Major Aerospace Companies Expand to Meet Defense and Commercial Aircraft Demand

Two major aerospace suppliers say they're working to increase production capacity as both commercial airlines and defense contractors boost orders. The companies cite growing airline demand and military needs driven by global conflicts as key factors.

Two major aerospace manufacturing companies announced Tuesday they are working to expand their production capabilities to handle surging orders from both commercial airlines and defense contractors.

Leaders from Honeywell Aerospace and Howmet Aerospace spoke at industry conferences about the challenge of meeting increased demand driven by both a recovering airline industry and military buildups worldwide.

The aerospace supply industry is experiencing strong orders from major aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, who are boosting production of new planes. Meanwhile, military spending is increasing globally as conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have reduced weapons inventories.

Aircraft manufacturers are consulting with suppliers and airline customers to assess potential impacts from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has pushed oil prices near $100 per barrel and affected flight routes and shipping operations.

John Plant, CEO of Howmet, which produces aircraft castings and fasteners, said his company can handle Boeing and Airbus plans to increase production of smaller, single-aisle aircraft. However, he noted that additional demand for larger long-distance aircraft would strain current capabilities.

“I don’t think we could support all of that at the moment,” Plant stated at the Bank of America Global Industrials Conference in London. “My suspicion is that we would actually have to put more capacity down to achieve that level of production.”

Honeywell Aerospace, scheduled to become an independent company in the third quarter of 2026, anticipates defense sector growth in the high single digits to low double digits, with commercial aviation growing in the high single digits this year.

“We don’t see the defense demand … waning at all,” said Honeywell Aerospace CEO Jim Currier during the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference in Washington, D.C.

“The heightened geopolitical concerns and conflicts that are happening around the world, and have been for quite some time, are fueling a substantial amount of investment in the defense sector,” Currier explained.

Honeywell Aerospace produces engines for business aircraft and navigation systems, among other components for both commercial aviation, representing approximately 60% of operations, and defense contracts, which make up the remaining 40%.

The company announced last year plans to split its aerospace and automation divisions into separate companies, in addition to previously announced plans to spin off its advanced materials division.