According to IATA, over 16,000 commercial aircraft have been retired worldwide over the past 35 years. Commercial aircraft have an average age of just 27 years, but many are retired earlier than this. It is not just about age – flying hours and ‘pressurization cycles’ are also relevant. With substantial initial cost, what happens after retirement is, of course, very important to aircraft owners. They will seek to maximize the return on the aircraft – this could lead to resale to another airline, storing for future use, or breaking up for parts.
