Helicopter Fleet Report - YE2020

INTERVIEW: LCI
Image courtesy of Leonardo Company
LCI’S ASIAN ADVANTAGE
CHRIS LLOYD
VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING
Chris Lloyd joined LCI in 2018 as Vice President
Marketing for Asia, based at its office in Singapore. He
has over 30 years’ experience in aviation, most of it in
Asia, with a proven track record in aircraft sales and leasing. He
previously led a helicopter and fixed-wing sales and brokerage
company based in Singapore, offering consultancy, leasing and
valuation services across the Asian and Oceania regions. Chris
is a fixed wing and helicopter pilot.
How would you describe the past year for LCI?
Throughout the past 12 months, despite the challenges of
Covid-19, LCI’s doors have remained firmly open for business.
We have continued to move leased helicopters between
customers and take delivery of new helicopters. The travel and
aviation sectors have been materially affected by the pandemic,
but the helicopter leasing marketplace has remained active,
and we have played a leading role in that with much of our
activity taking place in Asia-Pacific.
lessors they partner with, such as LCI, were able to respond
tactically to the situation.
The helicopter leasing sector has displayed remarkable resilience,
particularly in regions such as Asia, where we have seen a
widespread recovery in aircraft utilisation in recent months.
Offshore activity has returned to near-normal levels, and EMS
activity has actually increased in countries such as Australia as
many people are now holidaying at home. Such are the returning
levels of confidence that we’re already seeing new contracts being
awarded which is increasing demand for leased helicopters.
In the last three months we have delivered two AW139
helicopters to customers in the region, while extending other
lease agreements. Most recently we delivered a AW139
helicopter to SFS Aviation, a longstanding Asian customer, to
support its offshore activities in Thailand. Also, in 2020 we
added two more helicopters to our fleet in Australia, which is
now our single largest market with 18 helicopters.
What impact has Covid-19 had on the
helicopter market?
Has Covid-19 affected investor confidence in
the helicopter market?
While some parts of the helicopter market have been slightly
impacted by Covid-19, the mission critical operators and the
The resilience in the helicopter leasing marketplace has meant
that capital continues to be invested. LCI led the industry in
20 ASIA-PACIFIC CIVIL HELICOPTER FLEET REPORT – YEAR END 2020