FLY Leasing sees positive signs: fewer available aircraft, higher lease rates and aircraft prices

Colm Barrington, CEO of FLY Leasing, speaking exclusively to CAPA about the prospects for the aircraft leasing sector, noted the signs of recovery in the airline sector are "quite positive". This is the result, he believes, of the combination of the number of available aircraft declining, a strengthening of lease rates and increases in aircraft prices, which "will continue for the balance of 2010 and into 2011." Fly Leasing remains interested in "new investment" and is "looking at improvements to our portfolio all the time, including acquisitions and disposals." But, he said, "current conditions...are not attractive for raising new equity."