Two Airbus A320neo airframes, which were only 3.5–4 years old, have been earmarked for teardown. This unusually early end-of-life outcome highlights how scarce, high-value components can outweigh the economics of keeping an intact aircraft in service. Irish asset manager EirTrade Aviation, working with Chicago-based RESIDCO, acquired the jets, MSN 10769 and MSN 10921, both originally delivered new to Spirit Airlines (one in late 2021, the other mid-2022).
The aircraft will be disassembled in Goodyear, Arizona, with recovered material routed to EirTrade’s Dallas parts hub to support AOG demand across the Americas. EirTrade says the strategy is to stock “newer vintage” rotables and latest-modification components, including the acquisition of in-demand PW1100G LRU/BFE sets as part of the broader deal.
The move is a clear signal of the current aftermarket’s priorities: used serviceable material (USM) has become critical as airlines and MROs work around supply-chain constraints and engine-program disruption, pushing owners to monetize engines and line-replaceable components even from relatively young airframes.
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