There has been plenty of news in recent months of airlines retiring aircraft early as the industry comes to a standstill. Many retired aircraft are sent to aviation graveyards, otherwise known as boneyards. Here, they live out the rest of their days being picked apart as parts are taken and used elsewhere. But some retired aircraft are not destined for scrap just yet.
Why do airlines retire planes?
As time and technology move on, manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus, and suppliers such as Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney, find new ways to make aircraft more economical. This means more modern aircraft not only do less damage to the environment, but they are also cheaper to run. The new Airbus A321neos use 15% less fuel compared to standard jets. With fuel costs rising, airlines are looking to cut fuel costs as much as possible.
Additionally, like any machine, planes are subject to wear and tear. As planes get older, they naturally become less efficient. Just as we get older, we tend to slow down and occasionally even need a few parts replaced, so do airplanes. Maintaining airworthiness, therefore, becomes increasingly expensive.
Not only do the newer planes have a direct cost-benefit, but they also have a more subtle benefit. Newer planes are equipped with the latest in passenger comforts. From mood lighting to minimize jetlag to better entertainment systems, sleeker designs, and comfier seats, modern jets offer passengers a better experience. Generally, passengers are more likely to travel on an airline with newer planes than older ones.
Why not scrap them all?
Once an airline has decided to remove aircraft from its fleet, the aircraft are generally sent to boneyards. Sometimes, a plane goes to a boneyard for maintenance or an overhaul. Boneyards often have maintenance hangars attached for this purpose. These hangars are also used to remove parts for scrap.
However, if a plane is being retired completely, it doesn’t mean it will stay in the boneyard forever. Sometimes, retired aircraft are overhauled and then snapped up by other airlines who don’t have the cash to buy new jets. Aircraft temporarily taken off flying status can spend months being restored and repaired.
Airlines may also choose to temporarily store aircraft due to economic conditions such as rising fuel costs. If an airline is changing its network, consolidating with another airline or downsizing, it may choose to ground some jets. These jets may be retired permanently and be snapped up by another airline or may only be stored temporarily until conditions improve.
There is also a strong second-hand market for aircraft. Leasing companies often take retired planes and refurbish them before leasing them to airlines who cannot afford, or do not want, to buy their own. One of the most well known is Hi Fly, which recently gave a new lease of life to Airbus A380 formerly flown by Singapore Airlines.
Taking advantage of the downturn
There is no industry standard of when a plane should retire permanently or what should happen to it. Various factors can affect an aircraft retirement age, including the number of flight hours and pressurization cycles.
The recent downturn has meant that many aircraft have retired early. Rather than pay to store aircraft at airports, airlines have been using this time to refurbish their aircraft and renew their fleet. But that doesn’t mean we won’t any of the retired aircraft again.