I am fully aware that the current performance model in AS might not allow existing airplane to be retrofitted with more advanced options. So instead an actual implementation of retrofitting, how about making an AS definition for retrofit. :) instead of actually adding elements to existing aircraft to improve its performance, we could - at a cost - switch our existing aircraft type to the same aircraft type but with different performance options, maintaining its current age, registration, seat config, etc.
So for example my airline has PK-AXH, a 0.8 years old Boeing 737-900ER HGW. In real life it would be possible to retrofit that airplane with blended winglets or scimitar winglets.
http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/services_retrofit.php
When you purchase a retrofit Blended Winglet System from APB, you receive the tools, data, technical support and experience necessary to perform a rapid installation.
We understand that in order to get your return on investment, you need to be flying.
Model with Description | Modification Hours | Span Time (Days) | Best
737-900 300 3 to 4 1/2 3 days
So technically AS can offer this retrofit, by allowing my airline to remove all schedule and ground PK-AXH for at least 300 hours, purchase (winglets) modification kit and switch the aircraft type from Boeing 737-900ER HGW to Boeing 737-900ER HGW (winglets). After 300 hours and spending some money, my PK-AXH now become a 0.8 years old Boeing 737-900ER HGW (winglets), with all seating configuration intact and new performance number.
While this might not be the tidiest workaround, I think it's better than having to buy/lease new aircraft type just in order to upgrade the fleet, you need to wait new airplane delivery queue, and you also lose the seat installed as you need to terminate the existing lease, your plane got new registration, your schedule is chaos, all in all doesn't feel realistic.
Now the cost, it's depend on whether the aircraft is owned or leased. If it's own, then the cost is the price difference between the type, and the aircraft book value should be added to reflect the true value. If it's leased officially from AS, then the lease-rate different should be added to the weekly lease-rate. If it's leased from other company, the owner need to bear the cost and the lease price could be adjusted, or if this one too complicated to implement just skip this option.
Of course this 'retrofit' should only be available to same type of aircraft but with different performance options. In my understanding you can't make 738 BGW into 738 HGW, or 777-200ER to 777-300ER, or A320 to A320NEO etc. It could be another exhaustive homework to the team, to determine what aircraft could be retrofit with what to become what, but this could be a very interesting feature.