BAE Systems Regional Aircraft highlighted today at the Farnborough International Airshow its 13-year track record of managing the portfolio of regional aircraft since the formation of its Asset Management operation in 1993.

Regional Aircraft currently manages a trading portfolio of 295 BAE Systems-manufactured aircraft with an estimated current market value of over $1 billion (source: Airclaims). This portfolio comprises 66 BAe 146s, 82 Avro RJs, 40 ATPs, 40 Jetstream 41s and 67 Jetstream 32s.

According to Airline Business magazine’s annual operating lease survey, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft is the world’s largest regional aircraft lessor by fleet size and is the world’s second largest regional jet lessor by fleet value.

During the course of its 13-year custodianship of the portfolio, Regional Aircraft has secured more than 1,400 portfolio transactions, worth in excess of $2.6 billion. These transactions comprise new leases, lease extensions, aircraft sales, and a range of sometimes highly complex financial restructurings of legacy transactions to yield savings worth millions of dollars.

Over this 13-year period these transactions equate to just over 107 per annum or an average of two a week. Over this same period around 700 aircraft have been refurbished, customised and delivered to lessees or purchasers.

The ability of Regional Aircraft to offer its own OEM Integrated Support Services alongside its leasing programme has been a key element in this success and is a unique attribute among leasing companies. Most of the new portfolio leasing customers for the BAe 146/Avro RJ and ATP in the past few years have signed up for the JetSpares and MACRO support packages.

In addition, the skills learned over this 13-year period has contributed significantly to the success of the Aircraft Trading and Management Services arm, which, in the past five years, has become established as one of the leading aircraft remarketing, lease management, asset administration and advisory service organisations in the world. 

Currently this team manages around 75 further aircraft on behalf of third party owners/lessors. The aircraft types managed and advised upon include the Airbus A320 family, Airbus A300-600, A330, A340, Avro RJ, Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 777 and Bombardier CRJ-200. 

Regional Aircraft’s Asset Management team of around 100 people are based in the UK and in the USA, as well as in a number of regional overseas sales offices. The business has the full range of skill sets necessary for a successful portfolio management operation. These comprise sales, marketing and commercial, legal, Special Purpose Company (SPC) management, corporate finance and technical operations. 

About BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft is responsible for Customer Support, Engineering and Asset Management activities covering a world-wide base of 160 customers operating over 1,100 aircraft in addition to managing a trading and leasing portfolio of some 300 aircraft

About BAE SYSTEMS

BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems’ sales exceeded GB £15.4 billion (US$28 billion) in 2005.

For further information contact:
David Dorman, BAE Systems

Tel: +44 (0)1582 488336  Fax: +44 (0)1582 488447  

ddaviddorman@aol.com
www.regional-services.com

Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (1252) 384695 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com

Ref: xxx/2006