Advanced exergy analysis of an aircraft gas turbine engine is presented in this paper. In this framework, the main exergy parameters of the engine components are introduced while the exergy destruction rates within the engine components are split into endogenous/exogenous and avoidable/unavoidable parts. Also, the mutual interdependencies among the components of the engine and realistic improvement potentials depending on operating conditions are acquired through the analysis. As a result of the study, the exergy efficiency values of the engine components are determined to be 89%, 86%, 60.6% and 98.6% of the low pressure compressor, the high pressure compressor, the combustion chamber and the gas turbine, respectively. The system has low improvement potential because the unavoidable exergy destruction rate is 93.55%. The relationships between the components are weak since 81.83% of the exergy destruction is endogenous. Finally, it may be concluded that the combustion chamber component of the engine should be focused on according to the results obtained. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.