Spirit Airlines Airbus A320neo Jets Scrapped at Just Four Years Old

Two Airbus A320neo aircraft formerly operated by Spirit Airlines are being dismantled for parts at just three to four years old, marking one of the youngest retirements of next-generation narrowbody jets.

The aircraft, manufacturer serial numbers 10769 and 10921 (registered N950NK and N959NK), were delivered new to Spirit in December 2021 and July 2022, respectively. Both ceased flying in the first half of 2025 as the ultra-low-cost carrier began shrinking its fleet amid financial distress.

Dublin-based aviation asset manager EirTrade Aviation has acquired the aircraft and confirmed that teardown operations are underway in Goodyear, Arizona. Components will be routed to the company’s Dallas facility to support in-service fleets worldwide.

Each A320neo originally carried a list price exceeding USD110 million, but in the current supply-constrained environment, individual components are often more valuable than the complete aircraft. EirTrade said the acquisition includes high-demand Line Replacement Units and Buyer Furnished Equipment linked to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines that power the A320neo.

LRUs are modular components designed for rapid removal and replacement, including sensors, actuators and electronic control units. Demand for such parts has surged as airlines contend with extended maintenance turnaround times and ongoing supply chain disruptions.

The dismantling highlights broader pressures facing the aviation industry. Since the pandemic, manufacturers and maintenance providers have struggled with labor shortages, raw material constraints and production bottlenecks. Pratt & Whitney’s high-profile GTF engine issues, which have grounded hundreds of aircraft globally, have further intensified demand for spare engines and components.

Aircraft on ground events are particularly costly for airlines, as grounded jets generate no revenue while incurring ongoing expenses. As a result, operators are willing to pay premium prices for readily available spare parts to keep fleets operational.

The scrapping of these Spirit A320neos follows similar cases involving relatively young aircraft, including A321neos and even an early Airbus A220, as the economics of parts recovery outweigh continued operation in certain scenarios.

Spirit Airlines, which has been restructuring and reducing capacity, has returned multiple A320neo-family aircraft to lessors. Industry observers suggest that additional young aircraft could face a similar fate if spare parts demand and supply constraints persist.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aerospaceglobalnews.com