Dublin aircraft lessor may have customers for A380s

Dublin-based aircraft-leasing company Amedeo may sign up two customers for the Airbus A380 this year, its chief executive has said. The company ordered 20 superjumbos last year and says it is confident of placing the world’s largest jetliner with airlines after a period of slow A380 activity.

“I see two possible customers in 2015. We are quite close in some places,” chief executive Mark Lapidus said.

“Some reordering is on the cards too but we are certainly focusing on new customers. We are looking both East and West.”

Turkish Airlines is in talks to obtain 10 or more A380s, two sources said in January. Airbus and Amedeo declined to comment on specific airlines.

Founded in 2013 and backed by US private-equity firm Pine Brook Partners, Amedeo owns or manages 14 A380s on top of last year’s 20-plane order. All 14 are operated by Dubai’s Emirates.

For the 20 new jets, it has a co-operation deal with Airbus making Amedeo an “extended marketing operation,” Lapidus said.

The companies have not outlined the way this works but industry sources say they have an informal understanding to try to split new A380 business, so that roughly half would be bought and half leased via Amedeo, though this would be up to airlines.

Lapidus is challenging airlines to open their eyes to what he sees as a money-spinner when configured and marketed in the right way.