With proper maintenance and repair, an aircraft can last longer than its estimated lifespan. On average, commercial aircraft can last between 20 to 30 years. However, airlines often retire their planes earlier due to economic and operational reasons.

The lifespan of a commercial airplane is not measured in years so much as in flight hours and pressurization cycles. Most modern single-aisle jets, like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, are designed for a service life of approximately 25 to 30 years, or around 60,000 flight hours and 20,000 to 30,000 cycles (one cycle equals one takeoff and landing). Wide-body aircraft designed for long-haul flights often have a longer lifespan in terms of hours—up to 100,000—but fewer cycles because they fly longer distances between pressurization events. A plane reaches the end of its life when the structural fatigue on its fuselage (caused by the repeated expansion and contraction of the cabin under pressure) makes it more expensive to repair than to replace. However, with rigorous maintenance and part replacements, many aircraft can safely exceed these "design goals." Once retired from passenger service, planes are often converted into cargo freighters, used for parts, or sent to a "boneyard" for metal recycling.