Analysis by CAPA – the Centre for Aviation – has revealed the staggering number of aircraft standing idle in the Asia Pacific region.
According to the consultancy, there are almost 800 aircraft classified as inactive in the region – including 471 narrowbodies, 89 widebodies, 60 regional jets and 174 turboprops.
While some of these are retired aircraft waiting for sale or lease return, many are grounded due to the supply chain crisis or related engine maintenance backlogs, CAPA noted.
Operators such as Cebu Pacific, IndiGo and Air New Zealand are among those most affected by supply and maintenance issues.
CAPA said many airlines “will be dealing with the tail of this problem for some time”.
The analysis revealed delivery delays have been a major headache. Boeing and Airbus delivered a combined 437 aircraft to Asia Pacific airlines in 2025, according to their websites. CAPA projects about 500 deliveries this year by Boeing and Airbus, and 615 in 2027.
A particular problem has been to the Boeing 777-9 programme. Asia Pacific airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Air India are among the customers for this aircraft.
The planned entry date of this aircraft into service has been pushed back multiple times, and it is now due in 2027. “This has caused airlines to stretch their fleet replacement plans to accommodate the delays,” CAPA said.
Overall, CAPA says the outlook for Asia Pacific aviation growth is “powerful” despite the headwinds of volatile traffic flows, operational constraints that inflate costs and extended journey times that erode network efficiency.