Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restrictions on entry and exit of various countries continue, and one third of the world’s aircraft (more than 8,600) are still grounded after August when they enter the holiday season.
The Roseville International Aviation Center in the desert of New Mexico is one of several “aircraft cemeteries” in the world. Due to the dry climate, the aircraft is not easily damaged, and the clogging cost is low, only 10 to 14 dollars a day. In addition to the retired aircraft whose parts are to be removed, there are also some aircraft parked here that have no flight plan temporarily and need to be stored for a long time.
According to data from British aviation analysis company Cirium, as of August 18, the total number of aircraft parked here reached 382, far higher than the 103 at the beginning of the year. American Airlines has parked its Boeing 737 and 777 aircraft here.
Cirium’s statistics show that as of mid-August, there were more than 8,600 “unflyable aircraft” in the world, accounting for about 32% of the total number of aircraft. Even after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, there has been no such large-scale and long-term grounding.
According to data from the British aviation consulting company IBA, 34 airlines have filed for bankruptcy so far this year, surpassing the 27 for the whole of last year. The company believes that the final number of bankruptcies will reach 70. It is the aircraft leasing industry that is inevitably affected. Airlines have asked leasing companies to waive the fixed fee of leasing fees.