In the first days of Covid-19 PandeMicThe demand for travel decreased, and almost every international airline is based on most of its aircraft. Some have gone a step forward and the types of entire aircraft retired from their fleets. Nothing was like US Airlines
That retires Five different types in one dayIncluding Embraer E190s, Boeing 757s and 767s, and perhaps the most controversial, all 25 Airbus A330s.
The American thinking in the A330s was simple: simplifying its fleet would reduce the costs. The plane joined the fleet by integrating with US Airlines in 2013, but the airline was focusing on a long -term fleet forward with nearly 70 examples of 777 in operation and great orders for 787 Dreamliner (both of them -8 and -9). But to what extent did Fort Worth, Texas, have been heading from the sale of A330s, and where is it ended?
How much was it made from selling A330s?
When the American initially retired five types of aircraft, I stated that it resulted “In his book, not a deficiency of $ 1.5 billion of major aircraft and regional aircraft.” To be clear, the A330s was just part of this huge amount, but it was more than a quarter of the total retired aircraft, the largest and younger, it is likely that at least $ 500 million of the deletion for the A330s.
But it did not end there. In 2022, the results of the first quarter of the airline included fees of $ 157 million in A330s. For those of us who are not accountants, this is an accounting entry that reflects a decrease in the value of the original because its fair value or its expected future cash flows have decreased below its book value in the public budget. Last year, it became clear that America was gradually getting rid of the plane, and this was confirmed in this File 10-k to the Supreme Education Council in February This year, where she admitted an increase of $ 42 million from this sale.
The simple airline continued to the American to comment, and a spokesman confirmed the profit.
“Our Airbus A330 fleet has retired in 2020 as a result of the decline in the demand for air travel due to the Covid-19. In 2022, we recorded unwanted fees To write the book value of our retired Airbus A330 to its fair value at the time due to the market conditions of some used aircraft, and in 2024, we entered into a sales agreement for the remaining Airbus A330, which led to an increase of 42 million dollars. “
Although more than $ 40 million gain, it should be noted that it came after writing hundreds of millions in its value.

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A330S retirement decision
We need to remember that when the American A330s decided in April 2020, the air traffic was moved, and there was no clarity on when (or if) would return. With a real threat that the epidemic can even put the largest airlines outside the work, it has been forced to make some severe cuts. Old 757s retirement and 767s was an easy decision. But the retirement on the Airbus spacious aircraft in a wide fleet of lighter agenda, it also makes sense to make it logical, so that he did not do so.
Photo: like Jozsef | Shutterstock
Quickly forward for two years, air travel was rising again, and the demand was higher for long international trips. to Delta Airlines
and United Airways
With international fleets that include more than 200 new aircraft and bodies that reach a monthly, it was a time of prosperity. But America was not able to take advantage of the apostasy in the same way, and we can see the effect on the comparative profitability of the BIG 3 to this day.
Photo: Dirk Daniel Man Shutterstock
After 76 aircraft of its international fleet retired in 2020, the American 113 broad bodies (67 examples of 777 and 46 examples of 787) had the summer of 2022. And worse, he was betting on the house on his orders 787 filled the gaps, but the production that was well connected to Boeing and Affline’s Financial Deliverts. It was still years of restoring its international fleet to normal.
Not surprisingly, there was a lot Speculation at that time It may restore the A330s that were still parked in the desert. But America He confirmed that he will not do that For a very simple reason it no longer has pilots for aircraft. Due to the lack of the future of WideBody Wide Future, according to what many A330 pilots jumped to the Delta, which has 75 A330s in its fleet, and more than the A330-900neOos on the road. The carrier also has the best compensation packages in the industry.

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A sad end of the A330-300s
Nine of 25 A330s was the A330-300s, all of which are more than 20 years, after it was delivered to US Airlines at the beginning of the century. Given the abundance of the A330-300s used in the market after large airlines such as Singapore Airlines and the Union of the Union, retired airlines recently retired of this type, and it may not be surprising that the 300s be the first to be changed, all of which are sold to spare parts and covered.
Photo: US Airways
Currently, their fate as follows:
-
Four has already been canceled (n273ay, n274ay, n275ay, n276ay)
-
Aero services go I got four planes In 2022 (N270ay, N271ay, N277ay, N278ay), along with 11 pratt & Whitney PW4168 engines, and setting the Teardown for post -sales spare parts
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One of them was obtained by Florida-based Arsale-to be divided into parts
A different fate for the youngest A330-200s
Every 15-200-200 is stored in Roswell, New Mexico. Unlike -300s, it is younger -between the ages of six to eight years when it retires. As a result, it was initially expected to be cut by other global airlines that manage this type, and look forward to adding it to their long capacity.
Looking at the market, many global airlines with large A330-200 fleets have been interested in:
Top 10 operators A330-200 |
|||
Airlines |
No. in the fleet |
Average age (years) |
The longest road |
East China |
30 |
11.9 |
Shanghai-Oakland (5,818 miles) |
Hawaiian Airlines |
24 |
11.8 |
Honolulu Boston (5,083) |
Turkish Airlines |
22 |
14.6 |
Istanbul Albatar (3,708 miles) |
Iberia |
19 |
8.8 |
Madrid Buenos Aires (6,264 thousand) |
China airline |
18 |
15.2 |
Beijing Atines (4,724 miles) |
Cantas |
16 |
16.8 |
Brisbane Los Angeles (7163 miles) |
Air trantusses |
14 |
19.8 |
Toronto Atines (5,048 miles) |
Air France |
11 |
22.3 |
Paris Bangaluru (4,859 miles) |
Delta Airlines |
11 |
20.0 |
Atlanta Lagos (5,835 miles) |
Aerolineas Argentinas |
10 |
14.2 |
Buenos Aires-Rome (6,927 thousand) |
As it turned out, America got attention from the various airlines for the A330-200s:
Delta Airlines
The Delta was initially the main suspect. It contains a fleet consisting of 75 A330, and it does not hate getting well -maintained used aircraft, such as the A350s you gained from Latam as part of taking a stake in this airline group. However, the A330s American’s Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, while the previous airlines from the northwest A330 of DELTA is operating in the PW4000 PRATT & Whitney chain, so adding the EX-AA plane will increase maintenance costs. Delta eventually took a pass and hung with the received A330-900neos.
Photo: Marcos Menca Shutterstock
Qatar Airways
Another airline was thirsty for a wide capacity, Qatar Airways. It is also active in the used market, as she recently got at least nine 777-300 from Cathay Pacific and Virgin Australia. With a small fleet of 10 A330s, three of which are smaller He was looking forward to -200s. However, it had a similar problem for the Delta, where the A330s is operated by General Electric CF6 engines, and adding the TRNT 700 aircraft will add the complexity and cost, so it also took a pass.
Photo: Qatar Airways
Thai Airlines
Last month, Several sources of Thai media I mentioned that Thai Airways had bought the former US A330-200s. He was also thinking about the 16th A330-200s South China in recent years, but again, it seems that the motor differences were inhibiting that deal. While southern aircraft in China has PW4000 engines, Thai airlines already have five A330-300s with TRENT 700 engines, making the previous US A330-200s with TRENT 700 A COMPLETE engines.
Photo: Lightrockket | Shutterstock
The search operations for FAA aircraft indicate that a number of A330-200s has now been re-registered with Jetran, a aircraft agent, and at least three of them have been transferred to Pinal County AirPark. Given that the plane had been sitting in the desert for nearly five years, there is no doubt that a great deal of work is needed to return it to the operational state.
The American will not reveal the destination of the plane sold. What is also clear is exactly the number of Thai Airlines that A330-200s has gained. Various reports were mentioned between seven and ten.