Aircraft Supply Company FTAI Capitalizes on Industry-Wide Equipment Shortages

FTAI Aviation (FTAI 0.44%), a New York-based aircraft maintenance and leasing specialist, is emerging as a critical player in an aviation sector grappling with severe supply chain disruptions. The company's dual focus on leasing aircraft/assets and engine refurbishment positions it to capitalize on systemic industry bottlenecks.

Specialization in CFM56 and V2500 engines—which power workhorse jets like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320—gives FTAI strategic leverage. Bain & Co warns maintenance backlogs won't peak until 2026, with repair turnaround times already up 35-150% across engine types. Pandemic-era production halts, skilled labor shortages, and aging fleets compound the crisis.

Major manufacturers like Boeing face mounting delays, amplifying demand for FTAI's services. The company operates in what consulting firms describe as aviation's new 'choke point'—where maintenance capacity constraints threaten to ground fleets industry-wide.