Nearly-New Planes Are Being Crushed for Parts — Here's Why
A worldwide shortage of jet engines is pushing airlines to scrap planes just years after they were built, selling the parts for millions.
Imagine buying a brand-new car and crushing it for scrap just four years later — because its spare parts are worth more than the car itself. That's exactly what's happening in the airline world right now.
A popular Airbus A320neo jet, built in 2022 for Spirit Airlines, was torn apart for parts and crushed this year — less than four years after rolling off the factory line. It was designed to fly for decades.
Why is this happening? The biggest reason is a severe shortage of aircraft engines. Newer, fuel-efficient engines are breaking down and needing repairs far sooner than expected. Repair shops are so backed up that airlines can wait years to get engines fixed.
Instead of waiting, some plane owners find it more profitable to strip a jet for parts and sell them. Here are the key facts:
- 21 of the newest-generation planes were torn apart between June and August 2025
- Their average age was just 6.4 years — compared with a normal retirement age of about 21.7 years
- Each scrapped plane cost buyers only "single-digit millions" but holds over 1,000 sellable parts
- A single engine for some planes is now worth close to $17 million — up 60% since 2019
- Even one engine fan blade can cost $50,000 to over $100,000
To keep flying, airlines are now pulling engines off retired jets and swapping them onto working planes — what one expert called "playing Legos." Renting a single engine can cost $130,000 to $180,000 per month.
The bottom line: When parts are scarce and expensive, even young, popular planes become more valuable broken down than flying. As one industry insider put it: "Don't fall in love with the metal."
This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/24/spirit-airlines-planes-scrapped-engine-shortage.html