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.

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