The aviation industry has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with impacts on passenger traffic, airport workforces and air cargo demand to name a few. Another less obvious area that’s been affected is the Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) sector. Read on to find out more about the challenges being faced by MROs and future issues that may arise.
Maintenance delays
When England first went into lockdown in March 2020, InterFlight received an influx of MRO requests as owners took advantage of the lull in business to carry out maintenance work on their fleets. But longer-term, demand for MRO services plummeted as measures continued and travel restrictions came into force. Many companies delayed planned maintenance work to save money, while grounded aircraft resulted in fewer AOG situations requiring emergency repairs.
Workforce challenges
Staffing issues are a broader industry trend that has been accelerated by Covid-19. Pre-pandemic, aviation employers were struggling with an ageing workforce and a lack of younger trained technicians and engineers coming through – and the problem only seems to have worsened over the past 12-18 months. As businesses recover, efforts will be needed to attract new talent to the industry and adapt to the market’s changing needs.
Fleet upgrades
Covid-19 is thought to have triggered many businesses to upgrade their fleets earlier than they otherwise would have done – bringing in newer, smaller models to replace older, larger aircraft as the virus has limited the viability of long-haul, international and connecting flights. This puts pressure on MRO suppliers to train their teams in the latest technologies in order to keep up.
As we emerge from the worst of the crisis, one key take-home from the pandemic is that forward-thinking and personalised service are more important than ever. Interflight offers flexible and bespoke solutions that can be easily adapted to meet our clients’ changing needs. To find out how we can assist with your aircraft maintenance requirements, call our team on +44 (0)1959 571125.
