Industry's Largest Ever Single Firm Order By A Lessor

A major firm order for 115 A320 Family aircraft (110 A320neo, five A320ceo) has been placed by aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital. The contract was announced Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow 2014, by Peter Barrett, SMBC Aviation Capital, CEO, Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President & CEO and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

This new order is the industry’s largest ever single firm order by a worldwide leasing company for single-aisle aircraft.  With these new planes, SMBC Aviation Capital’s total orders for Airbus aircraft rise to 206 A320 Family aircraft. SMBC Aviation Capital will announce its engines selection at a later date.

“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”, said Peter Barrett, CEO, SMBC Aviation Capital. “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 program 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.”

“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,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “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.”

(Image provided by Airbus)

FMI: www.airbus.com