GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Negotiations involve up to 75 A320 family narrowbodies
Leasing and financing giant GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is negotiating the purchase of up to 75 Airbus A320 family aircraft in a move signalling the first significant fleet buy from a lessor since last September's attacks on the USA. It would also be the first order from GECAS since its $5.5 billion deal with Boeing in July 2000.
Negotiations are believed to involve various packages ranging from 50 to 75 aircraft, and include the A319, A320 and A321. It is not known if the talks include the A318, for which GECAS holds 30 orders. GECAS declines to comment on speculation over the talks, but sources close to the negotiations confirm the lessor is near to agreeing a narrowbody deal.
According to Airclaims and manufacturers' data, GECAS holds outstanding orders for 365 aircraft of which 105 are Airbus narrowbodies. The balance, spread over a delivery schedule of several years, includes 38 A320s, 21 A321s and 16 A319s. All GECAS's outstanding A320 family orders are powered by engines supplied by sister company GE Aircraft Engines' joint venture CFM International. The GECAS portfolio now stands at around 1,266 aircraft, of which around 114 are indicated as being in storage.
If confirmed, the GECAS deal will represent a significant boost for the A320 family which netted 154 orders in 2001 despite the cancellation of 47 A318s and seven A319s. It will also help redress the 2002 orderbook race with Boeing which so far shows the US manufacturer ahead following last month's 737-800 order from Ryanair. GECAS's portfolio includes 179 A320 family aircraft, of which 99 are A320s and 65 A319s. It also owns almost 490 737s which represent around 40% of its fleet. This tally, which includes 155 Next Generation 737s, is expanding as it accepts new aircraft as part of the 65 firm and 52 optioned 737s ordered in 2000.
Source: Flight International
