Why popular airplanes are getting scrapped years early

A growing shortage of aircraft parts—especially engines—has pushed some owners to dismantle relatively new jets years earlier than planned. CNBC reports that an Airbus A320neo painted in Spirit Airlines’ livery left the Mobile, Alabama line in July 2022 and was meant to fly for decades, but in May it was stripped for millions of dollars in parts and later crushed near Phoenix. Aviation asset traders say this is becoming more common as engine availability tightens and costs rise. IBA Group data shows 21 of the newest-generation aircraft were scrapped between June 2025 and August, averaging 6.4 years old, compared with an average narrowbody retirement age of 21.7 years.