The Lufthansa Group is set to scrap up to 15 aircraft in Ostend, Belgium from July earlier this year. The airline is partnering with the company Aerocircular following a previously successful partnership in Frankfurt.
Aircraft, like humans, are not immortal. While some can go on to become museum pieces, such as all of British Airways' Concordes, others get scrapped. This can either be for spare parts destined for another aircraft or to recycle the metal. Lufthansa, however, also upcycles some of its aircraft into bespoke pieces of furniture. These can be bought on the carrier's webshop.
The deconstruction deal
According to a press release by Aerocircular, Lufthansa is to send up to 15 aircraft to Ostend in Belgium. Here, the aircraft will be dismantled, having reached the end of their lives. Rather than simply demolishing the aircraft, Aerocircular "aims to reuse all materials originating from aircraft in the most sustainable and ecological way possible".
According to the company, one Airbus A320 landed at Ostend in July of this year. As reported by CH-Aviation, this is a former Eurowings Airbus A320 registered as D-AIPW. Additionally, a second A320 is due to join it in October. The company expects to be able to start dismantling aircraft in Ostend from mid-October. However, it adds that it is also dismantling aircraft for Lufthansa at various locations across Germany.
The aircraft due to be dismantled may not all come from Lufthansa. Aerocircular mentions that they could come from a Lufthansa Group airline. However, they also indicated that aircraft could have been purchased by Lufthansa Technik for spare parts.
Earlier this year, Aerocircular took an Airbus A340 aircraft apart for the German flag carrier at Frankfurt Airport. Frankfurt airport is the main hub for Lufthansa. In fact, the airport acts as the Aviation capital of Germany, beating the capital city, Berlin.
Could the A320s become furniture?
On its online retail website, Lufthansa World Shop, the airline sells several products made from upcycled parts of aircraft. Everything you can imagine is there, with a huge range of products available. This ranges all the way from keyrings made of fuselage and headrests made into wash bags, all the way to €3,000 coffee tables made from a section of an Airbus A340's wing.
Given that Aerocircular aims to reuse the materials, it isn't beyond belief that the aircraft could become part of Lufthansa's upcycling collection. I for one would love a piece of Airbus A320 in my living room.
Simple Flying contacted Lufthansa for comment.
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