Aircraft manufacturers and leaning companies are dismantling relatively new commercial jets at unprecedented rates, driven by severe shortages of aircraft engines and spare parts. According to aviation data firm IBA Group, twenty-one newest-generation aircraft were torn down between June 2025 and August of this year, with an average age of 6.4 years—substantially younger than the typical narrow-body airplane retirement age of 21.7 years. This marks a dramatic shift in industry practice, with executives noting they have never before purchased aircraft less than five years old specifically for parts harvesting.
The core issue underlying early retirements is the extended wait times and escalating costs for jet engines, particularly cutting-edge models designed to burn hotter and consume less fuel. These advanced engines are requiring maintenance far sooner than airlines anticipated, creating significant backlogs at repair and overhaul facilities operated by major manufacturers such as GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney, as well as independent service providers. An engine recall issued by Pratt & Whitney in 2023 related to contaminated powdered metal further exacerbated these delays, grounding hundreds of Airbus planes globally. Monthly rental rates for popular engines now reach $160,000 to $180,000, up significantly from historical levels.
The economics of aircraft dismantling have become increasingly attractive as component values surge. Individual engine fan blades command prices exceeding $100,000, while engine discs can cost between $1 million and $2 million. Some engine models have appreciated 60% in value since 2019. Companies specializing in aircraft asset management report that profits from selling more than 1,000 parts salvaged from young aircraft can exceed costs, making disassembly more lucrative than storage fees or waiting for repairs to be completed.
Industry experts attribute the trend partly to broader market conditions and the collapse of Spirit Airlines, which flooded the secondhand market with idle aircraft. Airlines and leasing companies facing critical shortages have begun removing functioning engines from retired planes to keep current aircraft operational while waiting for repairs. This practice, as one consultant described it, amounts to “playing Legos and moving engines on and off aircraft” to maintain flight operations during an unprecedented supply crunch.
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