Aircraft retirement is typically a financial decision driven by a desire not to invest in maintenance due to newer or existing technology aircraft being available to substitute.
The graphic below explores the retirements since 2001 and shows what these are as a % of the active fleet. We can see that retirements, as a % of the active fleet, have hovered between 1.8% and 3.4%. The average was ~2.5%.
There have been ~12,585 aircraft retirements since 2001. Retirements peaked in 2012 with ~890 aircraft retiring. On average, there have been ~620 aircraft retirements per year over the last decade.
So far, ~465 aircraft have been officially retired in 2020. There’s a lag in the data, and we expect that by the end of 2020, more aircraft will retire, including some aircraft that are currently parked that ultimately won’t return to flying.
Also, many aircraft retired so far in 2020 were already planned to retire before COVID hit.
However, this doesn’t mean they will be parted-out straightaway. In recent years, approximately 400-500 aircraft have been parted-out per year. 2020 part-outs might be lower given the delay/work stoppage due to COVID and concern over prices to pay for assets at a time when buyers don’t want to overpay, and sellers don’t want to sell too cheaply.
Industry Insights
More News
Date: September 03 , 2025 |
Naveo’s Richard Brown is Moderating MRO Asia’s Panel on Talent Retention & Recruitment in Aviation |
The air transport fleet in the Asia Pacific region is huge. There are~6,200 aircraft (17% of the global fleet) flying with Asia Pacific operators, and a further ~4,500 aircraft (12% of the global fleet) with operators... |
READ MORE  |
Date: September 03 , 2025 |
Naveo’s Richard Brown is Chairing the Predictive Aircraft Maintenance Conference in Singapore |
I’m excited to be chairing the inaugural Asia Pacific edition of the Predictive Aircraft Maintenance (PAM) Conference in Singapore on 15–16 September to be held at Marina Bay Sands. It's happening on Monday and Tue... |
| READ MORE |
Date: September 03 , 2025 |
Naveo Aircraft Retirements Update: Young A320neo Family Aircraft Are Already Being Retired |
You may have heard that recently, two A321neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines had been purchased to be torn down, their engines and parts reclaimed to support the existing A320neo fleet. Both aircr... |
| READ MORE |