Aircraft transactions and activity in Afghanistan deliver robust third quarter for ACC Aviation

Monday 25th October 2021

ACC Aviation , the global aviation services group, reports an exceptionally strong third quarter, with its US office experiencing its strongest three months in its short history. ACC Aviation’s consultancy arm also had a strong Q3 with consulting activity significantly up on previous years – 107% up, versus full year 2020 and 136% compared with 2019. ACC Aviation’s closed aircraft remarketing/sourcing deals year to date now totals seven assets. Aircraft trading activity has been dominated by narrowbody freighter feedstock and freighter converted aircraft – accounting for 60% of all deals.

Following the recent launch of its inhouse aviation finance advisory practice, headed by Viktor Berta, the aviation finance advisory team won its first mandate - to arrange the financing for acquisition and freighter conversion for a portfolio of Airbus widebody aircraft. A further complementary pillar of expertise was added in early September with Julian Aldana joining the team to mark the company’s entry into technical services. Demand for technical services has been immediate and greater than expected particularly in the field of pre purchase inspections. https://www.accaviation.com/acc-aviation-launches-technical-services-division/

Afghanistan air lift – 10,000 plus evacuees, via various airlines

Unprecedented time critical charter activity saw ACC engage with various air carriers to help facilitate the movement of 10,700 evacuees on multiple flights to support the Afghanistan Air Lift in August.* It also arranged a series of international and domestic charters for US athletes in Japan, propelling US activity 100% ahead of budget, and for the year.

In the UK, charter has been a strong performer since the onset of the pandemic, culminating in a 50% increase in activity in Q3 compared with the same period in 2020. Private jets and airliner corporate shuttle charter activity has been driven by a return to flying from the manufacturing sector, moving personnel to and from overseas’ manufacturing plants. More sports and film industry charters were undertaken during the period, moving elite teams and artists in Covid-secure bubbles.

“This quarter was largely dominated by our rescue activity out of Kabul,” highlights ACC Aviation CEO Phil Mathews. “We were extremely proud to have played a meaningful contribution toward this massive air lift operation this summer which saw ACC teams – in the US, UK and Middle East - working together, around the clock, on some very complex, logistically challenging, and time sensitive sorties.”

ACC Aviation teams in the USA, UK, and Dubai worked with partner airlines to transport 10,700 evacuees in total, including a new-born baby girl whose Afghan mother went into labour over Dubai on a Turkish Airlines rescue flight destined for Birmingham.

ACC Aviation Trading highlights for Q3:

ACC summarises

“This past quarter’s activity strongly demonstrated the breadth of our group’s skill and expertise which positions us well now the airline industry is rebuilding, new aircraft are being ordered, and companies are recruiting again,” said Phil Mathews. Encouragingly, given its strength in arranging ACMI flights, of the estimated 60 new airline start-ups that have been identified, 20% of them have targeted ACMI as their business model. ACC’s Director of Leasing Dave Williams reported considerable interest in its expertise during World Routes in Milan, with airlines forecasting high demand for ACMI solutions to service the summer 2022 leisure market, based on the lack of capacity experienced in July and August 2021 caused by a reduction in readily available certified aircrew.

* During 14 and 25 August Kabul, Afghanistan became one of the largest airlifts in history. The USA evacuated 82,300 people from Hamad Karzai International Airport. Over 122,000 people were airlifted abroad.

ACC Aviation achieved a robust third quarter

About ACC Aviation

Founded in 2002 as an aircraft leasing specialist, today ACC Aviation delivers market-leading solutions across aviation consultancy services, ACMI leasing, and air charter. Through an international office network spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Asia, it provides bespoke aviation solutions to clients across the globe. Its success is built on the strength and depth of its relationships within the aviation industry and, through continued investment in developing and maintaining these partnerships with a persistent focus on innovation, ACC Aviation delivers superior solutions to a diverse and growing client base.

YFM Equity Partners -backed ACC Aviation was ranked 85^th in the Sunday Times BDO national Profit Track 100 Awards this Spring, lauded for its contribution to the economy and society during the pandemic. ACC Aviation first entered the Profit Track 100 line up in 2020 and has featured in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 since 2013. It was also welcomed as an FT1000 ranked company for the first time this year, entering the fifth annual edition of the Financial Times’ Top 1000 European companies in 786^th place, achieving a notable growth rate of 44.1%.

www.ACCAviation.com