Lease Corporation International (LCI) and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company (SMFL) have ordered up to 21 of Airbus' latest generation helicopters in a joint venture leasing operation. SMFL LCI Helicopters' (SMFLH) order consists of 14 firm orders plus seven options, made up of light twin H145, medium twin H160, and super medium H175 helicopters.
""The helicopter marketplace is facing a number of key capacity decisions as it looks to match supply with underlying demand requirements,"" said LCI CEO Jaspal Jandu. ""This order for up to 21 latest generation helicopters reflects our combined determination to deliver solutions for operators and end users in a lasting, efficient and pragmatic way.""
This new order of helicopters will compliment LCI and SMFL's combined fleet of over 40 Airbus helicopters and will also facilitate the joint venture's long-term commitment to sustainable growth and achieving net zero by 2050.
The joint venture had previously launched the world's first social loan framework for helicopter leasing, finance and operations in November 2023. A LCI spokesperson said that its ""social loans will be one of the funding options"" for the order.
The companies' social loan framework was developed in accordance with the internationally agreed Social Loan Principles developed in 2023 by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LTSA). The LTSA Social Loan Principles require any funds to be used for eligible and verified social projects, which in LCI’s case will include search and rescue (SAR) and emergency medical services. Helicopters financed by LCI and SMFL will be exclusively used for search and rescue and emergency medical services, providing affordable essential services.
LCI and SMFL’s social loan framework had received the highest rating of “Social 1(F)” from the Japan Credit Rating Agency.
LCI and SMFL order up to 21 latest generation Airbus helicopters
