newstodate.aero
Jun 09, 2011 (newstodate): While the cancellation of the Airbus A320 P2F program has dealt a blow to the airline West Atlantic, poised to become the first operator of the new freighter, the program launch customer AerCap feels less hurt.
In 2008, the Dutch leasing company Aercap placed orders for a batch of 30 converted freighters, and the first aircraft was slated for delivery to West Atlantic in 2012.
-We cannot of course comment at the moment until cancellation terms with Airbus have been agreed, says Frauke Oberdieck, AerCap VP Corporate Communications.
-Only so much can be said: the cancellation of the P2F program for the A320 family should not be viewed as having a material impact on AerCap.
-The aircraft earmarked for the P2F program represent less than one percent of AerCap's balance sheet, and we will now be focusing on alternative solutions for these assets which include continued lease as passenger aircraft, sale and part-out solutions, says Ms Oberdieck.
Production of the first Airbus A320 P2F prototype aircraft was planned to start from November 2011 and run till July 2012.
The first flight was scheduled for Autumn 2012, and certification of the aircraft was expected to be completed by end of November 2012, after which the first aircraft would be delivered to AerCap and the first operator of the P2F, West Atlantic at Luxembourg.
West Atlantic will now have to revise its strategy in light of increasing market focus on regional airfreight services with jet aircraft, rather than smaller turboprop freighters.
In 2008, the Dutch leasing company Aercap placed orders for a batch of 30 converted freighters, and the first aircraft was slated for delivery to West Atlantic in 2012.
-We cannot of course comment at the moment until cancellation terms with Airbus have been agreed, says Frauke Oberdieck, AerCap VP Corporate Communications.
-Only so much can be said: the cancellation of the P2F program for the A320 family should not be viewed as having a material impact on AerCap.
-The aircraft earmarked for the P2F program represent less than one percent of AerCap's balance sheet, and we will now be focusing on alternative solutions for these assets which include continued lease as passenger aircraft, sale and part-out solutions, says Ms Oberdieck.
Production of the first Airbus A320 P2F prototype aircraft was planned to start from November 2011 and run till July 2012.
The first flight was scheduled for Autumn 2012, and certification of the aircraft was expected to be completed by end of November 2012, after which the first aircraft would be delivered to AerCap and the first operator of the P2F, West Atlantic at Luxembourg.
West Atlantic will now have to revise its strategy in light of increasing market focus on regional airfreight services with jet aircraft, rather than smaller turboprop freighters.