IATA's Parts-Data Platform Adds Cost-Benchmarking Tools as Its User Base Passes 800 Airlines

IATA's MRO SmartHub platform, a data-sharing tool for aircraft maintenance procurement, has passed 800 member companies and 1,700 registered users, the organisation said in a September 24 update outlining a round of new features. The most notable addition is a PMA Benchmark tool built into the platform's Evaluator module, which uses FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval data to flag where cheaper approved alternative parts exist for a given purchase and calculates the potential cost savings based on actual buying patterns rather than theoretical eligibility. A second new feature, Supply Chain Statistics, tracks metrics like top spend categories and surplus-inventory changes using real transaction data contributed by more than 40 airlines, replacing what IATA described as a previous reliance on periodic surveys. The platform is also piloting a Procurement Cockpit view that consolidates material demand, quotation requests and purchase orders in one place, though IATA said it is still gathering user feedback before building it out further. To grow the contributor base behind these data-driven tools, IATA is now offering airlines complimentary core access — covering the Evaluator, Connector and Auctioneer modules for up to 40 users — in exchange for airlines contributing their own transaction data, while suppliers can join the platform's Connector marketplace for free through the end of 2026.