April 16 2014, Hong Kong - China Aircraft Leasing Company Limited (“CALC” or the “Company”), the fastest-growing independent aircraft operating lessor in China, is pleased to announce that it completed the delivery of the very first A320 aircraft for the debut of Qingdao Airlines (“QDA”) on April 10, 2014.
QDA is a Chinese start-up airline with home base in Qingdao, Shandong Province. CALC is the first aircraft provider to this new airline. CALC and QDA entered into a lease agreement in August 2013 encompassing the delivery of five A320 aircraft in both 2014 and 2015.
The first A320 aircraft was delivered on 10 April 2014 and will commence operations as B-9955 in late April 2014. Not only is this the first aircraft of QDA’s fleet, but it is also the 30th commercial aircraft in CALC’s portfolio. It is expected that CALC will add at least 8 commercial aircraft to its portfolio within this year.
The delivery took place at Airbus’ facilities in Finkenwerder, Hamburg. The A320, powered by CFM56 engines, features a comfort two-class cabin with 8 business and 144 economy class seats. It is equipped with Sharklets, 2.4-meter tall new wingtip devices made from light-weight composites, designed to enhance the fuel-efficiency and payload-range performance of the A320 Family resulting in up to 4% lower fuel burn over longer sectors.
Being the forerunning aircraft operating lessor in China, CALC has created competitive advantages through its strategic dual-platform business model enabling the Company to provide flexible and competitive leasing solutions to its customers. Furthermore, CALC’s independent status from aviation industry stakeholders, including financial institutions, allows it to access a wide range of sustainable source of financing. Over the last three years, CALC introduced China Everbright Limited (“CEL”) as well as China Aerospace Investment Holdings Limited (“CAIH”) as its strategic investors. These strategic investors have broadened CALC’s shareholder structure, and enabled the company to further enhance its leading position as the largest independent aircraft operating lessor in China.
For more information, please contact:
Jens Dunker
Tel: +33.5.67190283
Email: office@calc.aero
About Qingdao Airlines Ltd.
Headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, Qingdao Airlines is a new start-up established by Air China, Nanshan Group and the Qingdao Municipal Government. Current shareholders of Qingdao Airlines include the Qingdao Municipal Transport Development Group Co (25%), the Nanshan Group Co (55%) and Shandong Airlines (20%). The Company announced an order for a total of twenty-three A320 family aircraft in September 2013, including five A320ceo and eighteen A320neo with the first delivery expected in 2016.
