The Air Lease Corporation (ALC), a leasing company led by Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, have signed a sale and lease-back agreement both with Air Berlin and Air France. The deal with Air Berlin covers five aircraft, one Airbus A320-200, one Airbus A321-200, two Boeing 737-800s and one used A320-200. All aircraft are equipped with CFM engines.

The first delivery was the A320-200 which already took place on May 19, 2010. An A321 and one used A320, were delivered in June 2010. The two Boeing 737-800 aircraft are scheduled for late 2010 and early 2011. 

Ulf Hüttmeyer, CFO of Air Berlin PLC said: “We are pleased to announce this valuable transaction for Air Berlin with the newly founded company and its management with whom we enjoy a very trustful relationship. We have thus entered a new strategic partnership and are proud to have had the first joint delivery of an aircraft together with ALC as new lessor.”

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy chairman and CEO of ALC said: “Air Berlin has been a successful premium low cost leader in Europe with whom we have a long relationship covering both single aisle and wide-body aircraft placements. The first joint delivery to our friends at Air Berlin has further strengthened this relationship.”

Successful partnership with Air France

The deal between ALC and Air France covers six aircraft, one used A319-115, two new Airbus A320-200's, one used Airbus A321-200, one used A330-200 and one new Boeing 777-300ER.

The delivery of the three used aircraft occurred on June 30, 2010. The two new Airbus aircraft are scheduled for delivery in early 2011.  The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is scheduled for delivery later this year.

Commenting on this deal Udvar-Hazy said: "We are extremely pleased to continue a long-standing and important relationship with one of the world's premier airlines.  We look forward to furthering our successful partnership with Air France."

ALC is a new global commercial aircraft lessor, based in Los Angeles, California. So far it has assembled $3bn of total capital.