 In the April 16th 2020 edition of Aviation Finance
Stock markets may be showing a degree of confidence that the worst of the covid crisis is over, but uncertainty continues to prevail for aviation. We speak with Fitch analysts, and elaborate on their views. They say lessor liquidity is key, of course, for that sector, but, of most immediate concern is the financial health of airlines, which IATA continues to monitor with great authority.
Irish aircraft leasing industry acts to secure and deliver PPE to the Irish healthcare system from China as part of the response to the Covid-19 crisis
17th April-20th April: Three charter flights from China to Ireland supported by Irish leasing firms, and ALI, the aircraft leasing unit of IBEC, representing 33 lessors in Ireland have delivered much needed PPE equipment for the Irish healthcare system. Among the firms stepping up were Avolon, Aercap, GECAS, and SMBC. Assisting in the airlift have also been Aer Lingus, the Irish embassy in China and IDA Ireland.
Avolon CEO says loss figure for world airlines will be ‘far greater’ than the $252bn forecast by IATA last week
8th April 2020: Avolon CEO Dómhnal Slattery said today his ‘gut instinct’ is that losses for global airlines as a result of Covid will be ‘far greater’ than IATA’s most recent estimate of $252 billion. In an interview he said that of the lessor’s 160 airline customers globally, over 150 are not flying a single aircraft ‘and the marketplace is in turmoil.’
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Analysis
IBA predicts a contraction in outstanding aircraft leases in 2020 for first time in over a decade, as investor opportunities are evaluated for the $21 billion aviation ABS paper market
3rd April 2020: IBA in a Seminar, in conjunction with aviation finance advisory firm Split Rock provided an in depth assessment of the aviation ABS market as of April 3rd. It can be seen here. In it IBA President Phil Seymour predicts a contraction of aircraft leases this year - which will make it the first year in over a decade where the number of outstanding aircraft leases will contract.
This year''s predicted decline will follow 2019 which saw a decline in the rate of growth in new leases to a net number of about 240. This was significantly down on what we now can say was the peak of the cycle, 2018, when some 2,250 lease start events took place, compared with 1,400 lease ends, for a net increase that year of 850.
In the April 2nd 2020 edition of Aviation Finance
The scale and shape of the crisis begins to emerge - and it is not an encouraging picture. Liquidity issues are to the fore, but most lessors and certain airlines are set to emerge strongest from the inevitable cull. At the same time the aviation complex as a whole must look to a relative downgrade for a time in capital markets. Cowen managing director and senior research analyst Helane Becker predicts that it will take perhaps 18 to 24 months for traffic to start to recover and much longer for any kind of return to normalcy in an interview with Aviation Finance. Also: Stronger airlines well positioned to grasp opportunities in post-pandemic world.
IATA calls for governments to provide aid as severity of cash crisis grows
IATA now believes that its ‘worst case scenario’ warning, issued earlier this month, that passenger revenues worldwide will fall $113 billion in 2020, will be exceeded. It says that before COVID-19 much of the industry was fragile, with only around 30 airlines achieving economic profit improvements and a long tail of weaker airlines. Now it is calling on governments worldwide to provide financial aid to the industry.
In the April 2nd issue of Aviation Finance: 'This is apocalypse now’ warns IATA’s DG
Aviation Finance.aero: Markets view - 'airline casualties, market value and lease rate corrections'
March 26th 2020: IATA increased its estimate of the cost for airlines from last week's $113 bn to $250 bn, this in addition to an assessment that one third of the commercial fleet will be in storage by the weekend, cuts in flights, and downgrades of credit ratings of lessors. IBA in an assessment of the industry said: "for 2020 we expect airline casualties, especially amongst those that have been limping along over recent years......Their full assessment is at: iba.aero/insight.
In the March 19th edition of Aviation Finance
The scale of the crisis is only beginning to sink in. Two weeks ago IATA estimated COVID-19 would cost the world’s airlines some $113 million in revenue. Now it will only say that ‘things are clearly worse than this.’ .
People Moves: IBA Group appoints Ian Beaumont as Chief Executive Officer of IBA Group
11th March 2020: IBA Group has appointed Ian Beaumont as Chief Executive Officer, effective today. Phil Seymour, IBA’s former CEO will continue to serve as Company President.
In a statement IBA said: "For the past five years the business has been successfully led by Phil Seymour and has seen a period of rapid growth with both its core professional and advisory services, as well as the powerful data platform, IBA.iQ.
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