Aircraft Asset Assessment

Market Presence. With 162 operators the A320 enjoys an established base which is just as strong as any Boeing product. The large number of orders placed by the lessors underlines the faith in medium term residuals and lease rentals. The ability of Airbus to also penetrate the all important U.S. market is testament to the advances made by the European manufacturer over the last ten years. Such sales have not solely been achieved through attractive pricing and financing but on technical and economic merit. The selection of the A320 family by both established and new low fare carriers provides further evidence of operational capability. With such a large operator base, current and residual values have nearly attained parity with Boeing products. The principal concern now lay with a product life cycle that spans three decades.