Remarketing older aircraft can be a lengthy process. In September 2016, Taiwanese flag carrier China Airlines mandated AMS Aircraft Services and EastMerchant to jointly remarket five Boeing 747s. Part-out firms and African airlines are showing interest in the jets – but talks are still at the early stages, FlightGlobal understands.
The widebodies – all built in 1997-98 – fall just outside the range of the secondary aircraft market for 10- to 16-year-old jets, which was described as being "reasonably strong" so far in 2017 by AerCap chief executive Aengus Kelly during a 21 February investor call on the lessor's 2016 results.
"Now the key to selling assets is to sell assets that you want to sell," says Kelly. "And we tend to target the mid-life assets of 10 to 16 years of age – average age is around 13 years – as we want to try and drive the average age of the portfolio down a bit and focus the portfolio more on the newer-technology assets."
He adds: "So far the market this year seems to be reasonably strong, and that could change of course, but at the moment I would say it's likely that we will probably exceed the billion dollars. By how much, though, is uncertain."
AerCap looks to sell at least $1 billion-worth of its assets every year.
USED AIRCRAFT DEALS: 8-22 FEBRUARY
Atlas Air has acquired from lessor Altavair one 1994-built Boeing 767-300ER powered by General Electric GE CF6s, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.
Currently undergoing passenger-to-freighter conversion, MSN 27205 will return to service in May 2017.
Prime Air, internet giant Amazon's cargo carrier, will operate the jet.
Atlas Air has agreed to operate 20 767s on Prime Air's behalf.
Lessor Orix Aviation has bought one 2012-vintage Airbus A330-200 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772Bs from CIT, according to Fight Fleets Analyzer.
The purchase is subject to Virgin Australia's existing lease of the widebody.
MSN 1319 has been in Virgin Australia's fleet since June 2012, Flight Fleets Analyzer indicates.
EgyptAir has disposed of a 1991-built Airbus A320 powered by International Aero Engines V2500-A1s, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows. Parts company Jetpro International has bought MSN 0198, which will be retired.
EgyptAir operated the narrowbody from 1991 through to April 2016.
Canadian regional airline Calm Air has acquired one 1996-built ATR 72-200 (MSN 508) from ACMI lessor Danish Air Transport.
French company Regourd Aviation has bought one 1999-built Embraer ERJ-145 from Luxair. MSN 145147 is powered by Rolls-Royce AE3007s.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
