ACC Aviation, the global aviation services group, with offices on five continents, reports positive growth in the second quarter of 2021, driven by US and UK Charter as well as steady growth in its consulting division.

 

Charter volume in the US and UK was up 39% year on year.   Highlights included an uptick in the use of corporate shuttles, across the USA, Europe, and Asia, from the manufacturing, transport and sports sectors.   ACC Aviation has supported a number of corporations with regular programme flying. US domestic business travel continues to lead the recovery with encouraging booking levels  through 2021 into early 2022. 

 

ACC Aviation’s consultancy arm fared well in Q2, with 1H revenues up 18% compared with the same period in 2020, and 33% up on 2019. With increased activity across aircraft disposal and acquisition, and sale-and-leaseback projects, the business is backing further expansion of its consulting division with its entry to Aviation Finance Advisory.  ACC Aviation has appointed Viktor Berta as VP of Aviation Finance Advisory where he will be supporting new and existing clients in analysing financing and leasing arrangements, restructuring existing indebtedness, and sourcing new forms of financing.

 

“The creation this month (July) of a dedicated Aviation Finance Advisory within ACC Aviation, led by Viktor Berta, ex Erste and DVB Bank, leaves us even better placed to support airlines, lessors, lenders and investors with their existing debt and financing options as they navigate through this uncertain climate,” commented ACC Aviation CEO Phil Mathews.

 

Trading highlights for Q2:

 

Appointed by Congo Airways, the national carrier of Congo DRC, to arrange the financing of its orderbook for 4x Embraer E190/E195-E2 aircraft, including on sale and leaseback.

Arranged and advised on the acquisition one B737-300 for an undisclosed client in the CIS region.

Arranged and advised on the pre-purchase inspection of one B737-300 stored in Estonia.

Consulting activities included:

Ongoing engagement by a state-backed financier to develop a business plan for a new regional airline in West Africa

Completion of several aircraft appraisals including a Dassault Falcon 50EX and an Airbus Helicopters EC130 T2

Completion of a feasibility assessment for the launch of a new Middle East based helicopter touring business.

Completion of a feasibility assessment for an aircraft teardown and dismantling facility in North Africa.

 

ACC summarises

 

The ACC Aviation portfolio of services continues to evolve and will be further extended into Q3 and Q4 enabling the business to offer wider expertise to clients.  This past quarter’s activity has exemplified the reach and breadth of its activity.  The group has also grown its team in the US with multi-lingual team members helping to expand ACC Aviation’s footprint across Central and South America

 

The market is improving, driven by US corporate travel, buoyed too by encouraging levels of ad hoc leisure charter to destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean, emphasising the pent-up demand for leisure travel.  Charter opportunities will benefit hugely when the corridor finally opens between the USA and Europe, says Director of Charter Richard Smith. The UK has been challenging, but there are still many opportunities for specialist sector travel, he notes.

 

ACC Aviation’s Consultancy arm sees an increased volume of aircraft transactions and financial restructuring, driven by the initial stages of market recovery.

 

“Airlines who take this opportunity to  restructure their indebtedness will be in a much better position post-recovery than those who have not, with the leasing/lending community starting to limit airlines’ prospects of renegotiation now that the market is starting to recover,” said Rob Watts, ACC Aviation Director of Consulting.

ACC Aviation has seen charter activity up 39% YOY

Photo credit: John McArthur

 

About ACC Aviation

 

Founded in 2002 as an aircraft leasing specialist, today ACC Aviation delivers market-leading solutions across leasing, air charter, aviation asset management and strategic consultancy services, including a new aviation finance advisory. Through an international office network spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Asia, it provides bespoke aviation solutions to clients across the globe. Its success is built on the strength and depth of its relationships within the aviation industry and, through continued investment in developing and maintaining these partnerships with a persistent focus on innovation, ACC Aviation delivers superior solutions to a diverse and growing client base.

 

YFM Equity Partners -backed ACC Aviation  was ranked  85^th in the Sunday Times BDO national Profit Track 100 Awards this Spring, lauded for its contribution to the economy and society during the pandemic.  ACC Aviation first entered the Profit Track 100 line up in 2020 and has featured in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 since 2013.  It was also welcomed as an FT1000 ranked company for the first time this year, entering the fifth annual edition of the Financial Times’ Top 1000 European companies in 786^th place, achieving a notable growth rate of 44.1%.