APOC Aviation has acquired an A320 for part-out and is collaborating with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) and Eco-Fly for the project.

Part-out will take place at Rothenburg airport in Germany. The A320 airframe (MSN 1823) was acquired from a US-based investment company and last operated by SmartLynx, APOC said.

EFW will undertake the part-out, working with Eco-Fly to build best practice for fuselage disassembly “to evaluate recycling concepts for aircraft on an industrial scale at the airport to establish a blueprint for future programmes”.

APOC’s VP of aircraft acquisition and trading Jasper van den Boogaard said: “Despite the difficulties of travel, by staying airside we were able to assemble the different strings that made closing agreements feasible in this highly challenging market.

“We’re proud to engage EFW and acknowledge the investment and energy required to bring a sustainable industry to a region where there is a pool of talented technicians eager to embrace new skills.”

Van den Boogaard noted that APOC was “actively targeting” further acquisitions as part of its growth strategy. “Following our numerous acquisitions last year, we plan to continue purchasing airframes throughout 2021 and we’ve just opened a strategic spares hub in Singapore. This is part of APOC’s expanding global footprint and further warehouses will soon follow in the US and other parts of Asia during 2021.

“We need to sustain our high-quality stock of young, new technology, parts and be ready to support our customers – airlines, MROs, traders, and P2F conversion specialists alike. Those airlines and lessors worldwide seeking swift transactions to stabilise their balance sheets can always talk to us.

“We are optimistic that current developments and the global roll out of Covid-19 vaccination programmes will enable an increase in air travel soon, and we all hope this allows ‘normal’ summer holidays again this year.”