Aircraft leasing company International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) is negotiating with several national and commercial airlines in a bid to boost its presence in Africa.

"We would love to double our exposure in Africa....in the next five years," said ILFC vice president Ozzie Chraibi at an African aviation conference this week.

Chraibi said ILFC typically leased aircraft for five to eight years in Africa and was focusing on growing this business.
Keeping an eye on Nigeria

According to the International Air Transport Association, African carriers reported an increase in demand of 16.9% last May.

"We are following the market and are actively pursuing many airlines in Africa; definitely Nigeria is one of the countries we are considering," said Chraibi."We feel there is great potential here in Africa, and we want to grow our presence."

ILFC is an international market leader in the leasing and remarketing of advanced technology commercial jet aircraft to airlines around the world. ILFC owns a portfolio consisting of around 950 jet aircraft.

ILFC stays with AIG

This week Fred Cromer CFO of ILFC confirmed that the company will remain part of its parent, American International Group (AIG).

"In AIG's original plan to restructure, they were viewing ILFC as a crown jewel," said Cromer. However, "the new management team decided ... to put a pause on their strategy of significant divestitures and rethink that strategy. [It] allowed them to review ILFC and really stop that exploratory process they were in selling the company."

Cromer said the recent growth in airline travel has being good for aircraft lessors and he thinks that business will remain good for the near future. ILFC have announced more than 30 new leasing deals so far this year

"We're continuing to put the strategy in place to strengthen the balance sheet and really put ILFC in a position to continue to do the business that ILFC has always been famous for in the leasing space," he said.

African aviation needs better leadership

Meanwhile, Edward Boyo the managing director of Landover a leading aviation services provider in Africa, has said that any challenges in the African aviation industry can only be overcome by dedicated and effective leadership.

Boyo said: "The industry must now begin to harness the strong leadership potentials to collectively benefit our continent."
He was speaking with regard to the 16th Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference scheduled to hold in Gaborone, Botswana from August 29  to August 31, 2010. He said that the conference will seek to galvanise stakeholders to promote dynamic leadership both in private and public institutions that influence air transport.

He added: "The economic downturn...is wearing out though its impact remains in Africa. Security and safety have remained issues that call for collective decision and leadership re-orientation across the industry. There is therefore the need for a platform to explore collective strategies to drive forward the industry in Africa."

ILFC plots further expansion into Africa

Aircraft leasing company International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) is negotiating with several national and commercial airlines in a bid to boost its presence in Africa.

"We would love to double our exposure in Africa....in the next five years," said ILFC vice president Ozzie Chraibi at an African aviation conference this week.

Chraibi said ILFC typically leased aircraft for five to eight years in Africa and was focusing on growing this business.

Keeping an eye on Nigeria

According to the International Air Transport Association, African carriers reported an increase in demand of 16.9% last May.

"We are following the market and are actively pursuing many airlines in Africa; definitely Nigeria is one of the countries we are considering," said Chraibi."We feel there is great potential here in Africa, and we want to grow our presence."

ILFC is an international market leader in the leasing and remarketing of advanced technology commercial jet aircraft to airlines around the world. ILFC owns a portfolio consisting of around 950 jet aircraft.

ILFC stays with AIG

This week Fred Cromer CFO of ILFC confirmed that the company will remain part of its parent, American International Group (AIG).

"In AIG's original plan to restructure, they were viewing ILFC as a crown jewel," said Cromer. However, "the new management team decided ... to put a pause on their strategy of significant divestitures and rethink that strategy. [It] allowed them to review ILFC and really stop that exploratory process they were in selling the company."

Cromer said the recent growth in airline travel has being good for aircraft lessors and he thinks that business will remain good for the near future. ILFC have announced more than 30 new leasing deals so far this year

"We're continuing to put the strategy in place to strengthen the balance sheet and really put ILFC in a position to continue to do the business that ILFC has always been famous for in the leasing space," he said.

African aviation needs better leadership

Meanwhile, Edward Boyo the managing director of Landover a leading aviation services provider in Africa, has said that any challenges in the African aviation industry can only be overcome by dedicated and effective leadership.

Boyo said: "The industry must now begin to harness the strong leadership potentials to collectively benefit our continent."

He was speaking with regard to the 16th Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference scheduled to hold in Gaborone, Botswana from August 29  to August 31, 2010. He said that the conference will seek to galvanise stakeholders to promote dynamic leadership both in private and public institutions that influence air transport.

He added: "The economic downturn...is wearing out though its impact remains in Africa. Security and safety have remained issues that call for collective decision and leadership re-orientation across the industry. There is therefore the need for a platform to explore collective strategies to drive forward the industry in Africa."