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As global air travel is anticipated to rise in the second half of 2021, the airline industry faces challenges in extending the life of current and future aircraft. Recovery from the weak economic environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates demand for more cost-efficient, secure, and standardized ways to improve overall aircraft maintenance and increases pressure on supply chain optimization. Expectations for automated solutions must also align with human intelligence needs as airlines increase asset performance while reducing operational spending and increasing factory productivity. Advanced technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and machine learning-based algorithms, are critical to develop aircraft maintenance in the next five years.

Airlines and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) providers strive to ensure business stability amid a sharp fall in MRO demand. Moving from preventative to predictive maintenance requires more than forecasting capabilities—strategic planning and partnering, for example, are key for effective integration between new and legacy systems. MRO solutions that seamlessly integrate with end users’ information and technology functions warrant scheduled assets evaluation leveraging Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions, including AI-based sensor monitoring, edge computing, and predictive analytics. A service-based approach allows organizations to enhance customer benefit and generate business value for competitive advantage.