As the Northern Hemisphere steps into the peak of the summer travel season, airports from Atlanta to Amsterdam are hitting record passenger volumes. Airlines are increasing flight frequencies, fleets are being pushed to capacity, and maintenance schedules are tighter than ever.
While this surge in demand is a positive sign for the industry’s continued recovery, it also brings heightened risk — especially when it comes to unscheduled maintenance and AOG (Aircraft on Ground) events. During the summer, the chances of AOG situations in Europe and North America rise significantly due to the sheer volume of operations, congested airspaces, and the strain placed on aircraft performing back-to-back short-haul and long-haul routes.
Counting the Cost
According to industry estimates, the average cost of an AOG event ranges between $10,000 and $150,000 per day, depending on the aircraft type, location, and operational disruption. For wide-body aircraft on long-haul routes, the cost is on the higher end of the spectrum, factoring in lost ticket revenue, compensations, crew expenses, and potential aircraft repositioning.
A recent IATA report noted that delays over 4 hours can cost airlines $25,000 to $40,000 just in operational fallout, not including the cost of sourcing parts or special handling fees for urgent logistics.
Logistics and Inventory Lag Add to the Pain
The root cause of extended AOGs is often part unavailability or lack of local stock. Even when the part is available somewhere globally, shipping delays, customs clearance, and lack of real-time inventory data can compound the cost.
A Boeing study revealed that 40% of AOG-related delays are linked to inefficient supply chain visibility, underscoring the need for platforms like Locatory.com, where exact location, lead time, and part condition are transparently available to buyers.
The Domino Effect: Reputational and Regulatory Risks
An AOG doesn’t just impact the flight that’s grounded. It triggers a domino effect: crew rotations may time out, gates get congested, and replacement aircraft might not be available. Airlines must deal with customer dissatisfaction, rebooking costs, and potential regulatory fines, especially when delays breach EU261 or similar passenger rights laws.
This makes minimizing AOG duration not only a financial imperative but also a brand protection strategy. Carriers that recover from AOGs faster maintain higher Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and customer retention.
Every hour an aircraft is grounded disrupts not just schedules, but revenue streams and customer experience. The real cost of AOG spans far beyond the immediate repair or replacement part — it’s an operational cascade that affects the entire network.
How Locatory.com Helps Prevent Extended AOGs
At Locatory.com, we’ve doubled down on delivering exactly those capabilities. Our platform has evolved beyond traditional part listings — it’s now a dynamic ecosystem equipped with features that give sellers and buyers greater reach, clarity, and control over their inventory and procurement operations. Sellers can now amplify their presence and break through the boundaries of a closed marketplace with our Premium features.
With the Public Catalog and Public Search Visibility options, your inventory and services can appear outside the platform, accessible even to non-registered users through direct search engine discovery. This gives sellers exposure to entirely new customer segments — a key advantage during summer, when time-sensitive sourcing decisions are made every minute due to tight maintenance schedules.
Go Public: Premium Features for Aviation Sellers
Locatory.com’s Premium Seller Features are designed for those ready to take their inventory to the next level. In today’s competitive landscape, being visible beyond the traditional marketplace means expanding your customer base exponentially. With our Public Catalog and Public Search Visibility, you can now share your listings outside of Locatory.com, turning your inventory into a 24/7 lead generation engine.
This means your parts or services are discoverable not only to registered buyers on our platform but also to anyone searching online for aviation solutions. Whether you’re offering parts, repair services, or specialized logistics, this feature ensures you’re found where your buyers are looking.
Seamless Integrations: API & ERP Connectors
Time is critical in aviation, especially when handling AOG events, sticking to tight maintenance schedules, or fulfilling complex RFQs. To help our users move faster, Locatory.com offers API integrations and ERP connectors that let you synchronize your inventory and RFQ workflows directly with our marketplace.
This eliminates double data entry, speeds up response time, and reduces human error. Whether you’re managing a large fleet, operating an MRO shop, or acting as a surplus parts distributor, our connectivity options ensure your systems speak directly to ours.
The result? Less manual work, more real-time updates, and better business intelligence. Our API and various ERP connectors allow for seamless data flow between internal systems and our platform, ensuring inventory is always up to date, eliminating manual processes, and reducing the risk of miscommunication. For MROs and operators dealing with AOG events, real-time accuracy is critical — and our connectivity solutions make that possible without disrupting your current workflows.
Another cornerstone of our summer-ready platform is improved location visibility. When time is short and flights are at stake, it’s not just about knowing that a part exists — it’s about knowing where it is and how quickly it can get to the aircraft.
Our system now provides more granular and transparent data on stock locations, helping buyers plan around lead times, shipping routes, and geographic proximity. This feature is especially valuable for logistics teams handling tight schedules, late-night repairs, or unexpected breakdowns in remote locations.
Powering the Aviation Marketplace of the Future
Locatory.com is more than a place to list and search. It is a platform built to streamline aviation procurement, empower sellers, and support faster MRO execution with maintenance schedules perfectly alligned. In a year defined by both opportunity and complexity, we’re committed to helping our users stay ahead with tools that adapt to their needs.
If you haven’t yet tried our Premium Seller tools or explored our API connectivity options, now is the time. And with enhanced stock visibility and growing global participation, Locatory.com is the trusted marketplace partner to support your 2025 goals.
The aviation industry’s busiest months demand smarter solutions — and at Locatory.com, we’ve designed our platform to meet that demand head-on. Whether you’re a seller looking to increase your reach, or a buyer working against the clock to source parts for grounded aircraft, our focus is on giving you tools that move faster, work smarter, and deliver results where they matter most. This summer, as air travel booms once again, we’re here to keep the supply chain flying smoothly.
