<strong>Lleida-Alguaire Airport:</strong> Spain's Lleida-Alguaire, and other industrial airports like it, is where airplanes that have been removed from service wait to take to the air -- or be taken apart.
Lleida-Alguaire Airport: Spain's Lleida-Alguaire, and other industrial airports like it, is where airplanes that have been removed from service wait to take to the air -- or be taken apart.
Miquel Ros
<strong>737 Max:</strong> Lleida-Alguaire currently has Europe's largest number of Boeing 737 MAX planes in storage.
737 Max: Lleida-Alguaire currently has Europe's largest number of Boeing 737 MAX planes in storage.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Icelandair: </strong>Two Nordic airlines -- Norwegian and Icelandair -- have sent their MAX fleets to be stored at Alguaire, a total of 10 shiny new aircraft.
Icelandair: Two Nordic airlines -- Norwegian and Icelandair -- have sent their MAX fleets to be stored at Alguaire, a total of 10 shiny new aircraft.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Wamos Air:</strong> This Boeing 747 was being dismantled at the time of CNN Travel's visit.
Wamos Air: This Boeing 747 was being dismantled at the time of CNN Travel's visit.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Off the beaten track:</strong> Lleida-Alguaire Airport lies some 150 miles from Barcelona.
Off the beaten track: Lleida-Alguaire Airport lies some 150 miles from Barcelona.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Economics: </strong>It's a lot cheaper to store planes here than at a major hub airport.
Economics: It's a lot cheaper to store planes here than at a major hub airport.
Miquel Ros
<strong>End of the road: </strong>The airport serves as an endpoint for old aircraft that are being retired from service.
End of the road: The airport serves as an endpoint for old aircraft that are being retired from service.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Airworthy, but... :</strong> Many of these aircraft are still perfectly airworthy, but they have reached the point in their operational lives when it's no longer economical to invest in their maintenance.
Airworthy, but... : Many of these aircraft are still perfectly airworthy, but they have reached the point in their operational lives when it's no longer economical to invest in their maintenance.
Miquel Ros
<strong>More than the sum of its parts: </strong>In fact, the parts and spares they contain are worth more than the aircraft as a whole.
More than the sum of its parts: In fact, the parts and spares they contain are worth more than the aircraft as a whole.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Inventory:</strong> Once the decision is taken to retire an aircraft, an inventory is compiled of all its parts and spares. Many of them will eventually find their way to other planes.
Inventory: Once the decision is taken to retire an aircraft, an inventory is compiled of all its parts and spares. Many of them will eventually find their way to other planes.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Movable parts:</strong> First to go are movable elements such as fire extinguishers or ramps. Fluids, oils and other chemicals are also removed.
Movable parts: First to go are movable elements such as fire extinguishers or ramps. Fluids, oils and other chemicals are also removed.
Miquel Ros
<strong>Time to die: </strong>"When we switch off the power, it is the official death of the aircraft, there's no way back," explains Servitec's Miguel Martín.
Time to die: "When we switch off the power, it is the official death of the aircraft, there's no way back," explains Servitec's Miguel Martín.
Miquel Ros