Boeing And Airbus Backlogs Surge — Why Dedicated Parts Makers Like Wheels And Brakes Are The Real Beneficiaries

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Aircraft parts manufacturers are set to benefit over the long term as global demand for planes continues to grow. Global commercial aircraft deliveries rose 25% year over year to 1,411 in 2025, reaching a seven-year high despite tariffs and geopolitical tensions, according to UK aerospace trade body ADS.

Data from Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) and Airbus, two of the world's leading plane makers, point to strong demand. Boeing's backlog rose to more than 6,100 commercial aircraft at the end of 2025 from over 5,500 a year earlier, while Airbus overall order backlog at the end of last year stood at 8,754, a record.

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Beyond the obvious winners tied to rising travel demand, investors are watching the overlooked beneficiaries. Think of companies that make the parts planes can't fly without — wheels, brakes, pumps, valves and sensors.

The global aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul market was valued at about $90.85 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to roughly $120.96 billion by 2030, according to business consulting firm Grand View Research.

The aircraft parts industry can stay strong even when demand for new planes drops because aging fleets still need wheels, brakes, and maintenance to keep flying.

North America's largest airlines have an average fleet age of just under 16 years, compared with a global average of 13 years, Jeff Schemel, general manager for the U.S. and Canada at industrial machines manufacturer REGO-FIX, told Aerospace Manufacturing and Design magazine.

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"The demand for aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations looks positive over the next five years as aerospace manufacturers struggle to meet new aircraft airframe quotas, forcing airlines to fly aging fleets," Schemel said. "Increased MRO operations are a certainty in aerospace manufacturing's near-term future."

With economic uncertainty on the rise, the industry is focusing on controlling costs, cutting unnecessary spending, and finding ways to do more with less — a trend that can benefit parts manufacturers.

"In 2026's economic environment, capital efficiency is the new capacity expansion," Russ Reinhart, national sales manager at tooling company Lyndex-Nikken was quoted as saying by the magazine. "Across the aerospace supply chain, manufacturers are grappling with a common challenge: meeting increased demand without major capital expenditures."

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The aging of air fleets is the biggest growth driver in the aircraft maintenance industry, according to Grand View Research. The modification segment—which covers changes to an aircraft's structure or systems to boost performance and efficiency —is expected to record the fastest growth in the coming years, the report added.

"The increasing demand for air travel, coupled with the aging fleet of aircraft, has led to a growing need for modification services to extend the service life of older aircraft," the report said.

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