07/10/2019

SMBC Aviation Capital delivers first Airbus A320neo to Chilean airline JetSMART

Toulouse, October 4th 2019: SMBC Aviation Capital, has today delivered the first Airbus A320neo to Chilean ultra-low-cost carrier JetSMART. The delivery marks the first delivery of an A320neo to JetSMART and is the first delivery of a five (5) aircraft transaction.

The delivery was marked at an event in Toulouse attended by CEO of JetSMART, Estuardo Ortiz, Arturo Barreira, President of Airbus Latin America and the Caribbean and CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, Peter Barrett.

JetSMART is a new customer for leading global aircraft leasing company, SMBC Aviation Capital and the aircraft which are scheduled for delivery between October 2019 and April 2020, will be from the company’s order book of A320 family aircraft with Airbus. The new aircraft will be used on routes in the region, including its new markets in Brazil and Colombia.

Equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, each of the new aircraft will feature one of JetSMART’s unique tails displaying a South American animal. The first aircraft features a Colibri of Arica, a critically endangered animal from the hummingbird family native to Chile. This bird – just 8 centimetres long- is the smallest bird in Chile and one of the smallest in the world.

CEO of JetSMART, Estuardo Ortiz said “This is one more step towards our vision of reaching 100 aircraft and 100 million passengers by 2026.As the youngest fleet in America, JetSMART welcomes our first A320neo and the new opportunities it brings, such as flights to Brazil and Colombia.More than 4 million people have already flown SMART: on a new airplane, safe, reliable and on-time for a few bucks. We thank SMBC Aviation Capital to share this journey with us.”

Peter Barrett, CEO, SMBC Aviation Capital added “We are pleased to welcome JetSMART as a new customer. This is an exciting time for JetSMART and we are happy that we can support them at this crucial growth stage. This delivery underlines our expanding footprint, not just in the Chilean market but right across the Americas region which is an important growth area for us.”

Arturo Barreira, President of Airbus Latin America and the Caribbean said “We are proud to see the A320neo at JetSMART, this aircraft incorporates the very latest technologies, including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 20 percent fuel and CO2 savings as well as a 50 percent noise reduction.”

The delivery takes SMBC Aviation Capital’s portfolio of owned and managed A320neo family to a total of 58 aircraft (A320neo - owned: 43, managed: 9; A321neo – owned: 2, managed: 4) which are in service with a total of 18 airlines. SMBC Aviation Capital has orders and purchase commitments for a further 175 A320neo family aircraft which offer its customers significantly improved fuel efficiency as well as lower noise levels and a reduced environmental impact.

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For more information please contact:

Conor Irwin, SMBC Aviation Capital, Mobile: +353 87 3816106

Orla Benson, SMBC Aviation Capital, Mobile: +353 86 047 4343

Richard Webster-Smith, Finsbury, Mobile: +44 7796 708 551

Notes to Editors:

About SMBC Aviation Capital:

SMBC Aviation Capital is one of the world’s leading aircraft lessors, with 86 airline customers in 40 countries. At 31 March 2019, the company owns, manages and is committed to purchase 729 aircraft. Established in 2001, the company was acquired in 2012 by a consortium comprising of two of Japan’s biggest companies SMFG and Sumitomo Corporation. For further information go to https://www.smbc.aero/

About JetSMART Airlines:

JetSMART Airlines is the ultra low cost South American airline, founded by Indigo Partners, which operates the newest Airbus fleet in the Americas. JetSMART has operations in Argentina, Perú and Chile and has transported more than 4 million passengers, according to data for the month of March 2019. The vision of JetSMART is to offer ultra-low fares throughout South America, with the goal of reaching 100 aircraft and 100 million passengers in 2026.

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