Emirates Airlines has awarded a “first-of-its-kind” contract to UAE-based Falcon Aircraft Recycling to recycle and upcycle the airline’s retired fleet of A380 aircraft.
The materials recovery and repurposing activities, which will be entirely conducted in the UAE, will “dramatically reduce” the environmental impact of the deconstruction process and reduce landfill waste, according to Emirates.
“This is our most ambitious project to date, which will see the first deconstruction of an A380 outside of Europe,” said Falcon Aircraft Recycling’s director Andrew Tonks.
Partnering with Wings Craft, a UAE-based firm that specialises in producing custom furniture and merchandise from aircraft materials, Falcon said it will design and manufacturer collectibles and retail items form the materials and parts removed from the aircraft.
“Approximately 190 tonnes of various metals, plastics, carbon fibre composites and other materials will be removed from the aircraft and passed on for recycling or repurposing via our upcycling programme with Wings Craft,” said Tonks.
“The recovery programme will be delivered fully within the UAE and ensure that the majority of the aircraft will find a second life.”
After completing its last commercial flight in March 2020, the A6-EDA was retired from service and taken to the airline’s engineering centre where Emirates engineers retrieved serviceable components such as engines, landing gears and flight control components.
Emirates said a portion of profits from the sale of the items upcycled and recycled from the fleet will be donated to the Emirates Airline Foundation.
