https://fortune.com/2023/03/09/airplane-engine-part-supply-chain-shortage-summer-travel-season/
The latest highly efficient engines require more TLC than their immediate predecessors; according to the article in some cases double.
Another reason to not expect fares to go down and more flight changes/cancellations to be in the offing.
I wonder out loud a out about other newer technologies that may create delays and issues. First comes to mind are electric vehicles. Cameron Hewitt wrote a good blog a couple of months ago about his experience in Italy when he rented an electric car. I wonder when electric buses become the norm if that changes the dynamics of bus tours as a bus will need to stop for charging and be close to a source for an overnight charge.
Recent article on CNN re: ten-year-old 787s being scapped for parts: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/10-year-old-boeing-787s-scrapped/index.html
From my perspective, we are very, very lucky in this day and age to be able to travel as cheaply and efficiently as we do. Flying to Europe was probably a lot more fun fifty years ago but also cost a whole lot more then than now (after you adjust for inflation) and was a lot less safe. A hundred years ago, it would have taken a week or two to get to Europe each way, unless you lived at a port on the east coast - then it was train to a ship, a ship to Europe and back...instead of most of one single day.
So if airfares go up a little more and/or travel becomes a little less convenient, that's OK with me. Air travel today has a significant impact on climate change. If airlines start flying more efficient airplanes that reduce their carbon footprint, sounds like it's well worth it even if it costs more / is less convenient. Still a far cry better than fifty years ago.
I just saw this article. GE and hopefully others are working on some of the issues. It sounds like this has been building up for some time. Perhaps airlines have already built in reduced aircraft availability into their planning? But that may well be wishful thinking.
