First Global Lessor to Place the Aircraft Type with an African Airline
HAMBURG, Germany – July 31, 2019 – CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited (“CDB Leasing”), announced today the delivery of a new Airbus A320neo to Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles.
While being the first A320neo family aircraft type to be delivered to an African airline, the aircraft is also the first unit equipped with CFM’s new generation LEAP-1A engines to be operated on the continent.
“We congratulate the Air Seychelles team on making history by introducing the first LEAP-1A-powered A320neo on the African continent,” said Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation Head of Commercial Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “CDB Aviation is very grateful and proud to support the mission of Air Seychelles to be the airline of choice within the Indian Ocean. We believe the arrival of this new aircraft in Victoria will mark another important step along your continued path of growth and prosperity for this beautiful island nation.”
“We are indeed very proud to be the first airline in the Indian Ocean and Africa to take delivery of the first Airbus new A320neo aircraft,” said Remco Althuis, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles. “This fantastic achievement is not only an important milestone in the history of Air Seychelles, but it is also a great accomplishment for the hardworking team at Air Seychelles who has been heavily involved in this project throughout.”
Althuis added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank CDB Aviation for their continued support in ensuring that all the work revolving around the A320neo aircraft proceeds as planned, as well as Airbus for the successful delivery of the aircraft.”
In 2018, Air Seychelles announced a new strategic plan designed not only to transform the airline’s existing jet fleet by incorporating one of the world’s most technologically advanced and efficient aircraft, but also to further strengthen its business by operating in a more efficient manner. The neo addition is expected to enable Air Seychelles to increase the capacity on its Johannesburg and Mumbai routes, concomitantly delivering significant fuel savings and reducing operating costs.
“Air Seychelles is deemed as a key engine of growth for the economy of the Republic of Seychelles,” commented CDB Aviation President and Chief Commercial Officer Patrick Hannigan. “CDB Aviation has a strong commitment to African aviation – and today’s delivery demonstrates our willingness to invest in this continent by being the first lessor to place an A320neo with an African airline and by supporting the region’s airlines in the skies for years to come.”