Where abandoned airplanes sit on Death Row
Earlier this month, a Boeing 747 freighter loaded with urgent medical supplies took off from Spain’s Lleida-Alguaire Airport bound for Chicago.
The aircraft, operated by Atlas Air, had been parked at this small airport due to a decline in cargo demand, a situation reversed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Industrial airports like Lleida-Alguaire have become critical storage locations for grounded planes, including the Boeing 737 MAX, which has been grounded for over a year.
With major airports charging premium rates for parking, many aircraft have been relocated to lesser-known industrial airports. Lleida-Alguaire, considered a “white elephant” since its 2010 inauguration, now stores the largest number of Boeing 737 MAX planes in Europe, housing fleets from Norwegian and Icelandair.
Stored planes undergo meticulous maintenance to remain flight-ready, including humidity control and regular engine checks. “We aim to keep humidity below 40%. We use dehumidifying bags and specialized devices that suck the humidity out of the air,” explains Miguel Martín, technical director at Servitec Aircraft Maintenance, the firm that takes care of the MAX planes stationed at Lleida-Alguaire.
However, Lleida-Alguaire also serves as a final stop for older aircraft destined for dismantling. These aircraft, often still airworthy but not economically viable to maintain, are stripped for valuable parts and then scrapped. “When we switch off the power, it is the official death of the aircraft, there’s no way back,” says Martín.
This dismantling process involves cataloging, cleaning, and processing parts for resale. Components are sent to approved repair shops for recertification before entering the aftermarket. The remains of the airframe are often recycled, sometimes repurposed into unique items like coffee tables.
As the pandemic continues to impact the aviation industry, industrial airports like Lleida-Alguaire play an increasingly vital role in managing grounded and retired aircraft.
Original Source: CNN Travel
