One objection to blockchain for MRO and other aftermarket purposes is that it requires scale and wide participation to become really useful, and that there is little chance at present of all elements in the supply chain signing up to a common platform for, say, parts records.

Boeing 747s may be disappearing from the global passenger fleet but they are still a mainstay of the heavy cargo market.

In recent months several Chinese airlines and partnerships have launched or bolstered their cargo operations, while this week the Chinese government has put another option on the table for their lift requirements.