LCI provides helicopters to WestStar Aviation Services
Lease Corporation International (LCI) announced that it will be providing two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters to WestStar Aviation Services of Malaysia for their offshore operation.
The new helicopters valued at over $30 million will be initially operated under contract to Tullow Oil. The aircraft were delivered to the operator during the last week and will be used to support Tullow Oil’s offshore operations off the west coast of Africa.
The aircraft are additional to the order announced by LCI in 2012 valued at approximately US$400 million for Agusta Westland AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters, deliveries of which are already in progress. LCI’s helicopter fleet now exceeds 40 either delivered or on order.
Michael Platt, LCI’s chief executive officer, says: “We’re delighted to be able to help Weststar expand its services overseas with our new generation Agusta Westland helicopters. By leasing these brand new helicopters Weststar is able to respond quickly to their customers’ requirements and do so on attractive financial terms.”
Weststar Aviation Services is the largest provider of offshore helicopter services in Asia and already operates fourteen AW139 helicopters for major oil and gas companies. The contract with Tullow Oil in Mauritania marks the beginning of an international expansion.
Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail, CEO of Weststar Aviation Services, says: “LCI were a supportive and important partner in the provision of these helicopters. They were able to respond rapidly to our needs and give us access to the right technology on terms that suited this offshore deployment.”
Since 2004, LCI has acquired fixed wing and rotary aircraft with a value approaching US$5 billion. The helicopter leasing division was established in 2012 with a $400m order for Agusta Westland helicopters.
