<h1>Airline industry faces prolonged aircraft delivery shortfall and rising costs, exploring legal options over supply chain disruptions.</h1> Supply chain disruptions have caused at least a 5,300 aircraft delivery shortfall and a backlog of over 17,000 aircraft, producing ~6.8 year lead times and a normalization timeline not expected before 2031-2034. Constraints include engine production issues, longer certification, tariffs and skilled labour shortages, resulting in elevated maintenance, leasing and inventory costs and more than 5,000 aircraft in storage. Airlines are evaluating legal opportunities and potential challenges to supplier pricing amid estimated industry losses exceeding USD 11 billion.