Farnborough International Airshow order highlights - Day 3

Main Farnborough Airshow Announcements Day 3:

Air Lease Corporation (ALC) and ATR signed (11-Jul-2012) a contract converting two of 10 options for ATR 72-600s into firm orders. These options were taken as part of an order agreement between ATR and ALC booked in 2010. With the purchase of these two aircraft, ALC will increase its total fleet of ATR 72-600s to 14. The aircraft will be delivered in Jul-2013 and Sep-2013. Almost 20% of the total ATR sales in the last two years have been booked with leasing companies. [more - original PR]

Avolon and Boeing announced (11-Jul-2012) a commitment to purchase 30 737 family aircraft, bringing Avolon’s committed fleet to 135 aircraft. Avolon committed to purchase 10 737 MAX 8s and 5 737 MAX 9s, as well as 10 737-800s and reconfirmation rights for five 737 MAX aircraft. The commitment has a list-price value of USD2.3 billion. The 737-800 aircraft are scheduled for delivery from 2015 onwards, the 737 MAX aircraft from 2018 onwards. Once this commitment is finalised, Avolon's backlog will grow to 36 737s. Avolon's committed fleet now stands at 135 aircraft. [more - original PR - Avolon] [more - original PR - Boeing]

China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC) signed (11-Jul-2012) a MoU for 36 current generation A320 family aircraft. The deal includes eight A321 and operators will be able to select Airbus’ new fuel saving sharklets. CACL CEO Mike Poon said, "This sizeable aircraft order will lay the foundation for CALC to achieve our ambition to become a major aircraft lessor in the region.” Hong Kong-based CALC currently owns a portfolio of 11 Airbus aircraft including five A320s, five A321s and one A330. It also has three A330s and five A320s aircraft in its delivery pipeline. With this new commitment, CALC’s Airbus fleet will grow to over 50.

CIT Group Inc and Airbus announced (11-Jul-2012) a firm order for 10 A330 family aircraft. This deal includes five A330s ordered previously and a new agreement for five additional A330s, with the first commitment for the newly launched, longer-range A330 with increased take-off weight limits. Five A330 aircraft were ordered earlier this year in conjunction with the cancellation of orders for four A320 family aircraft and the exercise of an aircraft purchase option. This brings the total number of A330s on order from CIT to 51. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2014. [more - original PR - CIT]  [more - original PR - Airbus]

Ilyushin Finance (IFC) and South American Leasing Panama Company signed (11-Jul-2012) a contract covering the purchase of 15 AN-148 and AN-158 regional jets. Under the contract arrangement, IFC will act as seller of the aircraft and will also organise financing. South American Leasing Panama Company will operate as the lessor for the aircraft, which will be leased to carriers in the Caribbean and Latin America. The first three AN-158 aircraft will be delivered from Dec-2012. Five more AN-158s and seven AN-148s will be delivered over 2013/14. [more - original PR]

Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) announced (11-Jul-2012) the signature of an order for an ATR 42-600 aircraft, joining 12 ATR 72-600 and ATR 72-500 aircraft it already has on order. NAC chairman Martin Møller said, "We have been marketing ATR aircraft for many years now and we and our customers are very satisfied with the low aircraft operating costs, profit potential and residual values that these aircraft have offered and now will continue to offer with the new 600 series models. The acquisition of the new ATR 42-600 aircraft completes our line-up of availability of the full ATR model range and we hope to continue to grow our portfolio with further acquisitions of this the most modern of 50-seat turboprop aircraft." [more - original PR]

Lao Airlines announced (11-Jul-2012) the signature of an order for two ATR 72-600 aircraft valued at USD47 million at catalogue pricing. The aircraft, which are to be delivered in late 2012 and in 2013, will join the airline's existing fleet of four ATR 72-500s. The aircraft will be powered with Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines. Lao Airlines president Somphone Douangdara said the aircraft "will be introduced at an important stage to meet the growing demand of the transport and tourism sectors". [more - original PR]

SkyWest and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation stated (11-Jul-2012) they have reached an agreement in principle in anticipation of completing a firm order for 100 Mitsubishi Regional Jets (MRJ), laying the foundation for Mitsubishi Aircraft’s delivery of MRJs to SkyWest commencing in 2017. Pratt & Whitney will provide exclusive power for the aircraft, with the agreement representing 200 PurePower PW1200G engines with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2017. Mitsubishi Aircraft and SkyWest intend to continue their efforts to transform the agreement in principle into a definitive agreement in the coming weeks. The agreement in principle contemplates Mitsubishi Aircraft would commence delivery of the MRJs during 2017 and all 100 MRJs would be delivered before the end of 2020. MRJ has received 130 aircraft orders so far including 25 (15 firm, 10 option) from All Nippon Airways Co, 100 (50 firm, 50 option) from Trans States Holdings and five (all firm) from ANI Group Holdings. This agreement in principle, if developed into a binding purchase order, would increase the number of orders for the MRJ to 230 aircraft. [more - original PR - Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp] [more - original PR - Pratt & Whitney] [more - CAPA Analysis]

TransAsia Airways and ATR announced (11-Jul-2012) the signature of a contract for eight firm ATR 72-600s, plus an option for one additional ATR 72-600. The deal, including the option, is valued at over USD210 million. Deliveries of these new ATR -600s will start in 2014 and extend through 2017. With the purchase of these aircraft, TransAsia Airways will progressively replace its current fleet of nine ATR 72-500s operating in their domestic network with the newest ATR -600 series aircraft developments. The ATR 72-600s will be configured with 72 seats. [more - original PR]

See announcements from days one and two.