French company TARMAC Aerosave plans to dismantle over ten modern Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft by the end of 2026. The project was commissioned by the British firm AerFin to address the ongoing global shortage of aviation components.
TARMAC Aerosave, co-owned by Airbus, Safran, and SUEZ, has established a specialized production line for this task. The process involves removing cabin equipment and landing gear components. Since 2007, the company has processed over 2,000 aircraft, with 450 fully dismantled.
The decision to scrap relatively new aircraft stems from high demand for spare parts and supply chain delays. Manufacturers currently struggle to provide engines and landing gear quickly enough. Consequently, a functional young aircraft is often more valuable as a source of parts than as an operational unit.
A single A320neo can yield between 1,200 and 1,400 reusable components. High-demand items include parts for Pratt & Whitney engines and landing gear assemblies. Similar dismantling projects have already occurred in 2026, including two Spirit Airlines A320neo jets in Arizona aged three and four years.
