10 Feb 2020

North America Newsletter 10 February

AEI Announces 2 Additional MD-83SF Freighters for TSM Aeronautical Engineers, Inc (AEI) has signed a contract to provide Saltillo, Mexico-based Aeronaves TSM SA. de CV (TSM) with two additional AEI MD-83SF freighter conversions. The first MD-83 (MSN 49945) will commence modification in March 2020, followed by the second MD-83 modification beginning in November 2020. AeroCentury Corp. Announces Portfolio Updates AeroCentury Corp announced three recent sales of turboprop aircraft, consummated in furtherance of its ongoing objective of refreshing its portfolio by lowering the average age of its portfolio and reducing its exposure to older aircraft. In years past, the Saab 340 and Fokker 50 aircraft types were the predominant aircraft types in the Company’s portfolio.  The lessor has had a long association with both aircraft types, which arguably constituted the leesor’s most successful programs, having given the company access to customers throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific.  The recently sold Saab and Fokker aircraft were the last of their respective types in the lessor’s portfolio. Altavair AirFinance and KKR Announce $1 Billion Aircraft Transaction with Etihad Airways KKR and Altavair announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire a portfolio of commercial aircraft from Etihad Airways. The acquisition will be made through aircraft leasing investment platform Altitude Aircraft Leasing, which was established by KKR’s credit and infrastructure funds in 2018 to acquire aircraft serviced by Altavair. . The aircraft portfolio being acquired includes Etihad Airways’ owned fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs and Trent powered Airbus A330-300s and A330-200s. The transaction provides for the Boeing 777-300ERs to be leased back to Etihad upon purchase in early 2020, while the Airbus A330s will be delivered over the next 22 months and placed on lease with other international operators for either passenger operations or as converted freighters. Central Mountain Air names Bob Cummings as CEO Central Mountain Air names Bob Cummings as CEO. Cummings was most recently an executive vice-president with WestJet Airlines from 2006 until October 2018. Under his commercial leadership, WestJet revenue grew from just over one billion in revenue to more than $4.5 billion. He also led the growth of WestJet Vacations, WestJet Rewards, the launch of WestJet Encore, Swoop and their expansion into wide-body. GOL and American Airlines announce codeshare agreement GOL and American Airlines announced a codeshare agreement that will offer the more daily flights between South America and the U.S. than any other airline partnership. When approved by the authorities in Brazil and the U.S., GOL's new codeshare will enable its customers to travel seamlessly to more than 30 destinations in the U.S. The flights will operate from GOL's hubs São Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Brasília (BSB) and Fortaleza (FOR), and will add to GOL's existing regular flights to Miami and Orlando. Acumen Aviation © 10 February 2020 All Rights Reserved.