A quarterly survey of more than 30 aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies by RBC Capital Markets points to a robust outlook for aircraft engine servicing, with implications for Rolls-Royce as the manufacturer of the Trent family of widebody jet engines.
MRO, which covers the servicing and repair of commercial aircraft, recorded sales growth of 11% in the third quarter, with the engine segment leading at 12.4%.
RBC said it is increasingly bullish on the widebody engine outlook into 2027, citing strong demand for the GE90, GEnx and CF6 families.
And it noted that Trent-powered aircraft retirements remain negligible in the data, with most Trent variants showing zero monthly retirements through the period.
The bank estimates the passenger widebody aircraft market will be undersupplied by around 600 jets by 2030, driven by delays to Boeing's 777X programme and slower-than-planned A350 and 787 production ramps.
That shortfall extends the service life and utilisation of in-service widebody fleets, creating what RBC describes as a multi-year tailwind for widebody engine MRO.
Engine material pricing rose more than 11% in the quarter, the highest level since 2024.
This reflects persistent supply chain constraints that RBC said continue to support pricing power for engine manufacturers and their aftermarket businesses.
Rolls-Royce has risen 20% so far this year, outperforming the broader European aerospace and defence index.
