An airplane goes through a fascinating journey after it stops flying, and a French company has the answers to what happens next.
Have you ever wondered what happens to an airplane after it reaches the end of its flying career? If not, then you’re in luck because that’s the topic of the day with the French company that has established itself as the global reference in the “afterlife” sector of airplanes: TARMAC Aerosave.
Founded in 2007 in Tarbes, in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of France, by three giants – Airbus, Safran, and Suez – TARMAC Aerosave is now the world leader in environmentally friendly aircraft and engine recycling.
The company treats an airplane like an industrial object, managing its entire journey from temporary storage to complete deconstruction. This holistic approach is what the company calls the “complete life cycle.”
When an airplane arrives at TARMAC Aerosave, several scenarios can unfold. If a company simply needs to park the plane temporarily due to financial difficulties or fleet restructuring, the airplane is stored, maintained, monitored, and eventually put back into service.
If the aircraft changes ownership or operator, it undergoes reconfiguration, inspection, and updates to meet the new operator’s standards.
In the third scenario, where the airplane will never fly again, it is dismantled. TARMAC Aerosave follows a precise process where reusable parts like engines, landing gear, avionics, and cabin equipment are disassembled, certified, and reintroduced into the spare parts market. Materials like aluminum, titanium, and copper that cannot be reused are sorted, valorized, and sold to recycling facilities.
TARMAC Aerosave operates on three sites in Europe: Tarbes and Toulouse in France, and Teruel in Spain, with a capacity to accommodate up to 280 airplanes and 120 engines simultaneously, making it the continent’s largest storage facility.
Since its inception, TARMAC Aerosave has welcomed over 1,470 airplanes, returned over 1,000 aircraft to service, and dismantled over 360 airplanes and 190 engines. In 2019, the company achieved a global first by recycling an Airbus A380, recovering over 90% of its mass.
The global aircraft recycling market was valued at $5.3 billion in 2024 and is set to double to $13.2 billion by 2034. This growth is driven by the mass renewal of global fleets, where newer aircraft models consume less fuel, pushing airlines to retire older planes and fueling the demand for dismantling and recycling services.
TARMAC Aerosave, with its unique approach, is at the forefront of this industry, but competition is quickly emerging. The U.S. currently dominates the market, but countries like China are investing heavily, and other players are expanding globally.
With a strong track record and certifications from major aviation authorities, TARMAC Aerosave has positioned itself as a key player in the industry, serving clients worldwide and contributing significantly to the circular economy.
(Source: TARMAC Aerosave, Aeromorning, Global Market Insights)
