Page 24 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

FEATURE

WHY AIRLINES ARE PARKING

AND RETIRING PLANES EARLY

here has been plenty of news in
Trecent months of airlines reti ring
aircraft early as the industry comes to a

standstill. Many retired planes are being

sent to aviation graveyards, otherwise

known as bone yards.
Here, they live out the rest of their
days being picked apart as parts are tak-
en and used elsewhere. However, 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 taken off flying status can spend months pandemic has catalyzed their retirements.
are also cheaper to run. The new Airbus being restored and repaired. From passengers to pilots, Boeing 747 is
A321neos use 15% less fuel compared Airlines may also choose to temporarily a favourite across the industry; however,
to standard jets. With fuel costs rising, store aircraft due to economic conditions the Queen of the Skies is one of the largest

airlines are looking to cut fuel costs as such as rising fuel costs. If an airline casualties this year.

much as possible. is changing its network, consolidating Qantas notably retired the last of its 747
Additionally, like any machine, planes with another airline or downsizing, it units last month. The jumbo has been sent

are subject to wear and tear. As planes get may choose to ground some jets. These to the Mojave Desert in California with sev-
older, they naturally become less efficient. jets may be retired permanently and be eral of its siblings and 12 of Qantas’ A380s

Just as we get older, we tend to slow down snapped up by another airline or may that are in hibernation there.
and occasionally even need a few parts only be stored temporarily until condi- British Airways emotionally confirmed
replaced, so do airplanes. Maintaining air- tions improve. that it is also retiring the jumbo early
worthiness, therefore, becomes increasing- There is also a strong second-hand due to the implications surrounding
ly expensive. market for aircraft. Leasing companies COVID-19. Many redundant 747s from
Not only do the newer planes have a often take retired planes and refurbish across the globe are being sent to Cots-

direct cost-benefit, but they also have a them before leasing them to airlines who wold Airport in the Gloucestershire. The
more subtle benefit. Newer planes are cannot afford, or do not want, to buy small British field has a storage park for

equipped with the latest in passenger their own. One of the most well known aircraft that are don’t have a role in the
comforts. From mood lighting to minimize is Hi Fly, which recently gave a new lease current climate.

jetlag to better entertainment systems, of life to Airbus A380 formerly flown by Altogether, travel restrictions, border

sleeker designs, and comfier seats, mod- Singapore Airlines. closures, and passenger concerns have

ern jets offer passengers a better expe- caused an unprecedented downturn in

rience. Generally, passengers are more TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE passenger numbers across the globe. Even
likely to travel on an airline with newer DOWNTURN though some services are picking up slowly,

planes than older ones. There is no industry standard of when a it could take three to five years for activity
to return to 2019 levels.

WHY NOT SCRAP THEM ALL? plane should retire permanently or what Planes such as the 747 and the A380 were
should happen to it. Various factors can
Once an airline has decided to remove affect an aircraft retirement age, including already under review due to more efficient,

aircraft from its fleet, the aircraft are the number of flight hours and pressuriza- modern types being available. However,

generally sent to bone yards. Sometimes, a tion cycles. with long-haul opportunities limited amid

plane goes to a bone yard for maintenance The recent downturn has meant that the current situation, these models are

or an overhaul. Bone yards often have many aircraft have retired early. Rather now required even less.

maintenance hangars attached for this than pay to store aircraft at airports, air- Therefore, until there are regular,

purpose. These hangars are also used to lines have been using this time to refurbish diverse operations occurring across the

remove parts for scrap. their aircraft and renew their fleet. nations again, many planes will be taking

However, if a plane is being retired well-deserved sabbaticals and retirements

completely, it doesn’t mean it will stay in A NECESSARY MEASURE in the sun. Q

the bone yard forever. Sometimes, retired The global health crisis has rocked the

aircraft are overhauled and then snapped aviation market from top to bottom. Even Article courtesy of

up by other airlines that don’t have the if carriers were planning to eventually let https://simpleflying.com/aircraft-

cash to buy new jets. Aircraft temporarily go of some members of their fleet, the retirement-parking-vs-scrap/

World Airnews | September 2020
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