AWAS (company)
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| Division | |
| Industry | Aircraft leasing and sales |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland. |
| Website | www.awas.com |
Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services (AWAS) or simply Ansett Worldwide is one of the world's largest commercial jet aircraft leasing companies. Its head office is in Dublin, Ireland, and it has offices in Miami, New York City, and Singapore. In August 2017, AWAS was acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, both managing at least 329 airliners.
It was Ansett Australia's subsidiary and leasing arm from 1985 until February 2000.
It was sold to an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in 2000 for close to USD$600 million. At the time of sale, AWAS had a leasing portfolio of 105 aircraft valued at USD$4 billion, with 47 airlines. The Ansett name was retained as it was instantly recognisable in the global aviation industry. Under Morgan Stanley ownership the company was renamed simply Ansett Worldwide, the Aviation Services being omitted. The Ansett Worldwide fleet was combined with the Morgan Stanley Aircraft Leasing fleet, resulting in a combined fleet size of 180 aircraft by 2003.
In 2004 Ansett Worldwide was rebranded as AWAS. A company media release issued to coincide with the rebranding stated that the company had outlived its association with a failed airline, hence the dropping of the Ansett name. In the industry it was known that some customers had shown a reluctance to deal with Ansett Worldwide, perceiving that the aircraft available were ex-Ansett Airlines aircraft that had been sitting idle since the airline had ceased operations, despite assurances from the lessor that this was not true.
The wetleasing arm was rebranded Australian Worldwide Aviation Services and sold to QANTAS who were at the time leasing two Boeing 767 aircraft based in Sydney Australia.
Morgan Stanley sold AWAS in 2006 to the UK hedge fund Terra Firma with management and operations relocated to Dublin. The AWAS name has to date been retained.
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