While aerospace is currently among the few industrial sectors with positive prospects, participants warned that this position remains fragile without coordinated action at EU and national level.
With the European Commission preparing a strategy for the sector, the conference underlined the urgency of supporting the entire aerospace value chain. Strong demand for aircrafts, with around 40,000 new planes needed globally over the next 20 years, contrasts sharply with the difficulties faced by many European suppliers, particularly SMEs.
According to a study presented by Syndex, around 65% of aerospace companies are affected by supply chain disruptions, rising inventory costs and labour shortages. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 crisis, combined with geopolitical instability, high energy prices and raw material shortages, continue to undermine investment capacity and job security, especially among subcontractors.
Despite Europe’s global leadership in aeronautics, fragmentation within the supply chain remains a major weakness. Unrealistic delivery targets and insufficient coordination between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers have created a vicious cycle of delays, penalties and financial strain, threatening the sector’s long-term resilience.
Decarbonisation and digitalisation add further pressure. While the green transition is unavoidable, participants highlighted the lack of a stable industrial and investment framework, particularly for sustainable aviation fuels. Discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) stressed that digitalisation must be accompanied by strong regulation, social dialogue and worker involvement to prevent misuse and protect jobs and working conditions.
IndustriAll Europe calls for a renewed European industrial strategy for civil aviation, focused on sovereignty and a just transition. In the study, presented by Syndex, key recommendations include:
- fairer risk-sharing between OEMs and subcontractors
- improved payment terms and access to finance for suppliers
- strict social and employment conditions attached to public funding.
- Greater involvement of subcontractors in research and development
- stronger regional aeronautics clusters
- reinforced collective bargaining.
Isabelle Barthès, Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe, underlined the importance of coordinated action:
“Europe must act collectively to secure its aerospace leadership. Only by strengthening cooperation across the entire supply chain, involving workers and their unions, and aligning industrial, climate and social priorities can we build an aerospace industry that is resilient, competitive and socially sustainable for the future.”
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*The full report will be available soon