TARMAC Aerosave to Recycle Three A380s for Spare Parts
French aircraft MRO specialist TARMAC Aerosave has acquired three additional Airbus A380s for dismantling and recycling, aiming to bolster the global supply of spare parts for the A380 fleet. This move comes as demand for A380 parts grows, driven by airlines bringing the world’s largest passenger jets back into service following the pandemic.
The three A380s will be dismantled at TARMAC Aerosave’s facility at Tarbes–Lourdes–Airport (LDE) in Southwest France, where the firm will strip and recycle valuable components, feeding them back into the spare parts market for active A380s worldwide. These aircraft have already been in long-term storage at LDE, so no additional ferry flights are needed before dismantling begins. The project will be completed in partnership with EastMerchant Capital GmbH, a German asset management company, and AMS Aircraft Services, a technical consulting partner. Skyline Aero, a supplier of used serviceable materials (USM), is also involved, contributing insights on high-demand parts in the aftermarket.
TARMAC Aerosave, which has been instrumental in returning A380s to commercial service and supporting sustainability initiatives, has now re-delivered 29 A380s to airlines between 2023 and 2024. CEO Alexandre Brun expressed the company’s commitment to sustainability and extending the life of the A380 fleet: “We are thrilled to continue working on such an iconic aircraft and contribute to extending the life of the rest of the flying fleet while recycling what needs to be at the best of our knowledge.”
EastMerchant Capital’s Managing Director, Baldur Vander, echoed Brun’s sentiments, emphasizing the value of TARMAC’s expertise in A380 recycling as a driving factor in acquiring these aircraft. “TARMAC Aerosave’s commitment to sustainable recycling also played a significant role in our decision,” Vander added. Bradley Gregory, CEO of Skyline Aero, also highlighted the collaboration’s role in meeting growing market demands: “Our teams are excited to work with TARMAC Aerosave on these projects; their ability to remove parts quickly was a key factor in ensuring we fulfill current market demands.”
TARMAC Aerosave’s operations span three key facilities: the primary location at Tarbes–Lourdes–Airport, a second facility at Teruel Airport (TEV) in Spain, and a third in Toulouse, France. Earlier in 2024, the company opened a new $15 million hangar at Teruel, described as “the largest metal-textile hangar in the world,” capable of accommodating one widebody or up to four narrowbody aircraft. Across all three sites, TARMAC Aerosave has storage capacity for over 280 aircraft and provides maintenance for Airbus, Boeing, and ATR models.
Founded in 2007 as a joint venture by Airbus, Suez, and Safran, TARMAC Aerosave has dismantled 400 aircraft and 230 engines and returned approximately 1,200 aircraft to service. As it adds three more A380s to its dismantling program, TARMAC Aerosave plays a key role in maintaining a sustainable supply of spare parts to support global A380 operators while adhering to environmentally responsible recycling practices.
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