KfW IPEX-Bank and Helaba selected to fund Air Pacific new A330-200 aircraft

Air Pacific (soon to be Fiji Airways) announced (25-Feb-2013) that following the conclusion of a highly competitive bidding process, it had selected two major international aviation banks for European export credit financing for its three new A330-200 aircraft. The two banks are German-based: KfW IPEX-Bank and Helaba. The RFP process was overseen by SkyWorks Capital which issued the Air Pacific RFP in late 2012 to a number of major international aviation banks, and thereafter received seven firm proposals involving 11 separate banks. The move to finalise financing of its new aircraft follows the completion of purchase agreements in late 2012 with Airbus and Rolls-Royce for the purchase of three new Rolls-Royce powered, A330-200 aircraft. Designated to replace Air Pacific's current Boeing 747 fleet, the first aircraft delivery will be in Mar-2013, with the second and third aircraft delivering in May-2013 and Nov-2013 respectively. The A330-200s are the first brand new widebody aircraft ever purchased by the 60 year old national airline. [more - original PR]