Company Notes Strong Demand In Mexican Market

AgustaWestland announced this week Aerolíneas Ejecutivas (ALE) of Mexico has signed a contract for fifteen additional helicopters comprising four AW119 Ke single engine, four AW109 Power and five Grand light twin and two AW139 medium twin turbine engine models.

The contract value is worth approximately $83 million. This latest order is part of the framework of the five-year contract and distribution agreement signed in August 2006. This order and the one signed in March 2007 brings the total number of firm orders to 38.

ALE is a Mexican company with nearly 40 years of helicopter sales, rental, management and maintenance experience. In February 2006, ALE was appointed as the AgustaWestland Authorized Service Center in Mexico. Located at Toluca International Airport outside of Mexico City, ALE provides maintenance and repair services as well as maintaining a spare parts inventory for the range of AgustaWestland commercial helicopters comprising the AW119 Ke, AW109 Power, Grand and AW139.

"This latest contract will increases our market presence in Mexico and confirms the strong demand for our modern range of commercial helicopters in Mexico," said Renzo Lunardi, Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit, AgustaWestland. "AgustaWestland commercial helicopters such as the Grand and the AW119 Ke are achieving greater and greater success in government and public service markets, including law enforcement and emergency medical services, both in Mexico and other markets worldwide."

The AW119 Ke is AgustaWestland’s answer to worldwide current customer demand for a high performance, modern, multi-role single-engine helicopter. The eight-place AW119 Ke can perform a wide range of commercial and public service roles, delivering exceptional performance under hot and high operating conditions. The AW109 Power is a highly versatile twin engine helicopter that is used for commercial and public service missions and has exceptional levels of performance with low operating costs.

A new intermediate size helicopter with light twin economics developed to meet a variety of market requirements, the Grand provides levels of cabin space and payload that until now could only be met by larger, more expensive helicopters – in less than four years since its launch nearly 200 aircraft have been ordered.

The AW139 features the most spacious cabin and the best power reserve compared to any other helicopter in its class and has rapidly become the best selling aircraft in its category worldwide. Over 330 aircraft have been ordered and over 100 aircraft are now in service worldwide.

The helicopters ordered by ALE will be assembled at AgustaWestland’s production facilities in Philadelphia, PA and Vergiate, Italy.

FMI: www.agustawestland.com, www.aerolineasejecutivas.com.mx