CALC A320neo

China Aicraft Leasing (CALC) has finalised $10.2bn deal with Airbus to buy 100 aircraft.

The aircraft lessor will purchase 16 Airbus A320-200ceo, ten A321-200ceo and 74 A320neo series airliners.

CALC plans to fund the aircraft purchase through bank loans, pre-delivery payment financing, debt and equity financing and working capital.

The new airliners are scheduled for delivery between 2016 and 2022.

CALC is jointly operated by China Everbright Group, China Aerospace Science and Technology and Friedman Pacific Investment Holdings.

Earlier this year, the company’s shares were listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Last month, CALC and Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding for the deal.

The latest transaction brings CALC’s total order with Airbus reaches 140 A320 family airliners. There have been 11,000 orders to date for the A320 family of jets, with more than 6,200 already delivered to customers and operators.

The aircraft are claimed to offer lower operating costs compared with other single-aisle jets in the segment, and feature Sharklet wing-tip devices that help reduce fuel burn and increase range by 100nm.

Scheduled to enter service in late-2015, the A320neo is said to feature advanced engines and Sharklet wing-tip devices and consume 20% less fuel over other aircraft.

Chinese leasing companies have been opting medium-haul aircraft for the domestic routes, reported Reuters.

According to recent Airbus forecasts, China is expected to overcome the US as the largest air travel market in the coming ten years.

Image: CALC will buy 74 A320neo, 16 A320ceo and ten A321ceo airliners. Photo: courtesy of Fixion / Airbus SAS.

Defence Technology