Commercial Aviation’s Great Holding Pattern

Contemplating a description for the state of commercial aviation in 2025, I have settled on “The Great Holding Pattern.”  There are several reasons why I chose that particular phrase. The primary reason is the number of delays we see daily in the industry.  Having something happen on time and on budget, which was formerly routine, now seems rare.  Almost everything is now delayed.

Let’s look at some of the delays and their causes: