LCI places two H145D3 helicopters on lease with Santos and Pacific Helicopters

Lease Corporation International (LCI), a subsidiary of the Libra Group, has placed two Airbus H145D3 helicopters on lease. One is direct to Santos, representing LCI's first ever direct lease to an end-user. The other placement is with Pacific Helicopters (PHL). ""We welcome this new partnership with Santos and Pacific Helicopters, and are excited to support their operations in Papua New Guinea,"" said LCI chief commercial officer Nigel Leishman. ""This transaction demonstrates that end users of helicopters can step into leases, thus benefitting from our availability and efficiencies directly."" ""LCI’s wide ranging experience and bespoke approach made them a natural partner for a direct lease, and the helicopters are already bringing greater efficiency, performance and reliability to our operations,"" said Santos aviation manager EA/PNG Michael Sleightholme. Santos is an energy company with operations across Australia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Timore-Leste and the US. PHL is a provider of helicopter services for energy, mining, construction and telecommunications companies in Papua New Guinea, and will operate both aircraft on behalf of Santos subsidiary, Oil Search (PNG). ""LCI’s proven track record supporting energy operations across the globe made them a natural choice as a leasing partner,"" commented PHL CEO Eddie Matane. ""The new and versatile helicopters will help enable us to deliver reliable and efficient operations in Papua New Guinea."" The two new helicopters will be leased from LCI’s joint venture with Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company (SMFL). They have been delivered in recent weeks on long term leases and will support liquid natural gas (LNG) and other energy facilities in PNG with a significant export content to Japan. The helicopters will also support Santos Foundation activities in PNG and its work to build resilient communities.