Air Transport USM Market Report 2026

The air transport usm market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $5.87 billion in 2025 to $6.22 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in aircraft retirements supplying used serviceable material inventories, rising demand for cost-efficient maintenance solutions in commercial aviation, expansion of mro activities increasing the use of refurbished components, standardization of usm quality and certification processes, increased dismantling of older fleets to recover salvageable parts.

The air transport usm market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.61 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expected rise in next-generation aircraft retirements boosting future usm availability, growing airline focus on reducing maintenance costs through wider usm adoption, expansion of specialized aircraft dismantling and recycling facilities, increasing digital tracking and traceability of refurbished components, rising demand for sustainable mro practices supporting greater utilization of usm. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for cost-effective aircraft maintenance through harvested usm parts, rising teardown activities due to accelerated retirement of aging aircraft fleet, increasing reliance on used serviceable materials to address component shortages, expansion of oem-authorized repair and refurbishment programs, greater adoption of usm for narrow-body aircraft due to high fleet utilization.

The increase in the number of air passengers is expected to drive the air transport USM market. An air passenger refers to an individual or business engaged primarily in the transportation of people by aircraft in interstate commerce. As air traffic rises, regular aircraft maintenance through repairs and component refurbishment becomes increasingly essential. For example, in December 2024, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Canada-based organization supporting global airline operations, projected that global air passenger numbers would reach 8.7 billion in 2023. Passenger counts are expected to reach 5.2 billion in 2025, representing a 6.7% increase compared to 2024 and marking the first time the number has exceeded the five-billion threshold. Therefore, the rise in air passenger volume is fueling the growth of the air transport USM market.

Major companies in the air transport USM market are focusing on developing advanced technological solutions, such as air cargo links, to improve efficiency and optimize logistics processes. Cargo links are transportation connections that support the movement of goods by air between different locations. They integrate air and ground logistics, enhancing efficiency and ensuring timely delivery throughout the supply chain. For instance, in April 2023, A.P. Moller-Maersk, a Denmark-based shipping and logistics company, introduced a new air cargo link between the U.S. and China to enhance its logistics services and meet rising demand in the region. This route is part of Maersk’s effort to expand its air freight capabilities, enabling faster delivery times and improved supply chain performance. The service uses both dedicated freighters and commercial passenger aircraft to transport goods, supporting e-commerce and traditional shipping needs. This initiative reflects Maersk’s commitment to integrated logistics solutions and its adaptation to changing market conditions.

In September 2024, Itochu Corporation, a Japan-based conglomerate, acquired Killick Aerospace for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition expanded Itochu’s commercial aviation business into aftermarket services and aimed to generate synergies between its leasing activities and Killick’s USM solutions for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Killick Aerospace, an Ireland-based company specializing in used serviceable material (USM) for commercial aviation, provides aircraft and engine USM, as well as distribution of essential equipment such as nitrogen generation system components manufactured by Honeywell.

Major companies operating in the air transport usm market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Boeing Company, Delta Air Lines, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Lufthansa Technik AG, MTU Aero Engines AG, AirLiance Materials LLC, HEICO Corporation, Triumph Group, VSE Aviation Inc., GA Telesis LLC, Aviation Technical Services Inc., AerSale Inc., Unical Aviation Inc., AJW Group, TurbineAero Inc., Precision Aircraft Solutions, AAR Corporation, TES Aviation Group, A J Walter Aviation Limited, Liebherr Group, Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance, Satair Inc., Wencor Group, Aircraft Inventory, Avtrade Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the air transport USM market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global air transport USM market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the air transport usm market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on aircraft parts, metals, and imported components have increased the cost of acquiring and refurbishing used serviceable materials, leading to higher procurement costs and longer turnaround times in the air transport USM market. These tariffs most significantly affect engine USM, component USM, and airframe USM categories in regions like North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, where teardowns and MRO activities are concentrated. Despite these challenges, tariffs have encouraged localized sourcing, expanded domestic teardown operations, and stimulated investment in regional parts recovery capabilities, creating some positive long-term opportunities.

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Air Transport Used Serviceable Material (USM) pertains to components sourced from decommissioned aircraft that are incorporated into active operational aircraft. These materials are promptly substituted in the operational aircraft, contributing to a reduction in the overall cost of aviation maintenance. This practice of utilizing USM facilitates cost-effective maintenance solutions within the aviation industry by repurposing reliable components from retired aircraft for continued use in active fleets.

The primary offerings within the domain of Air Transport Used Serviceable Material (USM) encompass engines, components, and airframes. An engine, being a device that converts fuel energy into mechanical energy, generates momentum based on its condition and remaining value. Retired engines are repurposed for use in operational aircraft, serving the purpose of transforming fuel energy into mechanical energy. The range of aircraft types includes narrow-body, wide-body, turboprop, and regional aircraft, with usage extending across both original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and the aftermarket segment within the aviation industry.

The countries covered in the air transport usm market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The air transport USM market consists of sales of discarded and dismantled aircraft components. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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