Air Transport USM Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Component Type (Engine, Landing Gear, Hydraulic System, Avionics, and Others), By Aircraft Type (Wide-Body, Narrow-Body, Regional Jets, and Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 2.93 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.61%
Fastest Growing Segment	Wide-Body
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 3.84 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Air Transport USM Market will grow from USD 2.93 Billion in 2025 to USD 3.84 Billion by 2031 at a 4.61% CAGR. The Global Air Transport Used Serviceable Material (USM) market encompasses recertified aircraft components and systems harvested from retired airframes, providing operators with a cost-effective alternative to new original equipment manufacturer parts for maintenance and overhaul. The primary drivers propelling this market include the urgent necessity to reduce airline operating expenses and the operational requirement to maintain aging fleets amidst severe production delays for new aircraft. These factors compel carriers to extend the service life of existing assets, thereby intensifying the demand for secondary market components to ensure fleet readiness and minimize expensive aircraft downtime.

However, a significant challenge hindering market expansion is the acute scarcity of high-quality inventory resulting from deferred aircraft retirements. As airlines retain older vessels longer to compensate for delivery shortfalls, the availability of dismantled airframes—the essential feedstock for USM—has diminished. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, the global backlog of unfulfilled new aircraft orders reached a historic high of over 17,000 units. This structural bottleneck restricts the volume of aircraft entering the dismantling pipeline, directly limiting the supply of serviceable parts needed to meet growing industry demand.

Key Market Drivers

The adoption of Used Serviceable Material (USM) to mitigate new part supply chain disruptions and lead times is currently the most influential driver reshaping the market. With Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) facing severe production bottlenecks for engines and structural components, carriers are increasingly integrating secondary market parts to circumvent extended lead times and ensure fleet availability. This shift represents a strategic sourcing realignment, as operators cannot afford the operational paralysis caused by the unavailability of factory-new components, opting instead for recertified used parts to keep aircraft flying. The impact of this procurement shift is evident in the performance of key aftermarket suppliers; according to AAR Corp, July 2024, in the 'Fiscal Year 2024 Results', sales to commercial customers surged 23% year-over-year, a growth trajectory explicitly attributed to the heightened demand for used serviceable material and parts supply solutions.

Escalating airline demand for cost-effective maintenance and overhaul solutions serves as the second critical driver, significantly amplified by the financial pressures of operating older, less efficient aircraft. As airlines extend the service lives of existing airframes, the frequency of heavy maintenance visits and component replacements rises, necessitating affordable alternatives to expensive new parts to protect thin operating margins. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, the average age of the global commercial fleet climbed to a record high of 14.8 years. This aging profile forces carriers to balance rigorous safety standards with strict budget constraints. According to the International Air Transport Association, June 2024, in the 'Global Outlook for Air Transport', the industry’s return on invested capital was forecast to reach only 5.7% in 2024, lagging well behind the average cost of capital. Consequently, the procurement of cost-efficient USM has become essential for airlines striving to maintain financial viability while managing the intensive upkeep of prolonged-service assets.

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Key Market Challenges

The acute scarcity of high-quality inventory resulting from deferred aircraft retirements currently restricts the expansion of the Global Air Transport USM Market. This sector relies heavily on a steady stream of retired airframes to generate the recertified components that operators require. However, because airlines are compelled to keep aging vessels in service to maintain capacity, the dismantling pipeline has effectively dried up. This retention of older assets cuts off the primary source of feedstock, creating a severe supply shock that prevents USM providers from capitalizing on the industry's strong demand for lower-cost maintenance alternatives.

Consequently, the market faces a hard ceiling on revenue growth, as suppliers cannot acquire the sufficient volume of inventory needed to execute transactions. This bottleneck is directly linked to the production difficulties facing original equipment manufacturers, which stall fleet renewal plans. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, global aircraft deliveries fell to just 1,254 units, significantly trailing the levels required for normal industry turnover. This delivery deficit forces carriers to delay scrappage decisions indefinitely, ensuring that the essential airframes required for component harvest remain in active service rather than entering the secondary supply chain.

Key Market Trends

The strategic consolidation of USM providers through mergers and acquisitions is reshaping the market as companies seek to secure component supply lines and expand repair capabilities. Large aftermarket integrators are aggressively acquiring specialized repair shops to create vertically integrated entities, allowing them to control feedstock and internalize component recertification. This structural shift enables providers to offer comprehensive component support while creating high barriers to entry for smaller competitors. This trend was highlighted when a major aftermarket provider expanded its portfolio significantly; according to AAR Corp, March 2024, in the 'AAR completes acquisition of Triumph Group's Product Support business' press release, the company finalized the purchase of Triumph Group’s Product Support business for $725 million, directly bolstering its global repair footprint and access to serviceable inventory.

The expansion of USM usage to support passenger-to-freighter conversions has emerged as a distinct growth vector, decoupled from standard fleet maintenance cycles. As operators convert aging passenger aircraft into cargo vessels, the economic viability of these programs relies heavily on the integration of secondary market components for engines, landing gear, and avionics upgrades. Utilizing new OEM parts for these conversions often destroys the return on investment, making USM the exclusive sourcing standard for this segment. This opportunity is underscored by long-term industry projections; according to Boeing, November 2024, in the 'World Air Cargo Forecast 2024', the sector will require 1,840 freighter conversions over the next 20 years, driving sustained consumption of recertified material for these extensive modification programs.

Segmental Insights

The Wide-Body aircraft segment is currently positioned as the fastest-growing category within the Global Air Transport USM Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the accelerated retirement of aging twin-aisle fleets, such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330, which creates a robust inventory of high-value serviceable components. Concurrently, the resurgence of international long-haul travel, paired with manufacturing delays for new wide-body programs, compels operators to extend the service life of current fleets. Consequently, airlines increasingly utilize certified used materials to maintain airworthiness and optimize operational expenditures.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the Air Transport USM market due to its large inventory of mature aircraft and high retirement rates. This availability ensures a consistent supply of dismantled components necessary for maintenance and repair operations. The region is supported by a well-developed infrastructure for aircraft recycling and parts distribution. Furthermore, the Federal Aviation Administration enforces strict certification standards that uphold the safety and quality of used serviceable materials. These regulatory frameworks build market confidence and facilitate the efficient trade of components, thereby sustaining the region's leadership.

Recent Developments

• In November 2025, Satair entered into an agreement to acquire Unical Aviation Inc., a prominent supplier of aircraft parts and Used Serviceable Material (USM), along with its subsidiary specializing in aircraft disassembly and storage. This strategic acquisition was undertaken to significantly strengthen the company's capabilities in the USM market and enhance its end-of-life aircraft services. The transaction included multiple operational sites across North America and Europe, adding substantial revenue and workforce to the organization's global network. By integrating these assets, the company aimed to deliver comprehensive lifecycle management solutions, ensuring responsible material practices and maximizing asset value for the aerospace industry.
• In March 2025, AAR CORP. signed an extension of its exclusive Serviceable Engine Products agreement with FTAI Aviation Ltd., solidifying their collaboration on CFM56 used serviceable material (USM) through 2030. Under this renewed partnership, the company continued to manage the teardown, repair, marketing, and sales of spare parts sourced from a large pool of CFM56 engines. The arrangement supported the partner's dedicated module factory, which focused on the repair and refurbishment of specific engine models. This long-term commitment ensured a steady supply of high-demand USM to the global aviation aftermarket, offering cost-effective maintenance solutions for airlines utilizing these engine platforms.
• In December 2024, VSE Corporation completed its acquisition of Kellstrom Aerospace Group, a global distributor and service provider for the commercial aerospace engine aftermarket. This transaction, valued at approximately US$200 million, significantly enhanced the acquiring company's exposure to the Used Serviceable Material (USM) sector, which accounted for a substantial portion of the target's revenue. The integration of this new entity was intended to strengthen the company's OEM-centric strategy and expand its technical MRO capabilities. By combining resources, the organization aimed to capitalize on the growing demand for engine-focused products and provide more comprehensive aftermarket solutions to international operators.
• In June 2024, GA Telesis announced a significant expansion of its Used Serviceable Material (USM) inventory through the disassembly of a record number of CFM56-7B engines. The company's Flight Solutions Group managed the distribution of the USM generated from these teardowns, reinforcing its position as a leading independent aftermarket supplier. This strategic move was designed to support global airline and MRO customers anticipating a surge in shop visits for this engine type. The influx of material was projected to double the business unit's single-aisle jet engine component product lines, ensuring availability of critical parts for fleet maintenance requirements worldwide.

Key Market Players

• AerFin Limited
• The Boeing Company
• General Electric Company
• Honeywell International Inc.
• GA Telesis, LLC
• Meggitt PLC
• MTU Aero Engines AG
• RTX Corporation
• Rolls-Royce plc
• AAR Corp.

By Component Type	By Aircraft Type	By Region
Engine Landing Gear Hydraulic System Avionics and Others	Wide-Body Narrow-Body Regional Jets and Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Air Transport USM Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Air Transport USM Market, By Component Type:

• Engine
• Landing Gear
• Hydraulic System
• Avionics
• and Others

• Air Transport USM Market, By Aircraft Type:

• Wide-Body
• Narrow-Body
• Regional Jets
• and Others

• Air Transport USM Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE