Aging aircraft

[Ilyushin]

So I was having a look at maintenance costs for a plane, old vs new. I was just wondering how realistic it is. To me, it seems very, very unlikely that the maintenance costs of an older plane are so absurdly higher than those of a newer plane.

Just have a look at this (TMT3)

New, factory fresh B767-200ER:
https://www.airwaysim.com/game/Aircraft/New/View/140/

A check costs 11 472 USD
B check costs 29 827 USD
C check costs 688 321 USD
D check costs 3 441 605 USD

22 year old B767-200ER:
https://www.airwaysim.com/game/Aircraft/Used/View/73546/?

A check costs 37 634 USD
B check costs 97 849 USD
C check costs 2 258 048 USD
D check costs 11 290 239 USD

Can someone please explain me how maintenance costs become higher as the plane is older?
I somehow understand that that's the way how it goes, but the maintenance costs of an older plane are just too unrealistic/high in my eyes.
If this would be like this in real life, practically nobody would still be operating A300, A310, 732, 727 aircraft today.

Ilyushin

[PiaDijkstra]

In my eyes it is a delicated balance. I work in the aviation and see the reliability suffer greatly when using older planes. Much is balanced with lower lease price though. The full calculation must be leasing plus maintenance, see what happens than! (same for new russians planes versus Western!!)

[Bolier Dweller]

i think thats pretty accurate to be honest maybe a little to high. Think of it this way, the older your car gets the more you have to replace. The older the car model gets the harder it is to get parts for it. Then don't forget you have to pay the people that do the work on the plane.

[GDK]

Well, I can't say that the value is logic or not but the fact that maintenance cost is higher as aircraft ageing is true. Take the A320-200 C-Check as example, every C-Check is different (slightly) and maintenance work is more as the C number is getting higher. C 01 check and C 02 check will be normal inspection and replacement+modification work but when C 03 comes, you got to do the win top skin check. When it comes to C 20 check, it might involve dismantling of huge part such as the wing section.

[Riger]

Well, I can't say that the value is logic or not but the fact that maintenance cost is higher as aircraft ageing is true. Take the A320-200 C-Check as example, every C-Check is different (slightly) and maintenance work is more as the C number is getting higher. C 01 check and C 02 check will be normal inspection and replacement+modification work but when C 03 comes, you got to do the win top skin check. When it comes to C 20 check, it might involve dismantling of huge part such as the wing section.

Nice explanation GDK. It sounds almost like people maintenance...  In the early years is casts and stitches, with the occasional tooth cavity. In the latter years, its hip replacements and dentures ...   

[GDK]

Nice explanation GDK. It sounds almost like people maintenance...  In the early years is casts and stitches, with the occasional tooth cavity. In the latter years, its hip replacements and dentures ...   

Another interesting explanation

[LOT767]

i think thats pretty accurate to be honest maybe a little to high. Think of it this way, the older your car gets the more you have to replace. The older the car model gets the harder it is to get parts for it. Then don't forget you have to pay the people that do the work on the plane.

But on the same token, the more popular the model plane (MD/Boeing/Airbus) is like cars and parts. There are plents of used parts due to the popularity and plenty more people who can work on them, look at Allegiant they buy Americans and SAS old MD-80's I read somewhere for 4Mil refurbish them and put them to work, obviosly buying old planes works.