West Atlantic to lease AerCap A320Fs

WEST Atlantic has agreed to lease AerCap’s first converted A320 freighters.
The aircraft are part of a passenger-to-freighter conversion project agreed between AerCap and Airbus Freighter Conversions in 2008 for up to 30 A320 aircraft.
Under the lease agreement, West Atlantic will become the launch operator of the A320 freighters by initially taking three of the aircraft on lease, with deliveries between 2012 and 2013 and the option of a further four aircraft by 2015.
Klaus Heinemann, chief executive officer of AerCap, said: “Our expansion into the freighter segment will provide residual value enhancement for older A320 aircraft.”
“The A320 passenger-to-freighter programme is an exciting project and we are delighted to be the launch operator for this new freighter,” said West Atlantic’s sales and operations director, Russell Ladkin.