Poor reliability of new-technology aircraft, especially engines, is holding back the scrapping of older-generation airliners. While the number of aircraft to be scrapped post-Covid is expected to pick up some two years from now, the durability and supply chain issues with new aircraft and engines are delaying this trend, IBA Group consultancy said on September 20 during a market update webinar. IBA: new-aircraft issues will delay the scrapping of older jets.
During the Covid crisis, many aircraft were stored to wait for better times or phased out immediately. As IBA Chief Economist Stuart Hatcher noted, thanks to high demand, narrowbody capacity as in available seat kilometers (ASK) has outpaced 2019 levels at some 470 billion kilometers this year to date. Widebodies, regional jets, and turboprops are still operating below pre-pandemic levels.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
