Airlines’ demands for bespoke seats can extend the wait for new aircraft and increase their price. According to Aviation Week, AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly warned that delays in certifying a new seat design could push back an aircraft delivery by up to a year and increase its price by three to four percent.

Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box on September 8, Kelly said airlines themselves were contributing to delays through excessive cabin customisation requirements. While manufacturers are trying to ramp up aircraft production, developing and certifying such products creates additional delivery hurdles. “Airlines are overcomplicating seats. The customization levels are so high,” said the head of the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, urging carriers to take a more pragmatic approach to selecting equipment.

Cabin equipment shortages are not limited to new aircraft. Aviation Week reports that lengthy procurement lead times are also complicating cabin upgrades on aircraft already in service. Jim Leech, AAR’s director of proposal and business development for engineering services, noted that supply chain disruptions had affected virtually every segment of the aircraft modification industry. Long waits for seats, cabin monuments, electronic systems, connectivity equipment and certain certification-critical components are making projects more difficult to plan and execute.

Lufthansa Technik has faced similar challenges. Joern Dahmen, senior director of special engineering services, told Aviation Week that the main obstacle had generally been component availability rather than demand. Lead times for seats and selected avionics components have increased significantly at times, prompting the company to rely on earlier procurement, closer supplier cooperation and engineering solutions to mitigate the impact of delays.

There are, however, signs of gradual improvement. According to Tan Yen Ping, senior vice president and head of cabin interiors and engineering solutions at ST Engineering, airlines and integrators are increasingly securing the necessary components and kits earlier in the planning process. This provides better visibility of equipment availability and reduces the risk of disruptions to project schedules.

ST Engineering is also easing some constraints through its in-house manufacturing capabilities, including 3D printing and thermoforming to produce selected cabin parts. While these methods and earlier ordering are helping projects move forward, equipment availability and certification timelines remain important factors in planning aircraft deliveries and cabin upgrades.