AirAsia has confirmed that it has been approached by 13 potential purchasers for some of its aircraft and its aircraft leasing business, including US fund Castlelake.
The carrier issued a stock exchange statement on 13 December, noting that the expressions of interest were from buyers interested in its leasing unit, Asia Aviation Capital, “and/or a number of our remaining aircraft assets.”
“However, the company has not entered into any legally binding contract with any of the parties involving the sale of the leasing unit or a significant number of aircraft with values over and above the prescribed thresholds [for regulatory disclosure],” it adds.
None of the other parties were identified, but it is likely to include major Chinese leasing firms such as China Everbright, Minsheng Financial Leasing and Ping-An Leasing.
Korea Transport Asset Management, which previously bid for Asia Aviation Capital, is also likely to be involved.
AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes told FlightGlobal in September that there were around 40 Airbus A320ceos in its fleet that it would seek to sell as it transitions to the re-engines A320neo family.
In March, the budget carrier group sealed a deal to sell 84 Airbus A320s and 14 engines to BBAM, FLY Leasing and Incline B. That $1.18 billion deal also covered 48 aircraft from the carrier’s forward orderbook and options on a further 50.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
