Fuel‑Efficient Engines Backfire: Airlines Face Rising Costs Amid Spare‑Part Shortages

Airlines that invested in the latest fuel‑efficient engines are now grappling with higher maintenance costs that erode the expected savings. A new IATA report shows that engine durability problems, shortages of spare parts, and limited availability of spare engines are disrupting operations. The report also points to a loss of manufacturing capacity during the COVID‑19 shutdown that is proving hard to recover. As airlines scramble to keep fleets flying, the cost of ownership has risen beyond initial projections. The findings suggest that the industry must address supply‑chain bottlenecks and rebuild production capacity if the promised fuel‑efficiency gains are to materialize.