Aircraft Interiors International
  • News
    • Aircraft Safety
    • Aircraft Seating
    • Airline News
    • Airframer News
    • Cabin Design
    • Catering & Onboard Retail
    • Galleys & Monuments
    • Industry News
    • Inflight Amenities
    • Inflight Connectivity
    • In-flight Entertainment
    • Materials. Trim & Finish
    • MRO
    • Passenger Experience
    • Passenger Health & Safety
    • Sustainability
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Design Showcase 2025
    • November 2024
    • March 2024
    • November 2023
    • Aug/Sep 2023
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Images
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
  • Events
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube
Subscribe to Magazine Subscribe to Email Newsletter Media Pack
Aircraft Interiors International
  • News
      • Aircraft Safety
      • Aircraft Seating
      • Airline News
      • Airframer News
      • Cabin Design
      • Catering & Onboard Retail
      • Galleys & Monuments
      • Industry News
      • Inflight Amenities
      • Inflight Connectivity
      • In-flight Entertainment
      • Materials. Trim & Finish
      • MRO
      • Passenger Experience
      • Passenger Health & Safety
      • Sustainability
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Design Showcase 2025
    3. November 2024
    4. September 2024
    5. May 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Design Showcase 2024
    8. Archive Issues
    9. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    March 6, 2025

    The March 2025 issue of Aircraft Interiors International is out!

    Accessibility By Web Team
    Recent

    The March 2025 issue of Aircraft Interiors International is out!

    March 6, 2025

    The 2025 Aircraft Interiors International Showcase issue is out!

    January 13, 2025

    The November 2024 issue of Aircraft Interiors International is out!

    November 13, 2024
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Podcast
  • Images
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
  • Events
LinkedIn YouTube
Aircraft Interiors International
Opinion

The growing LCC market: Line maintenance-related challenges

Opinion WritersBy Opinion WritersSeptember 26, 20143 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

As the slowly yet surely recovering aviation industry is still struggling to gain profitability, the competition among carriers is as high as ever. On the one hand, LCCs continue to increase their pressure on legacy carriers, with more than 40 LCCs generating more than 36% of the total passenger traffic in Europe alone. However, as more and more players are ambitious enough to enter the attractive market, they should be ready to adopt their requirements for appropriate maintenance support accordingly.

The low-cost business model has undoubtedly been a real success story in the aviation industry. For instance, while some of the traditional carriers have been hardly making ends meet, in 2013 EasyJet celebrated a major milestone in its history as it reported record pre-tax profits of over US$761m. Such remarkable results are largely a result of the LCC being able to reduce its unit cost from 40% to 20% as compared to the one enjoyed by traditional carriers. This was achieved mainly due to lower operating expenses and quicker turnaround times.

According to Boeing, since 2003, when low-cost airlines accounted for as little as 7% of the market, they have grown to capture 9% more, and are projected to reach 21% by 2033. Meanwhile, time charter carriers have suffered a decline from 9% in 2003 to 3% today and network carriers have decreased their market share to 62%. Nevertheless, as more and more network carriers around the world are aiming at having a bite of the LCC pie with low-cost subsidiaries (Aeroflot, China Eastern Airlines and Air India to name a few), they are up for a real challenge regarding both, intense competition and efficient maintenance support of their operations.

LCC line maintenance strategies differ greatly from those of large network carriers, as usually low-cost carriers prefer to conduct turnaround flights and conduct provide more line maintenance works at their main bases during the night time. Therefore, they only need providers at other airports to perform minor works or solve AOG cases. However, at the same time they are much stricter about their requirements. Since they can’t afford to lose time due to inspection-related downtime, line maintenance teams have to meet the requirements to fit into a gap as little as 40 minutes between flights. Thus, in order to survive in such a highly competitive environment while further adapting to the market needs, the market newcomers will have to put special emphasis on their maintenance-related strategies.

According to TeamSAI industry forecast, in the next 10 years, time line maintenance will still have the smallest MRO market share (US$13.2bn out of $76bn). However, it can be expected that the work scope will continue to increase as carriers choose to outsource more and more of the relevant services to third-party providers.

Being able to promptly adapt one’s line maintenance services with regard to both, changes in the location and aircraft type, is an advantage which can be achieved easier through outsourcing. Firstly, independent providers constantly monitor market trends, since they need to be ready and able to foresee any possible shifts in their clients’ fleet before they happen. In addition, specialized independent providers don’t have base loaders and don’t prioritize among particular clients, as they are directly interested in securing their business by providing equally high quality services to all of their customers. Meanwhile, carriers themselves can at last fully focus on their core activities.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleLA set to star Virgin’s 11th Clubhouse
Next Article The inside track on United’s wi-fi installations
Opinion Writers

Related Posts

Airline News

WTCE shares highlights from a successful 2025 event

May 14, 20258 Mins Read
Industry News

How dominant will Starlink become in the IFC market?

May 8, 20254 Mins Read
Airframer News

Aircraft orders increased 73% in the first quarter of 2025

May 8, 20252 Mins Read
Latest Posts

A preview of United’s all-new ‘Elevated’ B787-9 interior

May 14, 2025

United reveals its ‘Elevated’ premium Boeing 787-9 interiors

May 14, 2025

FACC receives COMAC Supplier of the Year Award

May 14, 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe to Magazine
  • Meet The Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aerospace Testing
  • Business Airport
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday


© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.