Key Takeaways
• Azorra shifts from dismantling EgyptAir’s A220-300 jets to leasing them due to the ongoing global aircraft shortage.
• Pratt & Whitney engine shortages and supply chain delays drove earlier teardown plans for sought-after spare parts.
• Airlines need more A220-300 jets, and Azorra’s leasing strategy could set a new industry trend amid surging demand.
Azorra Changes Course on EgyptAir’s A220-300 Teardowns Amid Tight Aircraft Supply
Azorra, an aircraft leasing company based in Florida, has announced a major change to its earlier plan to break down several Airbus A220-300 aircraft it had recently acquired from EgyptAir. Instead of dismantling these jets for spare parts, Azorra now says it’s looking at leasing them out once again. This change comes at a time when airlines around the world are struggling with a shortage of available aircraft.
This move by Azorra is drawing attention because it marks a sharp turn from what the company said it would do just a short while ago. Back in April 2025, Azorra entered into a partnership with Delta Material Services (DMS), which is a part of Delta Air Lines. Their plan was to take apart several A220-300 aircraft, mostly to get their Pratt & Whitney engines. These engines are in high demand due to ongoing problems getting enough spare parts to keep A220 planes flying.
Let’s look more closely at why Azorra planned to pull these planes apart, why it’s now changing its mind, and what this means for the aviation world—including travelers, airlines, maintenance crews, and the companies who make and repair airplane engines.
Why the A220-300 Became a Target for Teardowns
The story starts with EgyptAir, which decided in 2024 to get rid of its entire fleet of Airbus A220-300 aircraft. This was a big move, especially since EgyptAir had taken its very first A220 jet just five years earlier. All twelve of EgyptAir’s A220-300 planes were sold to Azorra as a group.
After the sale, Azorra didn’t just park these planes. The company leased four of them to Breeze Airways, an airline in the United States, and sent one to Cyprus Airways. But these jets weren’t flying as much as you might expect. Breeze Airways made it clear that they were mostly using the planes to strip out the engines and other key parts to keep their own A220s running.
This is because the A220-300 aircraft—including those with the prized Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines—were running into big problems. Airlines using these planes were dealing with engine shortages. The situation was similar to what other types of planes, like those in the A320neo family, have faced with their engines (the PW1100G).
Also, the engines on EgyptAir’s A220-300 didn’t do well flying in places with a lot of desert sand and heat. EgyptAir’s top executive said the planes just weren’t a good fit for the African environment for this reason, leading the airline to walk away from the model earlier than it had planned.
With EgyptAir stepping away from its A220-300 fleet, Azorra first believed it made sense to take some of these planes apart. By doing this, they could offer much-needed spare engines and other parts to other airlines that were desperate to keep their own A220 fleets flying. In April 2025, Azorra spoke about this idea as “a creative solution that will generate long-term opportunity for the A220 to continue to thrive,” highlighting how breaking down a plane could actually help the model stay in use around the world.
Why Azorra Is Reconsidering
Despite its earlier plans with Delta Material Services, Azorra now finds itself rethinking the teardown move. There’s one main reason: there just aren’t enough new or used airplanes available for airlines who are ready to pay to put them to work.
Azorra’s president, Ron Baur, has said the demand for both brand new and second-hand A220 jets is “very strong.” With a tight supply of aircraft, Azorra sees a chance to make more money—and help more airlines—by leasing these A220-300s instead of scrapping them. This is important because having more planes available helps airlines add routes or protect schedules that might otherwise be hurt by plane shortages.
On top of this, the world’s supply chains for making and fixing planes are still struggling. Airlines can’t always get spare parts, especially engines. So, airlines are on the lookout for any available aircraft, even those a few years old, to add to their fleets or fill in while their own planes are waiting for new parts.
Let’s break down some important facts about the A220 marketplace that help explain this big demand:
- There are 457 A220 aircraft flying today.
- Of these, 391 are the larger A220-300 type.
- Around 75 of these planes are a bit older (7-12 years old), but most are still quite young overall, with the rest being six years old or less.
- Delta Air Lines is the single biggest operator of the A220 family, with forty-five A220-100s and thirty-three A220-300s in its fleet.
Airlines want these fuel-saving, modern jets because they are good for short to medium routes, and they save money on fuel compared to older models.
The shortage of new jets is not unique to the A220-300; it’s part of a larger global problem. New planes are not being built fast enough to meet the needs of airlines, with many facing long waits for new deliveries. When older planes can’t fly due to engine problems, the need for “spare” aircraft just goes up even more.
What This Means for Airlines and the Aviation World
When Azorra first joined with DMS to break down some of its newly acquired A220-300 jets, the idea was to use them as a source of badly needed engines and parts. Airlines around the world fighting part shortages would have benefited from this flow of spare components, helping them get grounded planes back in the air more quickly.
But with Azorra now looking at putting more A220-300s back into airline service through leasing deals, the approach shows how fast the business can shift when market conditions change. Airlines that are desperate for extra planes to meet customer demand or cover for those waiting on repair can now look to companies like Azorra for solutions. These leasing options could help ease the pressure of current plane shortages, at least in the short term.
For travelers, more available planes could mean fewer flight delays or cancellations due to aircraft shortages. When airlines can access reliable planes like the A220-300, they can offer steadier service and may even introduce new routes or more flights on busy days.
Maintenance crews and repair shops around the world will still have the challenge of getting enough parts, especially specialized engines for the A220. Some planes may still have to wait on the ground for the right parts to arrive, but putting more planes into service now is a step toward meeting high demand.
Engine makers—especially Pratt & Whitney, which produces the engines for these jets—are under a lot of pressure. That pressure will probably continue until companies fix the underlying problems with supply and engine durability.
As VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals, the real winners and losers in this fast-changing market can shift every few months. Companies that own or manage aircraft, airlines that need to keep growing, and passengers looking for reliable service all watch these trends closely.
How Azorra’s Strategy May Change the Industry
If Azorra can rent out its A220-300 jets instead of breaking them down for parts, this could become a model for other aircraft lessors facing similar choices. Keeping more of the global fleet flying helps airlines grow and supports jobs for flight crews, maintenance workers, and everyone involved in aviation.
This choice reflects a larger trend in the market: when supply chains break down, and planes are in short supply, the focus shifts from making old aircraft into spare parts to keeping as many jets in the air as possible. If demand drops later or spare parts become easier to find, companies may return to teardown strategies, but for now, the high need for flying aircraft is winning out.
For the countries and airlines who operate in tough environments—like Egypt 🇪🇬, where sand and heat can quickly wear down engines—selecting the right plane for the local climate is a lesson learned. EgyptAir’s experience serves as a warning for others considering new types of airplanes in similar regions.
For leasing companies, this shift demonstrates the need to be flexible. Changing a business plan quickly to fit new market conditions is important. Azorra’s decision shows that thinking ahead and being willing to switch strategies can help keep a business strong even as times change fast.
Quick Summary for Stakeholders
- Azorra is now reconsidering its partnership with DMS to break down Airbus A220-300s for spare parts, focusing instead on leasing these jets to airlines that need them.
- This shift was driven by a global shortage of new and used aircraft, making the A220-300 highly attractive for airlines looking to expand or stabilize their fleets.
- Engine shortages and supply chain delays still pose a problem, but leasing companies like Azorra can help by providing more planes for airlines to use.
- The story also reflects broader issues in aviation, like picking the right aircraft for harsh climates and adapting business plans to match quick changes in airline needs.
For more official and detailed information on current aviation trends and updates on aircraft operations, interested readers can visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) official website.
In the months ahead, industry watchers will be keeping an eye on whether Azorra moves forward with leasing all or most of its EgyptAir A220-300 fleet. Will other leasing companies follow Azorra’s example? Will more airlines look for second-hand jets instead of waiting for new deliveries? The answers could shape the global aviation landscape for years to come.
For now, Azorra’s changing strategy serves as a reminder that in the world of aviation, flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to shifting needs are just as important as the planes themselves. Whether you’re an airline trying to keep your flights running or a traveler just hoping your next trip stays on schedule, the decisions made in places like Azorra’s headquarters ripple out in ways that affect us all.
Learn Today
Aircraft Leasing → A business arrangement where companies rent aircraft to airlines instead of airlines buying planes outright, improving flexibility.
Teardown → The process of dismantling an aircraft to harvest valuable parts, such as engines or avionics, for reuse or resale.
Pratt & Whitney PW1500G → A turbofan engine series widely used in Airbus A220 aircraft, renowned for fuel efficiency but facing ongoing supply shortages.
Delta Material Services (DMS) → A subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, partnering with firms to manage, acquire, or recycle valuable airline components and engines.
Supply Chain Delay → Interruptions or slowdowns in the process of producing, shipping, and supplying aircraft and parts, affecting airlines globally.
This Article in a Nutshell
Azorra, originally planning to break down EgyptAir’s A220-300s for parts due to engine shortages, now intends to lease them. The shift is driven by limited aircraft availability and strong airline demand. This new leasing strategy may influence industry practices, helping global airlines maintain flight schedules amid ongoing aviation supply challenges.
— By VisaVerge.com
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