Finnair intends to dismantle and recycle an Airbus A319 aircraft which has reached the end of its economic lifecycle at 21 years. The dismantling will begin at Helsinki Airport, where Finnair’s mechanics will remove parts that can be used elsewhere in Finnair’s fleet. These include the engine, seats, landing gear, and avionics components.
“This is the first time that a Finnair aircraft is dismantled and recycled in Finland. We made the decision to take the plane apart at our home hub to optimize sustainability and economics”, says Juha Ojala, Vice President of Finnair’s Technical Operations. “This project allows us to improve the cost efficiency of maintenance operations and employ our mechanics during the pandemic when their normal workload has decreased.”
Finnair’s aircraft have always been recycled elsewhere in Europe when they’ve reached the end of their lifecycle. Most companies that do this type of work are located in dry zones, where the climate is favorable for long-term storage of aircraft. This is the first time that a commercial aircraft will be dismantled in Finland. It is an unusual project for Finnair, as it is different from the company’s normal maintenance work, especially when it comes to planning and project management.
