PRESS RELEASE

 

23 June 2004

 

 

debis AirFinance Delivers First of Three Fokker 100s to New Customer Taiwan’s Mandarin Airlines

 

debis AirFinance, one of the world's largest aircraft leasing and asset management companies, has delivered the first of three Fokker 100 aircraft on an operating lease to Mandarin Airlines of Taiwan. The two remaining aircraft will be delivered in the next couple of months.

 

Mandarin Airlines will wet-lease two of the aircraft to its parent company, Taiwan’s flag carrier China Airlines (CAL), for the Taipei-Kaohsiung domestic route as a connecting service to CAL’s international flights. The third aircraft will operate on Mandarin Airlines’ own domestic and international network in the region.

 

Klaus Heinemann, Chief Executive Officer of debis AirFinance, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome Mandarin Airlines as a new customer and are certain that the favourable operating lease costs of the F100 will contribute to Mandarin Airlines’ competitive position in the region. This also shows the level of demand for the F100 from airline operators from all over the world, a trend we expect to continue.”

 

Michael Lo, President of Mandarin Airlines said: “We are very happy with the successful closing of this transaction and believe that with these Fokker 100s Mandarin Airlines will have a competitive advantage in Taiwan's tough domestic market.”

 

About debis AirFinance

debis AirFinance provides aircraft leasing to airlines and asset management services to third parties such as investors and banks. The company has a total owned and managed fleet of over 250 jets and turboprops (Boeing/ MDC, Airbus, Fokker, Dornier, ATR, DHC). debis AirFinance, headquartered at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, has a worldwide presence with offices in Shannon, Ireland and Fort Lauderdale, Florida/United States.

 

About Mandarin Airlines

Mandarin Airlines, based in Taipei, was established in 1991 and was merged with domestic operator Formosa Airlines in 1999. The carrier’s route network comprises of domestic routes together with international destinations in the region to Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Hong Kong. Mandarin Airlines was the first airline in Taiwan to operate the routes Taipei - Sydney and Taipei - Vancouver.

Mandarin Airlines operates a fleet of 16 aircraft. In March this year, the airline received the First Honor Award for domestic operations and services from the Civil Aeronautics Administration of Taiwan, recognizing the carrier’s high standards of aviation safety management and customer service.

 

For further information on debis AirFinance or photos please contact:

 

Frauke Oberdieck
Corporate Communications
debis AirFinance	Evert van de Beekstraat 312
Tel.: +31 20  655 9616	1118 CX Schiphol Airport Amsterdam
Fax: +31 20 655 9100	The Netherlands
Email: foberdieck@debisairfinance.com	www.debisairfinance.com