The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at improving airlines’ access to aircraft parts and enhancing supply chain transparency. The initiative comes as the aviation industry continues to grapple with supply chain disruption, component shortages and the rising costs associated with delays.
Stuart Fox, IATA Director, Flight and Technical Operations commnted on the new partnership: “Supply chain constraints continue to create operational and financial pressure for airlines. Addressing these challenges requires practical cooperation across the industry. By combining IATP’s technical pooling expertise with IATA’s technical expertise, we can help airlines access serviceable materials and strengthen maintenance resilience.”
“For decades, IATP has enabled airlines to share critical technical resources through pooling. The validity of the IATP pool model is even more evident during the current critical situation. This cooperation with IATA recognizes that pooling and digital materials visibility are complementary tools, helping airlines access the parts and support they need to maintain operations during supply chain disruption,” commented Giorgio Pietra, IATP CEO.
The partnership will focus on improving airlines’ access to serviceable aircraft parts and strengthening collaboration on technical operations, safety and quality. By combining IATP’s materials pooling programmes with IATA’s MRO SmartHub, airlines will benefit from greater access to shared components, equipment and maintenance resources, alongside improved visibility of available parts.
The two organisations will also expand the exchange of technical expertise and industry best practice. This includes collaboration on safety and quality initiatives, supported by IATA programmes such as the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and the IATA Safety Connect community.
