Quantcast

Boeing 747 retirements boost demand for storage and recycling industries

Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'
Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design
AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges
Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX
VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap
Air Canada Blames Paris Olympics On Decreased Profits
Delta passengers sue airline over refund refusals after CrowdStrike meltdown
Microsoft fires back at Delta after massive outage, says airline declined ‘repeated’ offers for help
Korean Air Confirms A Spacious Lounge Is Coming To The New Terminal One at New York JFK
VAS Aero Services to Acquire an Additional 17 Airbus A320 Airframes, Bringing to 23 the Total Number of A320s Slated for Teardown and Harvested Parts Redistribution
Delta CEO says CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage cost the airline $500 million
Boeing Reports $16.9 Billion In Revenue For 2nd Quarter With 5,400 Commercial Aircraft Backlog
United Airlines says flight attendant in Terrell Davis incident is no longer employed and NFL legend’s ‘no fly’ ban is lifted | CNN
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
CrowdStrike Outage Caused 10% Spike in Air Charter
Aircraft Engine Maintenance and Repair to Peak in 2026, Worsening Capacity Shortage for Commercial Aviation, Says Bain & Company
Joby’s Electric Air Taxi Makes European Debut
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation announces NLRB-scheduled vote to remove union officials
Families recount the horror of MH17 ten years on - Airline Ratings
777-9 Enters Certification Flight Testing - AVweb
Kompass Kapital Sets New Course with Airshare Investment
SATS, SIA Engineering Company and Changi Airport Group to Trial Autonomous Buses at Changi Airport
Qatar Airways Landing An A350 In Hamburg Makes A Powerful Statement - Airline Ratings
EBAA Backs Dassault's Sustainability Lawsuit against European Commission | AIN
American Airlines Now Lets You Earn And Spend Miles On Concerts And Events
Boeing agrees to plead guilty to defrauding the FAA but escapes punishment sought by victims’ families | CNN Business
IATA partners with Aviation Sustainability Forum to tackle cabin waste
Qatar Airways In Talks To Buy 20% Of Virgin Australia - Airline Ratings
Boeing 747 retirements boost demand for storage and recycling industries
Policy
Webp b747
Boeing 747 | Wikipedia

As the Boeing 747 reaches the end of its production and service life, many carriers are faced with decisions about storing these large aircraft. According to Simple Flying, the cost of storing a Boeing 747 can reach approximately $10,000 per month, similar to that of an Airbus A380. The storage cost varies based on factors such as location and model.

The Boeing 747 is known for its significant size, with a wingspan ranging from 195 ft 8 in to 224 ft 7 in and lengths between 184 ft 9 in and 231 ft 10 in. Due to these dimensions, storage facilities charge high fees for space allocation. The costs are also influenced by the duration of storage contracts and ground handling requirements.

Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona is a notable site where many retired Boeing 747s are stored. This facility gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic when numerous carriers retired their aging fleets. Pinal Airpark benefits from a dry climate that helps limit corrosion and has become one of the largest commercial aircraft storage facilities globally.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Aircraft recycling is another industry gaining traction alongside storage facilities. Companies like Aircraft End-of-Life Solutions (AELS) and Air Salvage International lead this sector, which Research & Markets expects to grow significantly by 2028. Recycling allows airlines to offset some costs associated with storing or replacing their obsolete aircraft by selling valuable parts.

Despite a decline in active service numbers for the Boeing 747 family—more than half have been scrapped or stored—some variants remain operational. As of April 2025, over 400 Boeing 747s were still flying, primarily newer models like the 747-400 and the more modernized version, the 747-8.

With continued retirements expected for this iconic aircraft type, both storage facilities and recycling businesses anticipate growth opportunities as they capitalize on the decommissioning process.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

FedEx has released the results of a recent survey focused on how Asia-Pacific (APAC) companies are responding to changes in global trade and customs regulations.

Oct 26, 2025

Delta Air Lines has inaugurated its first nonstop service from the United States to Marrakech, Morocco, marking the airline's return to North Africa after more than 14 years.

Oct 26, 2025

Alaska Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its route network for 2026, with plans to introduce service to two new cities and launch 13 new or returning routes.

Oct 25, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce new in-flight menu options created by celebrity chef José Andrés starting November 4.

Oct 25, 2025

The Blue Sky partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue launched today, allowing members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem points across the two carriers.

Oct 25, 2025

Air Canada is set to expand its presence at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) by introducing four new nonstop routes to the United States in 2026.

Oct 25, 2025