October was Locatory.com busiest month of 2026 for the second consecutive month, with aircraft parts searches rising 21% from September. By the end of October, marketplace search activity had already reached approximately 93% of the full year 2025 total volume.
Demand concentrated on standard hardware, seals and landing gear components, while GE90/Boeing 777 engine components returned to the hardest-to-find rankings. The findings closely reflect concerns raised at MRO Europe 2026 in Amsterdam, where airlines, MROs and suppliers reported longer repair turnaround times, limited parts availability and increasing pressure to keep aircraft operational.
Key Findings
- Demand at a 2026 high. Searches rose 21% from September. By the end of October 2026 search activity had reached about 93% of the full year 2025 total.
- Standard hardware and seals led demand, accounting for 50% of the Most Searched list while landing gear and brake parts tripled their share.
- GE90 scarcity is back. GE90/Boeing 777 engine accessories make up 28% of the Hardest to Find list and 70% of its engine entries, their fifth appearance in six months.
- Recurring shortages persisted. 42% of hard-to-find part numbers carried over from September.
- Winter maintenance is adding pressure as operators face longer component repair times, high fuel costs and increasingly complex logistics.
Top 50 Most Searched Parts
| Parts Category | October share |
| Standard hardware / Seals | 50% |
| Airframe / Landing Gear | 30% |
| Engine components | 10% |
| Electrical / Avionics | 6% |
| Cabin / Safety | 4% |
Demand turned over almost completely from September, only 12% carried over. Four of them appeared for a third month in a row: a Boeing 757 turbine engine ignition plug (305766-1), a CFM56-5B bolt (83769H16-14), a rivet (CR3522-5-03) and a smoke hood protective breathing equipment unit (E28180-20-0006). Nut (2600545) and pin rivet collar (BACC30M6) also carried over from September.
1.Standard hardware and seals
Standard hardware and seals accounted for 50% of October’s Most Searched list, led by a self-locking nut (A35860-10). Other high demand parts included:
- Nuts, rings and seals: Nuts (2602385, 83641-918, 63-536), rings (N5000-131, S11065-12-1, 68-1125), and seals (EQ72902-0223, P337915).
- Specification hardware: MS-standard nuts, screws and washers (MS21042-3, MS51958-60, MS35338-100), an NAS washer (NAS1149F0363P), rivets (EN6069AD4-13, CR3524PR8-04) and a Boeing collar (BACC30M6).
- Regional aircraft: ATR 42 gasket (68-1380) and rivet (78-342-1), plus a ring listed for the DHC-8 and Boeing 747 (RS75).
- Business and commercial aircraft: O-rings for the Bombardier Challenger 300/350 (68-1507), Cessna Citation X (68-1561) and Boeing 757 (68-404), alongside a Citation CE500 rivet (78-265).
At MRO Europe, Embraer’s global MRO services vice president Frank Stevens described the cost of missing consumables “an aircraft can arrive with 98% of its required parts and still stay grounded for the missing 2%”.
2.Airframe, landing gear and brakes
Airframe and landing gear parts tripled their share of the Most Searched compared with September. Wheel and brake material drove the category, led by seven ATR 42 brake assembly parts: brake disc (134-331-1), a brake rotor disc (244-650-3), a torque plate (4-332-1), a pressure plate (541-27), a wear plate (93-938-1), a wear pad (93-982) and a wheel and brake stud (534-5), alongside a DHC-8 spring (40-598-1) and a sleeve (54-479).
Other prominent searches included torque bar (A35229), a liner (A35403) and a piston (A35404-2), a thrust plate (GA32744), two shield assemblies (GA31503, 378-81-1) and a Boeing 737NG actuator (1FA14012-8).
This growing demand reflects wider strain in landing gear maintenance. IATP reported landing gear repair turnaround times rising from about 50 to as much as 150 days, with a proposed shared landing gear pool not expected before 2027.
Engine, Electrical and Safety Parts
Engine components fell to 10% share of the list. The Boeing 757 ignition plug (305766-1) and the CFM56-5B bolt (83769H16-14) are both on it for a third month, consistent with a CFM56 fleet retiring more slowly than expected. The rest are an Embraer 190 engine shroud tube assembly (190-04419-401), a cap (ASC4DN) and the piston (A35404-2).
Electrical and avionics demand included A320 ADF antenna (615-2630-102), battery (2758) and pressure sensor holder (4305901210).
Cabin/safety searches included Boeing 737 oxygen mask (174692-N7) and smoke hood (E28180-20-0006).
Top 50 Hardest to Find Parts
Locatory.com Hardest to Find list highlights sourcing gaps and potential opportunities for suppliers with available stock. At MRO Europe, AFI KLM E&M’s Peter van Helden described the current market as a “golden age” for companies holding spare parts.
| Category | October |
| Engine components | 43% |
| Standard hardware / Seals | 25% |
| Electrical / Avionics | 13% |
| Airframe / Landing Gear | 13% |
| Cabin / Safety | 6% |
Engine components led at 43%, nearly double September’s share, driven largely by recurring shortages of GE90 parts.
1.The GE90/Boeing 777 Family Returns
GE90-related components appeared on the Hardest to Find list every month from May through August, disappeared in September and now returned, marking their fifth appearance in six months.
- FADEC units: 105E70898G1, 105E70898G2, 105E70898G3
- HMUs and control assemblies: 1851M65P04, 1851M65P05, 1851M65P06, 1693M75P08
- Fuel-oil cooler / lube servo assemblies: 1838M88P03, 1838M88P11
- IDG/VSCF air-oil cooler interfaces (GE90-110B1/-113B/-115B): 1838M91P06, 1838M91P07, 1838M91P08
- IDG check valve: 1548-05-12
- Temperature / pressure sensor: 0154GF9
Recurring GE90 shortages align with rising maintenance demand. GE Aerospace CFO Rahul Ghai said 70% of the GE90 fleet has yet to undergo a second shop visit, with larger workscopes increasing demand for fuel controls, HMUs and oil-cooler assemblies. Bernstein analyst Doug Harned described the GE90 as “totally backed up for shop visits, hard to get parts, hard to get an engine.”
The pressure extends beyond GE90. IATP suspended its planned engine pool due to limited availability, while chairman Essam Hanafy reported engine shop turnaround times of 180–200 days or longer for many airlines.
2. Persistent Shortages Across Other Parts
42% of October’s Hardest to Find list carried over from September, with six part numbers appearing for a third consecutive month. A turbine rotor set (750574-3), voltage converter (41010-000), capacitor (935A333-3), DU liner bushing (AJ18C105DU), PTFE seal tape (J8066) and an underwing longeron filler (675W0003-7).
Other repeat entries:
- Bearings: 1B7297, VTB11220P20, D48896
- Engine and mechanical parts: Main fuel control unit (343813), piston (F859989), vertical metering pin (1C2067-1), engine mount bolt (CSP282-29LA) and ring (8-218V709-90).
- Hardware and structural parts: Screws (60-4156-1, 2291-13), bolt (51U692), aluminum structural rib (65B11513-77), cover (3234453-1) and light lens (6230-01-017-1226).
3. Changes in Other Categories
Standard hardware fell to 25%. New entries include silicone foam tape for the A320 family and A330 (ABS5673AS3-3), a bolt (2021811-2) and an attach ring assembly (314A1014-11).
Electrical and avionics held 13%: Boeing 787 fuel-height/temperature sensor (20301-0134), CFM56-5 cable assembly (284T1015-1), armature assembly (81706312) and insulation (337-116-702-0), alongside recurring voltage converter and capacitor shortages.
Airframe and landing gear rose to 13%: Boeing 767 tube assembly (113T1910-90), bracket assembly (277-1822-501) and actuator (GA72966), alongside recurring structural parts and a cover latch (0FV9900A11G02).
Cabin and safety fell to 6%: A320 family cabinet (A225400413-522), along with recurring cover and light lens.
Market Context: Winter Checks, Fuel Costs and Geopolitics
At MRO Europe 2026 in Amsterdam, airlines, MROs and suppliers reported longer repair turnaround times, parts shortages and growing logistics challenges. These challenges provide context for the sourcing trends seen in Locatory.com October data.
1. Winter Maintenance Begins Under Pressure
Winter is a key period for heavy aircraft maintenance in Europe and North America, increasing demand for fasteners, seals, bearings and brake components. Those are the categories that grew most in Locatory.com October searches.
The season began with aircraft availability already under pressure. KLM announced flight cancellations from 26 October through early March 2027, citing extended maintenance, delayed repairs and late replacement parts.
At MRO Europe, panelists reported component repair lead times increasing from 30–40 to 60–70 days, while 74% of respondents prioritized turnaround time over price. Longer repairs are forcing operators to hold more spare inventory for fleets of the same size, tying up working capital.
2. Rising Fuel Costs Put Pressure on Maintenance Budgets
IATA forecasts fuel accounting for 31.4% of airline operating costs in 2026, up from 25.4% in 2025. Prices have risen further since that forecast, with jet fuel reaching $4.90 per gallon on 22 October, 96% above its pre-war level, according to the Argus US Jet Fuel Index.
Higher fuel expenses leave airlines less room to absorb rising maintenance and inventory costs, increasing pressure to source parts competitively without extending aircraft downtime.
3. Geopolitics Disrupts Parts Supply Chains
At MRO Europe, HAECO warned that geopolitical disruption is forcing companies to rethink logistics routes and inventory locations. Lufthansa Technik also reported commercial CF34 engines waiting months for bearings because US military TF34 requirements receive priority for shared components.
As geopolitical disruption adds further pressure to already strained supply chains, relying on established suppliers alone is becoming increasingly risky. Through Locatory.com, airlines and MROs can identify available stock across regions, compare alternative sources and arrange timely delivery on the same platform, helping them avoid maintenance delays and keep aircraft operational.