Latest news with #EdwardOByrne
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AviLease orders up to 77 Airbus A320neo, A350F aircraft
AviLease, the global aircraft lessor headquartered in Saudi Arabia, has announced a strategic order for up to 77 aircraft from Airbus. The order includes up to 55 A320neo Family and 22 A350F aircraft with deliveries scheduled through 2033. This strategic investment equips AviLease, to deliver newest generation, fuel‑efficient fleet solutions to its global customer base – in passenger and cargo segments – while contributing to the expansion of Saudi Arabia's aviation ecosystem. The agreement was signed during the first hours of the Paris Air Show by Edward O'Byrne, AviLease's CEO, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, in the presence of Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Yazeed bin Abdulrahman Al-Humied, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments, Public Investment Fund (PIF), Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Saif, Head of the Global Capital Finance Division, Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Chairman of AviLease. Fahad AlSaif, Chairman of AviLease, said: "In less than two months, AviLease has signed two major deals, reflecting its long-term ambition to become a top 10 global player in aircraft leasing and to strengthen its position as a national champion. These milestones align with the Public Investment Fund's mandate to support the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the National Aviation Strategy." 'We are proud to establish an Airbus order book, strengthening our position as a full-service, investment grade global lessor. The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world,' said Edward O'Byrne, CEO of AviLease. 'Our selection of the A350F is the result of close collaboration with stakeholders across the Saudi Arabian aviation ecosystem. Backed by strong local partnerships and demand aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 targets, AviLease was able to support the future growth of air cargo traffic in the Kingdom through securing the necessary aircraft delivery slots. We thank our local partners and Airbus for the strong long-term partnership we have established and look forward to placing these aircraft across our valued customer base.' Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business, said: "We are delighted to welcome AviLease as Airbus' latest customer with this significant order for the all new A350F and leading A320neo Family. The A350F will set the benchmark in air cargo, offering at least 20% reduced fuel burn, better loading capacity and increased range, while the A320neo Family continues to be the world's most popular single-aisle aircraft. This dual order reinforces AviLease's credentials as a leading lessor, and it demonstrates the broad appeal of our products among lessors and their airline customers." Last month, AviLease announced an order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, adding to the existing portfolio of 200 aircraft on lease to 48 airlines globally, as at 31 March 2025. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The National
17-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Paris Air Show: Saudi lessor AviLease orders up to 77 Airbus planes
Saudi plane lessor AviLease has signed a deal for up to 77 Airbus planes, featuring a mix of freighters and narrow-body passenger jets, as it seeks to become one of the world's top 10 lessors by 2030. The company signed an initial firm order for 10 A350F, the freighter variant of the A350 platform, along with 30 A321 Neo and A320 Neo planes during the first day of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. This could increase to 22 A350Fs and 55 A320 Neo jets, with added options included. The airline declined to disclose the value of the deal. "It was a very hard fought-battle on the A350 vs the [Boeing] 777," Edward O'Byrne, chief executive of AviLease, said at a press briefing. "Frankly, it was a very close discussion because the two deals on the table both had pros and cons." The company reviewed the offers from a technical, technology and economic standpoint and the A350F emerged as the winner, he said. Negotiations over the past few months were intense, said Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Airbus executive vice president in sales of the commercial aircraft business. The signing ceremony kicked off Airbus's deal-making at the Paris Air Show. AviLease has a fleet of nearly 200 aircraft, a mix of Boeing and Airbus jets. With a workforce of 90, it leases aircraft to 50 airlines in 30 countries. Established in 2022, AviLease is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which is supporting the kingdom's economic diversification plan to develop non-oil sectors such as aviation, logistics and tourism. AviLease is two years ahead of schedule for its goal to become one of the top 10 plane lessors by 2030, Mr O'Byrne said. The Airbus deal comes after Boeing signed a $4.8 billion deal with AviLease for 30 737-8 passenger planes. The deal was signed during US President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh last month. The company expects the Airbus planes to be delivered between 2030 and 2033, its chief executive said. Airbus, which has been facing supply chain issues that delayed deliveries to some of its customers, is confident in handing over these jets in time, Mr Saint-Exupery said. While AviLease has not yet placed the jets with airline customers, Mr O'Byrne told The National the priority is for discussions with Saudi airlines and then global carriers. "We started discussions and there is a big potential growth in Saudi markets," he said. The kingdom's aviation strategy calls for more than doubling its cargo and logistics infrastructure, he added. "Saudi Arabia is clearly accelerating its economy, its diversification, and we need the infrastructure to support both cargo and passenger side," he said. He highlighted the "tremendous" size of investment in airports and logistics. In April, Riyadh Air said it was considering an order for dedicated freighters after it makes a decision on an order for wide-body passenger planes. The AviLease boss also said a vast wave of older freighters is being retired, combined with production limitations at Boeing and Airbus, creating a "market need" globally beyond Saudi Arabia. Airbus is expected to dominate this year's Paris Air Show, as Boeing executives cancelled plans to attend after an Air India crash killed all but one of 242 people on board the US-built plane.
Arabian Business
16-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Saudi-based AviLease orders 77 Airbus jets at Paris Air Show
Saudi Arabia's global aircraft lessor AviLease has signed a major agreement with Airbus for the purchase of up to 77 next-generation aircraft, including 55 A320neo Family and 22 A350F jets. The landmark deal was unveiled during the opening hours of the Paris Air Show 2025 and represents a significant leap forward in AviLease's mission to become a top 10 global aircraft lessor. This strategic investment equips AviLease, to deliver newest generation, fuel‑efficient fleet solutions to its global customer base – in passenger and cargo segments – while contributing to the expansion of Saudi Arabia's aviation ecosystem. AviLease Saudi jet orders The agreement was signed during the first hours of the Paris Air Show and deliveries are scheduled through 2033. Fahad AlSaif, Head of the Global Capital Finance Division, Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Chairman of AviLease, said: 'In less than two months, AviLease has signed two major deals, reflecting its long-term ambition to become a top 10 global player in aircraft leasing and to strengthen its position as a national champion. 'These milestones align with the Public Investment Fund's mandate to support the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the National Aviation Strategy.' Edward O'Byrne, CEO of AviLease, said: 'We are proud to establish an Airbus order book, strengthening our position as a full-service, investment grade global lessor. The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world,'. 'Our selection of the A350F is the result of close collaboration with stakeholders across the Saudi Arabian aviation ecosystem. Backed by strong local partnerships and demand aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 targets, AviLease was able to support the future growth of air cargo traffic in the Kingdom through securing the necessary aircraft delivery slots'. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business, said: 'We are delighted to welcome AviLease as Airbus' latest customer with this significant order for the all new A350F and leading A320neo Family. The A350F will set the benchmark in air cargo, offering at least 20 per cent reduced fuel burn, better loading capacity and increased range, while the A320neo Family continues to be the world's most popular single-aisle aircraft. 'This dual order reinforces AviLease's credentials as a leading lessor, and it demonstrates the broad appeal of our products among lessors and their airline customers.' Last month, the aviation firm announced an order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, adding to the existing portfolio of 200 aircraft on lease to 48 airlines globally, as at 31 March 2025.
Arab News
16-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
PIF's AviLease to acquire up to 77 Airbus jets in expansion drive
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund-owned AviLease has signed a deal to purchase up to 77 Airbus aircraft, further expanding its next-generation, fuel-efficient fleet to meet rising global demand across passenger and cargo operations. The agreement, announced at the Paris Air Show, includes 55 A320neo Family aircraft and 22 A350F freighters, with deliveries scheduled through 2033, according to a press release. This marks AviLease's first direct order with Airbus. The move aligns with the goals of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which targets a rise in annual passenger capacity to 330 million and cargo throughput to 4.5 million tonnes by 2030, while enhancing the Kingdom's status as a regional aviation hub. 'This dual order reinforces AviLease's credentials as a leading lessor, and it demonstrates the broad appeal of our products among lessors and their airline customers,' said Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president of sales for Airbus Commercial Aircraft. Edward O'Byrne, CEO of AviLease, said: 'We are proud to establish an Airbus order book, strengthening our position as a full-service, investment grade global lessor. The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world.' The A350F freighters were selected following consultations with local stakeholders and will support Saudi Arabia's expanding air cargo requirements. O'Byrne noted that AviLease has secured delivery slots in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals. 'We thank our local partners and Airbus for the strong long-term partnership we have established and look forward to placing these aircraft across our valued customer base,' he said. The A350F, according to Airbus, offers at least 20 percent lower fuel consumption, improved loading capabilities, and extended range. The new order follows AviLease's purchase of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in May—its first direct deal with a manufacturer—bringing its total new aircraft orders within two months to 107. 'In less than two months, AviLease has signed two major deals, reflecting its long-term ambition to become a top 10 global player in aircraft leasing and to strengthen its position as a national champion,' said Fahad Al-Saif, chairman of AviLease. As of March 31, AviLease had a portfolio of 200 aircraft leased to 48 airlines around the world. In April, the firm secured a $1.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility to support its global expansion. The three-year facility attracted commitments from 20 international banks, including eight new lenders from Europe, Asia, and North America. The company holds investment-grade ratings of Baa2 (stable) from Moody's Ratings and BBB (stable) from Fitch Ratings.
The National
16-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Paris Air Show: Saudi Arabian lessor AviLease orders up to 77 Airbus planes
Saudi Arabian plane lessor AviLease has signed a deal for up to 77 Airbus planes, featuring a mix of freighters and narrow-body passenger jets, as it seeks to become one of the world's top 10 lessors by 2030. The company signed an initial firm order for 10 A350F, the freighter variant of the A350 platform, along with 30 A321 Neo and A320 Neo planes during the first day of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. This could increase to 22 A350Fs and 55 A320 Neo jets, with added options included. The airline declined to disclose the value of the deal. "It was a very hard fought-battle on the A350 vs the [Boeing] 777," Edward O'Byrne, chief executive of AviLease, said at a press briefing. "Frankly, it was a very close discussion because the two deals on the table both had pros and cons." The company reviewed the offers from a technical, technology and economic standpoint and the A350F emerged as the winner, he said. Negotiations over the past few months were intense, said Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Airbus executive vice president in sales of the commercial aircraft business. The signing ceremony kicked off Airbus's deal-making at the Paris Air Show. AviLease has a fleet of nearly 200 aircraft, a mix of Boeing and Airbus jets. With a workforce of 90, it leases aircraft to 50 airlines in 30 countries. Established in 2022, AviLease is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which is supporting the kingdom's economic diversification plan to develop non-oil sectors such as aviation, logistics and tourism. AviLease is two years ahead of schedule for its goal to become one of the top 10 plane lessors by 2030, Mr O'Byrne said. The Airbus deal comes after Boeing signed a $4.8 billion deal with AviLease for 30 737-8 passenger planes. The deal was signed during US President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh last month. The company expects the Airbus planes to be delivered between 2030 and 2033, its chief executive said. Airbus, which has been facing supply chain issues that delayed deliveries to some of its customers, is confident in handing over these jets in time, Mr Saint-Exupery said. While AviLease has not yet placed the jets with airline customers, Mr O'Byrne told The National the priority is for discussions with Saudi Arabian airlines and then global carriers. "We started discussions and there is a big potential growth in Saudi markets," he said. The kingdom's aviation strategy calls for more than doubling its cargo and logistics infrastructure, he added. "Saudi Arabia is clearly accelerating its economy, its diversification, and we need the infrastructure to support both cargo and passenger side," he said. He highlighted the "tremendous" size of investment in airports and logistics. In April, Riyadh Air said it was considering an order for dedicated freighters after it makes a decision on an order for wide-body passenger planes. The AviLease boss also said a vast wave of older freighters is being retired, combined with production limitations at Boeing and Airbus, creating a "market need" globally beyond Saudi Arabia. Airbus is expected to dominate this year's Paris Air Show, as Boeing executives cancelled plans to attend after an Air India crash killed all but one of 242 people on board the US-built plane.
