Virgin in LHT deal

Maintenance US start-up Virgin America and maintenance business Lufthansa Technik have announced a 10-year, $250 million deal combining its new spares and consumables service with line maintenance support for 31 Airbus A320s. LHT will establish component and supplies depots initially at Virgin America main bases at San Francisco and New York supplying line-replaceable units, consumables and expendables. LHT will also take over the supervision of Virgin America's line maintenance operation.

MIC to acquire Mercury's 24 US FBOs

Acquisition Macquarie Infrastructure (MIC) is to acquire the fixed-base operations (FBO) of Mercury Air Centers, majority owned by Allied Capital, for $456 million. Mercury runs 24 FBOs at 22 airports in the USA. The business will become part of Australian-owned MIC's Atlantic Aviation airport services business, which will have 68 FBOs after the acquisition. MIC acquired 23 FBOs from Trajen Holdings in April last year for $338 million. The latest consolidation in business aviation services, the Mercury deal will make Atlantic the largest FBO network in the USA, overtaking Signature Flight Support. Landmark Aviation, which is to be acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, is expected to sell off its 33 FBO sites.

Genise to head DAE leasing division

Appointment Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has appointed former chief executive of US lessor Boullioun Aviation Services Robert Genise to head its aircraft leasing division DAE Capital. He was a founding shareholder of Boullioun Aviation Services, which was set up in 1988 with Japanese banking partners, and helped develop the business into one of the world's most prominent lessors. Aircraft leasing is one of six aerospace businesses DAE has said it will create the others include maintenance, repair and overhaul airport management and aviation training.

Zodiac sale will boost aerospace warchest

Divestment French manufacturer Zodiac is planning to use the proceeds of a proposed deal that would see its marine segment transferred to the control of an existing joint venture with the Carlyle group to boost its firepower for aerospace acquisitions. The joint venture was formed in 2006.




Source: Flight International