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FEATURE: Show me the financing
21 December 2009
Conversion house operators say now is the time to convert older passenger aircraft into freighters at affordable prices. However, finding the financing is the challenge, writes JoAnn DeLuna.
Read more:
Freighters
Conversions
Cargo
Eads
Mercury Aviation Partners
Erste Bank
DVB
Precision Conversions
IBA
“Gone," Wolfgang Schmid says about 10 American Airlines aircraft that were recently sold by the airline to a part- out company. Schmid, vice-president of sales and marketing for Eads EFW, the Eads division that converts Airbus aircraft, believes they should have been turned into freighters.
He says that airlines and lessors should be taking advantage of low aircraft prices and have them converted into freighters at affordable prices, making them a good buy.
“The window to do a conversion is now. If a customer hesitates, the feedstock will become more difficult next year," says Schmid. “If they're not taken right now, they may be used to be parted out."
But while aircraft are readily available, it is also impossible to find financing. Freighter airlines have grounded aircraft because of the lack of demand, so are not looking for new ones.
“In some respects, it is an opportunity at precisely the...
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