Aircraft Value News [August 23, 2004] -

Issue: August 23, 2004

Escalating Fuel Prices Threaten Value Recovery

Record Highs Could Gag Demand The record high in oil prices, if sustained, has the potential to stifle the recovery being experienced by the aviation industry and worldwide economy, as well as contain recent improvement in lease rentals and values. Spot prices of jet fuel in New York rose to…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

Delta Woes Continue to Overshadow Value Recovery

The possibility of Delta [DAL] entering Chapter 11 edges ever nearer, and with it the prospect of a number of aircraft being targeted for disposal coupled with re-negotiation of existing financing and leases. The high price of fuel and absence of hedging will likely increase the sense of urgency in…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

A340-600 Order From Virgin Takes Variant Through Vital 100 Barrier

The order for 13 additional A340-600s from Virgin Atlantic, adding to the 12 already ordered by the carrier, takes the order total for the variant to 100, providing sufficient depth for consistency in residual values to emerge. Most widebody types require at least 100 orders to avoid marginalization, compared to…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

American Denial of A300 Disposal Fails To Prevent Reassessment of Values

The potential disposal of A300-600Rs by prime operator American Airlines [AMR] at a stroke would likely further depress already struggling values. The 34 A300-600Rs operated by American have reportedly been targeted for retirement, a move the airline denies. In view of the age of the aircraft and the absence of…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

Rentals Continue to Improve

Despite the higher price of fuel, or because of it, rentals of modern narrowbodies continue to improve. Rentals of most members of the A320 and B737NG families continue to improve. The peak Northern Hemisphere summer season has seen further demand for new and used equipment, such that lease rentals for…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

International Traffic Fails to Halt Slide in Older Widebody Values

International carriers are virtually scrambling to find capacity to meet the surge in traffic but little respite is being afforded the widebodies no longer in production. The need for capacity is serving to accelerate the displacement of older equipment. High operating costs and lack of interior flexibility are making out…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

B767-300 Values Face Fresh Challenges

With no fresh orders for the B767-300 for some years and an age profile that promises to precipitate retirement in the coming years, values continue to remain under pressure. The problems facing the B767-300 program are reflected by the current order status. Only seven units have been ordered in the…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

Values of B737 Classics Achieve Measure of Stability

Despite the uncertainty that still surrounds the fate of Delta and US Airways, the absence of modern equipment such as the B737NG and A320 family continues to generate demand for older equipment, allowing values a measure of stability. A surplus of B737 Classics still exists with the potential for further…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN

WestJet B737-600 Order Fails to Halt Slide in Values

The order for six B737-600s from WestJet has failed to reverse the continued decline in values of the type. Values of the B737-700 and -800 have continued to experience improvement over the last quarter while those of the -600 and indeed, the -900, have fallen. The lack of orders for…

By: Aircraft Value News

August 23, 2004

AVN