The Used Serviceable Material (USM) market is undergoing one of its most significant shifts in years. As airlines continue to extend the life of CFM56-powered fleets and demand for cost-effective maintenance grows, operators, parts brokers, and engine shops are paying closer attention to how USM availability and pricing will evolve heading into 2026.
On a global scale, the aviation industry is forecasting strong aircraft utilization through 2025-2026. According to the International Air Transport Association, airlines are expected to surpass pre-pandemic demand levels and exceed 9 billion passengers by 2026, creating continued pressure on maintenance resources and parts supply. This growth directly impacts the USM market, especially for high-demand platforms like the CFM56-5B/7B.
At Jet Airwerks, we see firsthand how these trends influence component demand. With our new CFM56-5B/7B Engine Disassembly Shop and expanded overhaul capabilities, we’re working closely with operators to support ongoing USM needs with fast, reliable, certified repairs. In this article, we’ll break down the major USM market trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for CFM56, CF6, and CF34 component buyers.
USM has become one of the most important tools for reducing maintenance costs, improving turnaround time, and extending the life of legacy engine platforms. Access to the right components, supported by proper trace, documentation, and certified repair, can significantly increase fleet reliability while lowering lifecycle costs.
As demand for legacy engine support rises, operators face growing competition for quality serviceable parts.
CFM56 engines remain the backbone of global single-aisle fleets, and utilization rates are projected to stay high for several more years. Because airlines are slowing down retirements and extending the life of existing assets, fewer teardown engines are entering the market.
This results in:
For operators trying to secure CFM56 components, this trend highlights the importance of working with repair shops that can restore parts to serviceable condition with reliable certifications.
Jet Airwerks supports this need by offering FAA, EASA, and CAAC tri-release tags and an extensive library of more than 10,000 approved part numbers.
Many analysts expect teardown activity to rise modestly through 2025 and 2026 as airlines begin transitioning certain fleets and freeing up mid-life engines. However, this increase isn’t expected to match demand.
The reasons include:
To help fill this gap, Jet Airwerks recently expanded its capabilities to include full CFM56-5B/7B engine disassembly, giving customers a reliable source for documented, serviceable material. You can explore our full disassembly and inspection capabilities here.
Due to tightening availability and rising demand, pricing for high-usage components continues to increase across several categories, including:
As fleet operators balance cost control with schedule reliability, USM, supported by certified repair, becomes an increasingly valuable alternative to purchasing new material at elevated prices. Jet AirWerks helps customers offset these rising costs through precision overhaul services that restore components to OEM specifications at a fraction of replacement pricing.
As the USM market becomes more competitive, the value of high-quality documentation rises. Operators and brokers now expect full trace, service history, and reliable release tags before purchasing any component.
Jet Airwerks provides:
This documentation helps operators protect asset value and reduce risk in future shop visits.
As availability tightens and pricing climbs, repair capability, not just USM availability, is becoming the key market differentiator.
Shops that offer:
…are positioned to deliver significant value even when USM supply remains limited.
Jet AirWerks’ expanding Engine Disassembly Shop plays a major role in supporting customers by increasing access to serviceable components and providing fast, affordable overhaul solutions across CFM56, CF6, and CF34 families.
As we move closer to 2026, operators should prepare for a USM environment defined by higher demand, constrained supply, and increased emphasis on documentation accuracy. The most effective strategy combines reliable USM sourcing with certified repair support to extend the life of each component.
Jet Airwerks is committed to helping operators stay ahead of these trends with:
By combining teardown, inspection, and overhaul expertise, we help operators, parts brokers, and engine shops secure the quality components they need to keep fleets running reliably.
The USM market will continue evolving through 2026, but one thing remains constant, operators need reliable, traceable, and expertly repaired components to maintain fleet readiness.
Whether you’re supporting a CFM56, CF6, or CF34 engine program, Jet AirWerks delivers precision repairs and certified documentation that protect asset value and extend component life.
Request a Quote today and discover how Jet AirWerks can support your USM needs heading into 2026.
