China Aircraft Leasing Group Brings in Full-value Chain Solutions to Facilitate Airlines to Capture Opportunities from Sino-Indian Air Connectivity

HONG KONG, May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, completed a three-day visit to China to meet Chinese leaders and set up a roadmap for Sino-Indian economic cooperation. Chinese leaders said they could discuss how to advance the China-led "One Belt, One Road" economic initiative and India's "Act East" policy. Enhanced air connectivity between China and India is expected following the closer ties between the two nations and with their East Asian neighbours.

As a full aircraft life-cycle solution provider, China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited ("CALC", Stock Code 1848.HK) is offering airline customers in the region value-added services in addition to aircraft leasing; the aim is to facilitate the carriers to capture the market opportunities arising from the enhanced connectivity between the two countries.

CALC has already established a good relationship with Air India Limited ("Air India"). In 2014, Air India and CALC entered into lease agreements for five new A320 aircraft, marking CALC's first overseas deal. The first of the five aircraft was delivered during Indian Foreign Minister Swaraj's China visit in February this year. CALC funded this A320 by obtaining its first ECA Financing from European export credit agencies. This ECA financing demonstrates recognition for CALC's credit status by the European agencies.

To support the long term fleet planning of its domestic and overseas airline customers and to capture the huge potential of global demand for replacing current generating plans with new aircraft, CALC placed a large order of 100 Airbus A320 series aircraft in December 2014 bringing its total orderbook to 140 A320 series aircraft. The newly ordered Airbus aircraft will be delivered to CALC in stages from 2015 to 2022.

In addition, CALC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Municipal Government of Harbin for the establishment of China's largest aircraft disassembly project. CALC intends to set up the new business line with the China Aircraft Disassembly Centre ("CADC"), targeting both domestic and overseas markets with the objective to develop CADC into one of the largest civil aircraft disassembly centres in the world in the medium term.

With all these efforts, CALC has developed itself into a full-value chain aircraft solution provider and has made significant progress in expanding into international markets.