Nordic Aviation Capital signs LOI with Amakusa Airlines for Japan's first ATR 42-600.

Tuesday 22nd July 2014

Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the world's largest regional aircraft leasing company, rounded off a successful week at the Farnborough Airshow with the signing of a Letter of Intent with Japan's Amakusa Airlines for a sole ATR 42-600.  When the Kumamoto Prefecture based regional airline accepts the aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2015, it will become the first ATR 42 operator in Japan.  The announcement follows hard on the heels of NAC, the biggest customer of ATR series aircraft, signing a total order for 75 ATR 42-600s, in a deal valued at over US$1.55 billion.

Established in 1998, Amakusa Airlines provides regular scheduled regional services connecting the Amakusa City off the coast of mainland Kyushuu in southwestern Japan to large cities to such destinations as Kumamoto, Fukuoka and Osaka, offering up to 10 frequencies daily.

"We are delighted to make this agreement with Nordic Aviation Capital and look forward to welcoming this brand new ATR 42-600," commented Takashi Yoshimura President of Amakusa Airlines.  "The ATR 42-600 is a fine aircraft, combining excellent economics and versatile characteristics with superior cabin comfort which our passengers will love."

The aircraft will replace the airline's existing 39-seat turboprop, enabling Amakusa Airlines to offer greater capacity thus playing an even larger role in developing tourism while most importantly better serving the local people.

NAC is first leasing company to order the ATR 42-600

Announcing its latest order for ATR 42-500s on Monday 15th June at a press conference with ATR's newly appointed CEO Patrick de Castelbajac, Nordic Aviation Capital Chairman Martin Møller said NAC was proud to be the first leasing company to order the smaller ATR variant.  "We love this product and our order (for the smaller 46-50 seat variant) reflects the high level of confidence we have with ATR.  As a specialist regional aircraft leasing company we will be able to help regional airlines around the world address the replacement market for sub 50-seat turboprops with our tailored leasing solutions.  We have plenty of interest in this aircraft," he added.

About the ATR 42-600:
Passenger capacity: 46 to 50 seats
Engines: Pratt & Whitney 127M
Maximum take-off power: 2400 horsepower per engine
Maximum take-off weight: 18,600 kg
Maximum load: 5,500 kg

About Nordic Aviation Capital:

Founded in Skive, Denmark in 1990 NAC is today the world's largest independently owned aircraft leasing company. NAC focuses on regional aircraft, mainly turboprop with a fleet of nearly 200 aircraft and 36 customers worldwide. The company has regional offices in Ireland, Canada and Singapore which supply aircraft to top tier carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, US Airways, Garuda, Avianca, Flybe, Azul and Etihad Regional (Darwin Airline).

NAC's latest ATR order comes just one year after the company  signed an order for up to 90 ATR aircraft, a contract worth a total US$2.1 billion at the Paris Air Show. This was followed by an add on order worth a total of US$ 820 million of up to 35 ATR 600 series aircraft, announced during the ERA General Assembly in October 2013.  Taking all NAC's commitments (firm and options) into account the figure now rises to well over 200 new aircraft, as this major European lessor continues to  expand its fleet to meet the need for short-haul turboprops, servicing the world's growing regional aircraft fleet.

http://www.nac.dk/