With demand dwindling for very large aircraft, the industry is watching with keen interest what happens to Airbus A380s that were among the first in service and are nearing the end of their initial leases. Some decisions have to be made very soon and are likely to have a significant impact on the market. Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Emirates are operators of such A380s. According to investment fund Dr. Peters Group, which owns four of the aircraft, SIA has to decide whether to extend the lease of the first jet in September. Dr. Peters bought the first aircraft in a sale-and-lease-back deal in 2007 for $197 million, according to an investor prospectus, and Singapore Airlines pays $1.71 million in monthly rent. The lease contract for the first aircraft expires by the end of 2017, followed by three more in the first half of 2018. Lease-extension decisions for these are due before April 2017.
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