Locatory.com Parts Searches Hit 2026 High in October as Winter Maintenance Strains Supply
Why It MattersRecurring GE90 accessory shortages and rising landing gear repair times show maintenance supply constraints deepening into the winter heavy-maintenance season, tying up aircraft and favouring operators and suppliers that hold spares.
October was the busiest month of 2026 for the second consecutive month on Locatory.com, with aircraft parts searches up 21% from September. By the end of October, marketplace search activity had reached about 93% of the full-year 2025 total.
Demand concentrated on standard hardware, seals and landing gear components. Standard hardware and seals made up 50% of the Most Searched list, led by a self-locking nut (A35860-10), while airframe, landing gear and brake parts tripled their share compared with September. Wheel and brake material drove that category, led by seven ATR 42 brake assembly parts. Demand turned over almost completely from September, with only 12% of the list carried over; four items appeared for a third month in a row, including a Boeing 757 turbine engine ignition plug (305766-1) and a CFM56-5B bolt (83769H16-14).
On the Hardest to Find list, engine components led at 43%, nearly double September's share, driven largely by recurring GE90 shortages. GE90/Boeing 777 engine accessories account for 28% of the list and 70% of its engine entries, their fifth appearance in six months after a gap in September; examples include fuel-oil cooler/lube servo assemblies 1838M88P03 and 1838M88P11. Standard hardware and seals fell to 25%, electrical/avionics held at 13%, airframe/landing gear rose to 13% and cabin/safety fell to 6%. Some 42% of hard-to-find part numbers carried over from September.
The figures echo concerns raised at MRO Europe 2026 in Amsterdam, where airlines, MROs and suppliers reported longer repair turnaround times and limited parts availability. Embraer's Frank Stevens said an aircraft can arrive with 98% of required parts and still stay grounded for the missing 2%, and AFI KLM E&M's Peter van Helden called the market a "golden age" for companies holding spare parts. GE Aerospace CFO Rahul Ghai said 70% of the GE90 fleet has yet to undergo a second shop visit. IATP reported landing gear repair turnaround times rising from about 50 to as much as 150 days.
Winter is a key heavy-maintenance period in Europe and North America. KLM announced flight cancellations from 26 October through early March 2027, citing extended maintenance, delayed repairs and late replacement parts. IATA forecasts fuel at 31.4% of airline operating costs in 2026, up from 25.4% in 2025, and jet fuel reached $4.90 per gallon on 22 October, 96% above its pre-war level, per the Argus US Jet Fuel Index. HAECO warned geopolitical disruption is forcing companies to rethink logistics routes and inventory locations.
