to commercial airlines, government agencies, and defense customers. Founded in 1951, AAR operates airframe MRO facilities across the US and internationally, complemented by component repair, landing gear overhaul, engineering services, and a large aviation products distribution business.

Key Highlights: AAR has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy in recent years, purchasing Product Support Inc. and other component MRO businesses to deepen its capabilities. The company's government and defense services segment provides revenue stability and growth as militaries worldwide modernize aging fleets. AAR's recent expansion into the UK market through partnerships positions it to capitalize on European MRO demand growth. (Previously ranked #5 — slight downward shift due to larger competitors' growth)

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Turkish Technic, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, has grown from a primarily internal airline MRO operation into a globally recognized third-party MRO provider over the past decade. Its state-of-the-art facilities at Istanbul Airport — one of the world's busiest aviation hubs — provide airframe heavy maintenance, engine services, component overhaul, and line maintenance for both Boeing and Airbus platforms. Turkish Technic now serves over 600 airline customers across more than 100 countries.

Key Highlights: Turkish Technic has significantly expanded its component MRO capabilities, investing in new technologies to support next-generation aircraft types. The company's strategic location bridging Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa gives it unique geographic advantages in attracting customers from multiple high-growth regions. Istanbul's emergence as a global aviation hub has directly accelerated Turkish Technic's external revenue growth. (Previously ranked #9 — stable)

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SIA Engineering Company is a leading MRO provider in the Asia-Pacific region, headquartered in Singapore and benefiting from its long-standing partnership with Singapore Airlines — one of the world's most respected carriers. SIAEC provides line and base maintenance, fleet management, and component overhaul services, supported by a network of joint ventures with OEM partners including Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, GE Aerospace, and Honeywell. Its partnerships give it deep capability in engine services and avionics.

Key Highlights: SIAEC has deepened its digital transformation efforts through AI-driven maintenance analytics, predictive fault detection, and automated line maintenance tools. Its joint venture network spans Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and beyond, extending its reach across the ASEAN region. SIAEC's consistent quality standards and close OEM relationships make it a preferred MRO partner for long-haul carriers operating through Singapore. (Previously ranked #6 as 'SIA Engineering' — slight downward adjustment)

Other Notable MRO Providers Worth Watching

Several companies merit close attention even outside the top 10. SR Technics (Zurich, Switzerland), now part of Mubadala Aerospace, remains a strong European airframe and engine MRO competitor. MTU Maintenance (Germany) is a premier engine MRO specialist for CFM56, V2500, and PT6 engine families. Rolls-Royce (UK) is the dominant provider for Trent engine MRO, serving long-haul twin-aisle operators globally. Boeing Global Services has grown rapidly into a major MRO player by integrating Aviall parts distribution and engineering services. TAP Maintenance & Engineering (Portugal) continues to serve European and South American carriers with competitive heavy check pricing. Emirates Engineering (UAE) is an increasingly important regional player serving one of the world's largest wide-body fleets. In South Asia, GMR Aero Technic (India) and Air India Engineering Services are expanding rapidly as India's aviation market grows toward 700+ aircraft by 2030.

Key Trends Reshaping MRO in 2025/26

1. Engine MRO Dominates — GTF Crisis Accelerates Shop Visits

The Pratt & Whitney GTF powder metal contamination issue, first disclosed in 2023, has forced hundreds of accelerated engine removals and heavy shop visits, overwhelming engine MRO capacity globally. This has created a two-year-plus backlog at major shop facilities and driven significant price inflation for GTF maintenance slots — an unprecedented market disruption benefiting all major engine MRO providers.

2. Predictive Maintenance & AI Go Mainstream

AI-driven health monitoring, machine learning-based fault prediction, and digital twin simulations are moving from pilots to production deployments across leading MRO providers. Lufthansa Technik's AVIATAR, AFI KLM E&M's AI scheduling platform, and Boeing Global Services' analytics tools are setting new industry standards for condition-based maintenance.

3. Workforce Shortage Is the Critical Constraint

The aviation MRO industry faces an acute shortage of licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (LAMEs/AMTs) globally. Boeing estimates the commercial aviation sector will need 610,000 new maintenance technicians over the next 20 years. This workforce gap is constraining MRO throughput, driving wage inflation, and prompting investment in automation, augmented reality training tools, and robotics-assisted inspections.

4. Sustainability and Green MRO

Airlines and MRO providers face mounting pressure to reduce the environmental footprint of maintenance operations. Initiatives include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use in ground operations, recycling and remanufacturing of serviceable components (USM programs), energy-efficient hangar operations, and the development of maintenance protocols for hybrid-electric and hydrogen aircraft platforms.

5. Independent MROs vs. OEM Encroachment

OEM-affiliated MRO networks (GE Aerospace, Safran, Pratt & Whitney, Airbus, Boeing) are aggressively capturing greater market share through long-term service agreements tied to aircraft or engine sales. Independent MROs are responding with consolidation, scale investments, and digital differentiation to protect margin. The tension between OEM capture and independent competition is one of the defining strategic dynamics of the 2020s MRO market.

2020 vs. 2025/26 Ranking Comparison

Conclusion

The global commercial aviation MRO industry has matured dramatically since 2020. What was a ~USD 82.5 billion market in 2020 has grown to approximately USD 96 billion in 2025 and is firmly on track toward USD 120+ billion by 2030. The industry's defining characteristics today are engine MRO capacity pressure (driven by next-generation powerplant complexity and the GTF remediation program), acute workforce shortages, rapid digital transformation, and the strategic battle between OEM service networks and independent MRO providers.

For airlines, the key challenge is securing long-term MRO capacity at competitive cost as demand outpaces supply — particularly for engine shop visits. For MRO providers, the priority is investing in digital tools, workforce development, and scale to remain competitive in an increasingly consolidated and technology-driven landscape.

The rankings above reflect these evolving dynamics. Companies like Lufthansa Technik and ST Engineering have strengthened their positions through scale, geographic diversification, and digital investment. Engine OEM-linked MRO players like GE Aerospace and Safran have moved up as their installed base grows and long-term service agreements capture a larger share of the aftermarket. The next five years will likely see further consolidation among independent MROs and continued OEM encroachment — making it one of the most strategically consequential periods in commercial aviation MRO history.

Sources: Aviation Week Network, 91ÖÆƬ³§, Oliver Wyman MRO Survey, SkyQuest, company annual reports (2023–2024), and industry press releases (2024–2025).