Global Services
New consignment offering enhances Boeing Global Services’ core business and provides airlines with a reliable source of essential spare parts
As the aerospace industry navigates ongoing supply chain constraints, Boeing is taking a step forward by expanding its capacity of Used Serviceable Materials (USM). We are focusing on creative ideas to enhance the availability of USM to address the need for spare parts, continue to support sustainability in the aviation industry, and align to the evolving needs of our customers.
Currently, the USM market is estimated at $7 billion – including used serviceable parts, repair and overhaul services, exchange and lease programs and part sales activities. The USM market has an anticipated annual growth of 10 percent, with more than 400 aircraft retirements anticipated annually.
Boeing is looking to transform current and future supply chain challenges into opportunities by increasing its investment in USM and expanding its portfolio with a new consignment offering. Increasing USM parts availability allows operators to enhance maintenance strategies, reduce costs and maintain fleet readiness without compromising on quality.
Boeing's new Aircraft Recycling Program is designed to transform retired commercial airplanes into a reliable source of essential spare parts. By leveraging USM, we are facilitating the responsible retirement of aging fleets, while also ensuring airlines have access to high-quality components through a robust global distribution network. This initiative is a testament to our belief that sustainability and operational efficiency can go hand in hand.
“By enhancing our USM capacity, we are not only providing airlines with a reliable source of parts but also maximizing the value of their retired fleets,” said William Ampofo, senior vice president of Boeing Parts & Distribution and Supply Chain. “We are evolving to meet customer needs, as they seek to navigate the complexities of supply chain disruptions while maintaining operational integrity.”
The new offering is not just a response to current challenges; it reflects a broader industry shift toward responsible and cost-effective resource management. Airlines are continuously seeking ways to strengthen circularity by reducing waste and optimizing resources.
Boeing will collaborate with licensed service providers and leverage their dismantling process, which adheres to the highest environmental standards, maximizes material recovery and minimizes waste. Boeing signed its first agreement with ecube, a subsidiary of Unical Aviation Inc., which has the highest level accreditation in airplane disassembly with the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA).
The Aircraft Recycling Program allows airlines to consign retired aircraft to Boeing, where we oversee the entire teardown process. After an airplane is removed from service, our experts conduct a thorough assessment to identify valuable components and materials for recovery. The aircraft is then dismantled following strict environmental protocols.
Recovered parts undergo rigorous inspection, repair and recertification before being made available through Boeing’s extensive distribution network. This program not only generates revenue for airlines, but also ensures that materials are reused, reducing waste in a responsible manner.
For more than 20 years, Boeing has been at the forefront of innovating ways to prevent landfill waste and retain high-value components in the aerospace value chain or provide feedstock for other industries.
In 2006, Boeing helped found AFRA to set best practices of the safe and responsible disassembly of commercial airplanes, engines and recycling assets. Once dismantled, an airplane can provide up to 6,000 reused recertified parts. In 2023, we pledged to work exclusively with AFRA-accredited organizations to ensure Boeing-owned fleet are dismantled and recycled in a responsible manner.
This new consignment, revenue-sharing offering taps into Boeing’s established expertise on parts distribution and inventory management, while enabling airlines and leasing companies to optimize their asset value.
“As we look to the future, it is clear that effective lifecycle management is not merely an operational necessity but a strategic imperative for the aviation industry,” said Ryan Faucett, Boeing’s vice president for environmental sustainability. “With material recovery rates of up to 90% for metallic airframes, this offering can reduce waste to landfill, provide relief to supply chain constraints, and offer a return on investment for our customers.”
As we navigate the complexities of the aerospace landscape and shape the future of our industry, we invite our customers and partners to join us in this transformative journey. Together, we will unlock value, enhance operational efficiency, and set new benchmarks for responsible and resilient growth in the aviation industry.
For more information about the Aircraft Recycling Program, visit our product page.
