Falko Regional Aircraft delivered two aircraft on lease and extended the leases on a further five aircraft in the final quarter of 2022 (Q4 2022), while it also acquired five aircraft and sold six.
During the full year, the Chorus Aviation-owned lessor added 45 aircraft, sold 22 and reported leases and extensions of 22, ending the year with 260 aircraft on lease to 344 airlines around the world, including new customers LOT and Loganair as well as longer-standing clients SAS and Air France.
"In addition, LOIs [letters of intent] were signed relating to a further 20 aircraft, and 10 aircraft were delivered to customers pursuant to deals signed in prior periods. This resulted in total activity for 2022 relating to 119 aircraft during the year," the lessor said in a statement about its annual and quarterly operations.
"Q4 activity was again focused on the regional jet sector representing eighteen of the twenty-six aircraft referenced above. Deals covered both the CRJ and EJet products," it said.
“We have seen another year of record activity levels at Falko in 2022 coming on the back of the acquisition by Chorus which has created the world’s largest asset manager and aircraft lessor focused solely on the regional sector," said Mark Hughes, Falko’s chief commercial officer.
"Our total portfolio has doubled from 131 aircraft at the end of 2021 to 260 aircraft at the end of 2022. Consequently, we’ve seen transaction volumes also reach record levels. I’m delighted that the underlying resilience in domestic air travel and the regional sector that emerged in 2021 has been carried through into 2022," Hughes added.
Hughes said Falko had seen "strong demand for both jet and turboprop products throughout 2022" and added it was "encouraged by current demand from airlines worldwide".