With the summer peak season underway for travel, airlines and repair shops can benefit from planning inventory early to get ahead of parts that are difficult to find.

According to data from Locatory.com, the concentration of parts that were most difficult to find in May 2026 centered around:

• B777 FADEC and HMU systems
• Cabin-interior items
• Power modules
• Sensors
• Tube assemblies
• Retainers
• CRJ/Boeing structural components

Locatory.com reports showcased how this pattern reflected the broader aviation market in May, explaining, “Airlines were preparing for the Northern Hemisphere summer peak while facing higher fuel-cost exposure, limited aircraft availability, engine shortages and continued reliance on older fleets.”

They added, “Spirit Airlines’ collapse after repeated bankruptcy proceedings showed how vulnerable some airline operating models had become.”

What were the hardest-to-find parts in May 2026?

Both in North America and around the globe, the same types of parts and components showed significant constraints in 2026.

Locatory.com experts noted, “The near-identical global and North American lists suggest the constraint pattern is systemic rather than regional.”

What constraints did standard hardware components have in May 2026?

Standard hardware—including tubes, retainers and miscellaneous mechanical items—made up 32% of the shortage data, making it the most constrained category of the month.

Locatory.com reports clarified, “The hardware constraint profile is broader than March or April because it includes tubes, retainers, brackets, receptacles, latches and miscellaneous mechanical items.”

The standard hardware components that showed the highest search constraints were:

• Tube Assy (PN: 113T1910-90 / 171-18782-401 / 2496M77P01)
• Bearing Matched Set (PN: 219678-1)
• Valve (PN: 20R0016), Branch (PN: 325-021-701-0)
• Bracket Support (PN: 612C9505-009)
• Retainers (PN: 65B10920-609 / 720289-14)
• Receptacle (PN: DC22E12-10P)
• Latch Assembly (PN: H601S125A225)
• Cover-Latch (PN: 0FV9900A11G02)

How hard to find were engine components in May 2026?

Due to an array of engine-related shortages across the aviation industry, engine components made up 28% of the hardest-to-find parts in May 2026.

While the list of most-searched parts in May 2026 showcased CFM56 components leading demand, the hardest-to-find dataset identified the following types of components as having the most constraints:

• B777 FADEC
• HMU
• Cooling
• Engine-control material

Experts from Locatory.com said that this is largely due to limited replacement flexibility for Boeing 777 platforms.

They explained, “Continued 777X delays extend reliance on 777-300ER and 777F fleets, keeping GE90 support strategically important. For 777 operators and lessors, FADEC and HMU availability should be treated as a leading indicator of widebody support risk.”

The hardest-to-find engine components from May 2026 included:

• FADEC (PN: 105E70898G1 / 105E70898G2 / 105E70898G3 / 105E7090G12 / 105E7090G13 / 105E7090G9/114E6791G3) for B777
• Hydromechanical Unit (HMU) (PN: 1693M75P08 / 1851M65P05) for B777
• Core Compartment Cooling Valve (PN: 5010759-101) for B777
• Cooler (PN: UA541461-5 / UA541462-7)
• Ball Rotor (PN: 2923151-102)
• Sleeve / Borescope Plug (PN: 30G2651)

Were avionics, sensors and electrical components difficult to source in May 2026?

With avionics, sensors and electrical components making up 22% of hardest-to-find parts for May 2026, Locatory.com highlighted key causes.

Locatory.com reports stated, “These shortages often appear because of traceability, certification, repair capacity and low production volumes.”

They continued, “This category also reflects aging-platform complexity. As aircraft remain in service longer, older LRUs, sensors and electrical assemblies become harder to replace with identical serviceable units.”

The most constrained parts in this category were:

• Wire Bundle (PN: D9298003500800)
• Power Supply Module (PN: LA5D12100H30200) for Airbus
• Potentiometer (PN: MT31894-A)
• Smart Monitor (PN: RD-FJ7828-01) for 757-200 / Boeing 767 / Airbus A330-302 applications
• Indicator Light Assy (PN: ST131-7ARP) for Boeing 757
• Sensor (PN: 0154GF9) for B777
• Fuel Quantity Transmitter (PN: 20301-0134) for B787
• Temperature Sensors (PN: 351-702-801-0 / 351-702-803-0)

How constrained were searches for cabin and safety components in May 2026?

Accounting for 10% of hardest-to-find parts for the month, searches for cabin and interior components—including safety components—focused on:

• Cabin furnishing
• Lighting
• Passenger/crew interface
• Interior-panel items

Locatory.com experts explained, “The presence of CRJ-related cabin and door components also highlights a broader regional-aircraft issue.”

The reports continued, “These operators often have smaller supplier bases, fewer teardown opportunities and more limited access to pooled support. When material tightens, these fleets can move from sourcing friction to AOG exposure quickly.”

The hardest-to-find cabin and interior components from May 2026 were:

• Literature Pocket Assy / Pochette (PN: F0426595) for Airbus fleet
• Nursing Table (PN: S225400401-800)
• Light Assembly (PN: 0447LS13-087-02)
• Face Panel (PN: 0YZ1510A01G03)
• Door Landing (PN: CC670-33151-6S) for Bombardier CRJ700 / CRJ900 / CRJ1000 regional aircraft

What were search constraints for airframe and landing components in May 2026?

Airframe and landing components made up 8% of the most constrained searches throughout May 2026.

Experts from Locatory.com said, “Compared with April, May’s airframe and landing constraint share is lower and less centered on landing gear.”

“The pressure is instead concentrated in structural and track-related components, especially B777 and CRJ applications,” noted the reports.

The most difficult-to-find airframe and landing components for this month were:

• Door Landing (PN: CC670-33151-6S) for Bombardier CRJ700 / CRJ900 / CRJ1000
• Track Assy (PN: 131W1660-1103) for B777
• Flap Track Rail (PN: 170-39142-005)
• Brake Assembly (PN: 2608892-1A)

Experts from Locatory.com shared, “Overall, May data indicates that aviation aftermarket pressure is spreading across the full maintenance package.”

They added, “High-value engine controls, narrowbody engine hardware, IDGs, starters, electrical modules, cabin interiors, and low-cost mechanical items are all competing for limited traceable inventory.”

This means that for operators and MROs, the greatest risk is now the ability to source every supporting part required to release the aircraft, rather than only major engine components.