Engine Stands as Economic Signals – What Today’s Market Trends Reveal

Engine stand demand is mirroring the bigger story in aviation.

Fast recovery, persistent supply-chain friction, and uneven reliability across engine generations. 

Airlines are flying everything they can; MRO slots and parts availability are tight, and OEM lead times stretch decisions across quarters. 

In this environment, the quiet workhorse of the shop visit – the engine transportation stand – becomes a leading indicator for where capacity, capital, and risk are moving next.

The post-pandemic aftershock – and why it shows up in stands

Aviation rebounded faster than most think-tanks expected. Passenger demand surged, fleets returned to service, and utilization climbed. 

That boom, however, exposed old bottlenecks and created new ones.

“We are still facing turbulence that Covid set in motion. Aviation faced its worst downturn, then recovered fast – and now it’s booming. New-generation engines face reliability issues, while parts supply and production for older engines are also constrained. All of this shows up in engine stands,” says Dainius Marciulionis, Business Development Manager at Magnetic Enginestands.

Stands are where macro trends become operational reality. When on-wing time shortens or green time runs out, engines move – and every move needs the correct, certified stand. 

When MRO queues lengthen or lease returns bunch up, stand demand spikes, and placement windows shrink. 

In short, the stand pool becomes a barometer for stress across airlines, MROs, and lessors.

Current market trends shaping stand demand

1) Production and retirement cycles are out of sync

Airlines are flying everything available to satisfy demand. Simultaneously, several new-tech programs still work through early-life reliability “bugs”, while many legacy powerplants that carried fleets through the pandemic are now out of green time.

“It’s hard to predict which type will be ‘on hype’ over the next 12 months, so we prepare for both realities – new-gen engines with teething issues, and ‘old-but-gold’ models that must remain maintained,” says Dainius.

The result is simultaneous pressure across families. Popular narrow-body workhorses (CFM56, V2500) remain “bread and butter” for engine shops, while LEAP and GTF (Geared Turbofan) volumes swing with fleet-owner strategies and OEM guidance. 

That blend keeps the stand pools diverse – and constantly in motion.

2) Regional recovery is uneven – flows follow fleets

Domestic US flying recovered early and decisively. Europe has been “back on track” for some time. Asia is now returning strongly; the Middle East continues to lean into wide-body growth; Africa and Latin America are improving, but from a slower base.

“Wide-bodies in Asia and the Middle East, a mix in Europe, and ‘all of the above’ in the US – regional demand dictates the stand type mix at each hub,” notes Dainius.

For stand operators, that means agile redeployment. As network schedules shift and engine shop footprints change, the cost of being a few weeks late with the wrong type in the wrong place can be measured in AOG exposure, extended lease costs, or lost slot opportunities.

3) Lead times stretch – and decisions stretch with them

Lead times for repairs and parts routinely run 2x–3x longer than pre-pandemic norms. This has two competing effects:

- More stand-time opportunity – longer shop visits extend the period engines need to be off-wing and stored, transported, or staged on stands.
- Deferred removals – when slots or parts aren’t available, operators sometimes keep engines on parked aircraft rather than inducting them, delaying the stand need.

“Lead times increased two or even three times. That benefits stand utilization, but when parts and slots are lacking, some new-generation engines stay on the wing instead of going to the shop. The market is dynamic – and often unpredictable,” says Dainius.

Magnetic Enginestands’ pool strategy: closer, faster, broader

In a market that refuses to stand still, Magnetic Enginestands has structured its pool around coverage, proximity, and speed.

- Scale and scope – from a small start 7–8 years ago with just a few stands and types, the company has grown into a global provider with 5 hubs, 17 different stand types, and 100+ stands in the lease pool.
- Proximity by design – hubs are positioned where customers actually induct, ship, or stage engines – with expansion plans in China, India, the US, and other growth regions.
- Type mix that matches reality – CFM56 and V2500 remain ever-present; LEAP and other new-gen types are ramping; wide-body capability scales with Asia/Middle East demand.

“Our strategy is to be closer to the client and offer a full range of stands. Regional demand tells us what types are needed, and we supply our hubs accordingly. The product is always needed yesterday – so we aim to be a step ahead,” Dainius explains.

Utilization patterns: what’s hot, where

There is no single “winner” – but some patterns are consistent:

- Narrow-body stalwarts – CFM56 and V2500 keep moving.
- New-gen variability – LEAP and GTF volumes pivot with OEM guidance, shop capacity, and operator deferral strategies.
- Wide-body tilt – Asia and the Middle East pull more wide-body stands; Europe remains a balanced blend; the US is a full-spectrum market.

The “right” pool is mobile and backed by logistics that can reposition quickly.

Surplus management and tech – turning idle assets into uptime

A stand that isn’t moving is trapped value. Magnetic Enginestands uses surplus management and software to keep value circulating:

- Surplus management – operators can place their own unused stands into Magnetic’s pool. Magnetic opens additional locations, manages the entire lifecycle (from compliance to logistics), and shares income with stand owners. Customers gain capacity, and owners monetize idle equipment.
- E-platform booking – Magnetic Enginestands operates the first dedicated engine stand lease e-platform, offering live availability, pricing, and instant reservation – “as easy as booking a car or hotel.” The platform and check-in tooling compress search and admin time, aligning stand arrival with shop windows and freight schedules.

“Clients can easily check availability, pricing, and book online in real time. It saves time – and in this business, time is everything,” says Dainius.

Ultimately, this allows for less email ping-pong, fewer missed windows, and better alignment between airline, MRO, freight forwarder, and lessor.

Industry presence and what buyers are saying

Magnetic Enginestands keeps a visible footprint across procurement and MRO forums to stay close to real-time demand signals.

“We try to attend all key conferences and MRO events. Engine stands are a small thing in aviation – nobody wants to plan them, but when they’re needed, they’re needed yesterday. Being there helps us read the market and adapt quickly,” Dainius notes.

At ACPC (Air Carriers Purchasing Conference) Atlanta in August 2025, Dainius underlined, the value of concentrated access to end users:

“ACPC is different from other events I’ve attended. The best takeaway is quality meetings with end users – not only at the formal tables. We expect to participate next year with an even bigger impact.”

Recurring themes in conversations signal:

- Speed and certainty – buyers value guaranteed availability at the right hub and a clean, digital booking flow.
- Flexibility – interest in short-term coverage during shop bottlenecks, lease returns, and transitions.
- Cost control – pooling and surplus programs help offset inflationary pressure in freight and storage.

Looking ahead: how the stand market will evolve

Competition increased during the pandemic as more players entered the leasing niche. Magnetic’s response has been to double down on professionalization, breadth, and responsiveness:

“Pandemic times brought many competitors – everyone with stands became a player. That pushed us to work harder, move faster, and be more professional. We won’t stop there,” says Dainius.

What to expect from Magnetic Enginestands over the next few years:

- More geographic nodes – proximity remains the easiest way to remove time and cost. Expect additional hubs in fast-growing regions.
- Wider type coverage – as engine program mixes evolve and retirements accelerate, pools will mirror the dual reality of mature fleets and maturing new-gen platforms.
- Deeper digitization – instant availability, standardized check-in, and integrated documentation will become table stakes, not differentiators.
- Partnership-driven resilience – surplus management and co-located inventory (stands, slings, tooling) will reduce friction at induction and redelivery.

A proactive partner in a moving market

The engine stand may be a small line item – but it sits at the intersection of fleet strategy, MRO capacity, and risk. 

In today’s environment, proactivity, speed, and reliability win. 

Magnetic Enginestands’ growth in hubs, types, and tech-enabled processes reflects a simple promise: be faster, be closer, and keep engines moving when customers need it most.

“Our goal is to be faster and closer to the client so we can serve in the best possible way when they need us – more hubs and a wider variety of stands are our ambition,” Dainius concludes.