Aircraft Refurbishing Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Aircraft Refurbishing Market is anticipated to expand from USD 5.35 billion in 2025 to USD 7.86 billion by 2031, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.62%. This industry entails the extensive renovation and updating of aircraft interiors and exteriors, spanning activities such as avionics modernization, cabin retrofitting, and fresh paint applications to prolong service life and improve passenger experience. Growth is predominantly driven by an aging global fleet, which requires mandatory safety compliance and aesthetic upgrades as a cost-effective substitute for acquiring new aircraft. Furthermore, private owners and commercial airlines are heavily investing in modifications to adhere to regulations and uphold competitive service levels, thereby stimulating the market for aftermarket alterations.

Despite these drivers, market growth faces obstacles due to ongoing supply chain instability, which restricts access to advanced components and specialized cabin materials, causing significant service delays. These logistical challenges disrupt project timelines and inflate expenses for maintenance providers. The magnitude of this sector is underscored by data from the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, which projected that the global civil aviation maintenance and alteration industry would generate $119 billion in direct annual revenue in 2025. This figure emphasizes the massive economic impact of the maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations that serve as the foundation for the refurbishing market.

Market Drivers

A primary engine for market growth is the backlog in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) production, where persistent delays in new aircraft deliveries force airlines to prolong the service life of current fleets. As manufacturers face certification obstacles and supply chain issues with next-generation models, carriers are focusing on extensive cabin refits to ensure passenger satisfaction and operational capacity. For example, an article in Aero News Journal from March 2025 titled 'Emirates Retrofitting of Planes Hits $5 Billion Price Tag' noted that Emirates raised its retrofit investment to $5 billion for 191 aircraft, a move explicitly linked to these delivery delays.

Concurrently, the push to modernize and extend the life of aging commercial fleets is fueling demand as operators aim to align older aircraft with contemporary luxury standards. To maintain brand uniformity, airlines are launching major interior refresh initiatives featuring avionics updates and premium seating. Highlighting this trend, British Airways' parent company, IAG, confirmed a substantial capital commitment for fleet updates; a Travel And Tour World report from August 2025 titled 'British Airways Reduces Capacity on Airbus A380s' stated IAG allocated €3.7 billion in 2025 for modernization, including major A380 cabin retrofits. Reflecting the sector's scale, LARA projected in 2025 that the global commercial aircraft services market would hit an annual value of $311 billion by 2044.

Market Challenges

The expansion of the Global Aircraft Refurbishing Market is significantly hindered by enduring supply chain volatility, which interrupts the timely acquisition of critical avionics and interior materials. When specific items like high-quality seat leather, in-flight entertainment hardware, or lighting systems are unavailable, maintenance providers face serious operational bottlenecks. These shortages inevitably prolong project duration, forcing facilities to ground aircraft for extended periods. This situation reduces slot availability for incoming clients and forces maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) entities to shoulder increased operating costs while navigating erratic schedules.

This logistical unpredictability creates a measurable financial burden that reduces market efficiency. According to 2025 estimates from the International Air Transport Association, supply chain inefficiencies alongside the necessary maintenance of aging fleets were expected to incur an additional $3.1 billion in maintenance costs for the aviation sector. These rising expenses consume funds that operators might otherwise dedicate to aesthetic updates or optional cabin upgrades. As a result, the market’s growth is constrained because service providers face difficulties in translating high demand into completed projects due to the inability to efficiently procure essential parts.

Market Trends

The market is being transformed by a surge in Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion projects, where operators are choosing to repurpose aging airframes for logistics rather than retiring them. This shift, distinct from luxury upgrades, is driven by the critical need for cargo capacity to bolster global e-commerce and supply chain stability. By converting older passenger jets, airlines address the scarcity of new factory-built freighters while maximizing asset value. The magnitude of this trend was highlighted in an October 2025 Air Cargo News report titled 'Freighter fleet to expand 2.5% annually through 2044,' which projected that conversions would account for roughly two-thirds of the 3,300 freighters expected to join the global fleet over the coming two decades.

In parallel, the industry is increasingly adopting lightweight and eco-friendly interior materials as airlines face mounting pressure to achieve net-zero carbon goals. This movement emphasizes the use of lighter composite parts and recyclable thermoplastics to lower cabin weight, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. Unlike purely aesthetic changes, this trend focuses on circular economy principles and lifecycle sustainability. A January 2025 article in Runway Girl Network titled 'Weight savings to drive cabin sustainability: Airbus and Diehl' reported that cabin weight reductions could contribute as much as 10% to 15% of Airbus's total decarbonization efforts, highlighting the vital importance of material innovation.

Key Players Profiled in the Aircraft Refurbishing Market

• Deutsche Lufthansa AG
• The Boeing Company
• Airbus SE
• General Electric Company
• Safran SA
• Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC
• Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd.
• Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited
• Bombardier Inc.
• RTX Corporation

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Aircraft Refurbishing Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Aircraft Refurbishing Market, by Type:

• Commercial Aircraft Cabin
• VIP Cabin Refurbishing
• Passenger to freighter

Aircraft Refurbishing Market, by Aircraft Type:

• Very light aircraft
• Wide body aircraft
• Narrow body aircraft
• Large body aircraft
• VIP aircraft

Aircraft Refurbishing Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Aircraft Refurbishing Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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