FARNBOROUGH, England - Tuesday, July 15th 2014 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS
WIRE)-- SMBC Aviation Capital, the world’s third largest aircraft
lessor, announces that it has placed a firm order with Airbus for 110
A320neo aircraft and five A320ceo aircraft in a deal worth around
$11.8bn at list prices.
The deal is the largest single-aisle
aircraft order ever placed by a lessor and the largest aircraft order of
any kind by a Japanese-owned lessor. As part of the order, SMBC
Aviation Capital has options to convert the majority of the A320neo
aircraft and all of the A320ceo aircraft into the A321 variants. The
company will announce its engines selection at a later date.
Commenting
on the deal, Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, said: “This
is a landmark order for SMBC Aviation Capital and indeed for the wider
aircraft leasing industry, and I am delighted to be continuing the close
and long-standing relationship that our business enjoys with Airbus.
The A320 family has played a crucial role in SMBC Aviation Capital’s
success to-date, and this order should be taken as a clear sign both of
our commitment to the new generation of single-aisle aircraft as well as
our ambitious plans to grow our business. The A320neo programme is
progressing well, and we believe that the timing and structure of the
order that we have placed will complement the specific needs and
requirements of our customer base. This order, together with the
company’s global presence, operational expertise, robust shareholder
structure and world-class team, mean that SMBC Aviation Capital is
extremely well placed to continue delivering sustainable long-term
growth.”
Shinichi Hayashida, Chairman of SMBC Aviation Capital,
said: “When the SMBC-led consortium acquired this business in 2012 we
spoke of our intention to significantly invest in the platform and its
portfolio in order to cement its position as one of the world’s leading
aircraft lessors. Today’s announcement is firm proof of that intention
and an important step forward on the path to realising the vision that
we have for SMBC Aviation Capital.”
John Leahy, Airbus Chief
Operating Officer, Customers, said: “Today’s announcement with SMBC
Aviation Capital is another shining example of the excellent
relationships Airbus has and is continuing to develop in Japan, where
our supplier base is continually growing. When a leading leasing company
like SMBC Aviation Capital places a significant order for more of our
market leading A320 Family aircraft, it’s clear confirmation that the
A320 Family, including our newest model, the A320neo, is the best
solution for airlines that are looking to grow their business profitably
and offer their customers the industry’s best travel experience on
short to medium haul missions.”
SMBC Aviation Capital has grown
substantially since its launch in 2012, increasing its workforce around
the world from 67 to 113, completing 146 new deals, trading over 50
aircraft, and delivering 73 aircraft. In the 14 years since the platform
was established, the business has acquired over 494 aircraft, 233 of
which have been from the Airbus family.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
SMBC
Aviation Capital is the world’s third largest aircraft lessor, with a
modern fleet of over 350 owned and managed aircraft valued at more than
$10bn. The business’s strategy is to own and lease liquid,
investor-friendly aircraft assets with continuous trading through the
industry cycle to maximise profitability and manage risk. The business
has sold more than 230 commercial aircraft valued at over US$7.5bn.
SMBC
Aviation Capital has 95 airline customers and over 40 investors in more
than 40 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Dublin and
has offices in, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, New
York, Amsterdam, Toulouse and Seattle.
Contacts
Powerscourt:
Rob Greening
+44 7809 698 259
Lisa Kavanagh
+44 207 250 1446
Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11628/en

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