SMBC Aviation Capital concludes three aircraft deal with new customer, Air Astana

-Three A320neo placement from order book-

Almaty December 7th 2017: SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the world's leading aircraft leasing companies today announced that it has concluded a three A320neo aircraft deal with Air Astana, the national flag carrier of Kazakhstan. This is a new customer for SMBC Aviation Capital and the aircraft will be provided from the company's order book of 110 A320neo aircraft with Airbus.

The A320neo will be fitted with Pratt and Whitney GTF engines and will have delivery slots in the last quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

Air Astana is the first operator of this type of aircraft in the Central Asian region and has plans to grow its neo fleet to 17 aircraft by 2020

Peter Barrett, Chief Executive of SMBC Aviation Capital said "We are very pleased to conclude this transaction with new customer, Air Astana, located in what is an increasingly important region for SMBC Aviation Capital. We look forward to delivering these aircraft from our order book and to the benefits that this new technology aircraft will deliver to our customer."

Peter Foster, President of Air Astana commented "We are pleased to conclude this transaction with SMBC Aviation Capital. Air Astana has plans to grow the fleet to more than 60 aircraft over the next 10 years and we look forward to becoming one of the largest A320neo Family operators in the region.The existing fleet of A320 aircraft have been a success in service over many years and the A320 Family is now destined to go further in both pleasing our discerning passengers and keeping our costs low."

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