This article was originally published in Aviation Week on July 17, 2026.
There is a new gatekeeper in the commercial aerospace industry. AlixPartners' annual industry profit pool analysis finds that engine OEMs and aircraft lessors remained dominant in 2025, but materials providers further down the supply chain have growing financial muscle. All three share a crucial role in creating and providing the capacity required for continued traffic growth.
The profit pool winners and losers in 2025 mirror those of the previous year. Engine-makers and lessors captured 85% of industry earnings, which climbed 19% from a year earlier to $38 billion. Aircraft OEMs remain near break-even, while aerostructures suppliers are still mired in losses.
