Two four-year-old A320neo aircraft to be dismantled after Spirit exit

Irish asset management firm EirTrade Aviation has acquired two Airbus A320neo aircraft that were previously operated by Spirit Airlines and will dismantle them for parts, marking what the company describes as the youngest A320neo airframes yet to be parted out.

The aircraft, manufacturer serial numbers 10769 and 10921, are 4 years and 3.5 years old, respectively. Both were recently flying with Spirit Airlines, which is undergoing bankruptcy restructuring in the United States.

EirTrade completed the purchase in partnership with Chicago-based lessor RESIDCO. The disassembly is taking place in Goodyear, Arizona, with components to be transferred to EirTrade’s parts hub in Dallas to support aircraft-on-ground (AOG) and maintenance demand across the Americas.

The teardown includes engines and high-value components from the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G powerplant, which equips the A320neo. EirTrade said it also acquired four sets of line-replaceable units and buyer-furnished equipment linked to the engine type.

More than 4,400 A320neo-family aircraft are currently in commercial service worldwide, with roughly 7,200 on order, according to the company. Many components are interchangeable with the earlier A320ceo family, which numbers about 6,500 aircraft in operation, sustaining demand for used serviceable material.

The decision to dismantle aircraft of such recent vintage reflects current market conditions, as airlines and lessors adjust fleets amid financial pressures and shifting capacity needs. EirTrade said disassembly is already under way and that overhauled components will be released to the market by the end of the first quarter.

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