AerFin and Finnair have partnered for the sustainable phase-out management of Finnair’s retiring aircraft.

The collaboration has started with the disassembly of one of Finnair’s A319s. AerFin has determined where continued operational value can be driven on a component level from Finnair’s airframe and engine assets, the partners said.

AerFin will manage the disassembly of the airframe through its network of Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) approved teardown partners. Engines will be disassembled at the company’s 150,000 sq ft facility near Cardiff, UK.

Harvested components will be repaired before entering AerFin’s airline supply chain, while select components will re-enter Finnair’s component inventory pool to support its continued fleet operations.

Finnair’s director of fleet management Miika Haatio commented: “Finnair has ambitious environmental targets. In managing the end-of-life of our aircraft, we wanted to collaborate with an expert partner who is as focused as Finnair is in reducing the environmental impact of the aviation sector.

“After a thorough evaluation, we selected AerFin based not only on its extensive experience in maximising residual value of aircraft and engine assets but also a shared value in creating innovative solutions to make aviation more sustainable.”

AerFin’s commercial director James Bennett said: “The aviation sector, as a collective, has a key responsibility to reduce its carbon footprint. As a proud AFRA member, AerFin holds its sustainability policy at the forefront of its growth strategy.

“We are therefore delighted to partner with Finnair, an airline that is leading from the front with its sustainability objectives, collaborating with them to maximise commercial and technical value from its end-of-life airframe and engine assets – leveraging our collective expertise to make aviation more sustainable.”