UK-headquartered ACC Aviation has reported positive growth in the second quarter of 2021, driven by US and UK charter as well as steady growth in its consulting division.

Charter volume in the US and UK was up 39 per cent year on year. Highlights included an uptick in the use of corporate shuttles across the USA, Europe and Asia from the manufacturing, transport and sports sectors. ACC Aviation has supported a number of corporations with regular programme flying. US domestic business travel continues to lead the recovery with encouraging booking levels through 2021 into early 2022.

“The creation of a dedicated aviation finance advisory within ACC Aviation, led by Viktor Berta, ex Erste and DVB Bank, leaves us even better placed to support airlines, lessors, lenders and investors with their existing debt and financing options as they navigate through this uncertain climate,” comments CEO Phil Mathews.

The ACC Aviation portfolio of services continues to evolve and will be further extended into Q3 and Q4 enabling the business to offer wider expertise to clients. This past quarter's activity has exemplified the reach and breadth of its activity. The group has also grown its team in the US with multi-lingual team members helping to expand ACC Aviation's footprint across Central and South America.

“The market is improving, driven by US corporate travel, buoyed too by encouraging levels of ad hoc leisure charter to destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean, emphasising the pent-up demand for leisure travel. Charter opportunities will benefit hugely when the corridor finally opens between the USA and Europe,” adds director of charter Richard Smith. “The UK has been challenging, but there are still many opportunities for specialist sector travel.”

ACC Aviation's consultancy arm sees an increased volume of aircraft transactions and financial restructuring, driven by the initial stages of market recovery.

“Airlines who take this opportunity to restructure their indebtedness will be in a much better position post-recovery than those who have not, with the leasing/lending community starting to limit airlines' prospects of renegotiation now that the market is starting to recover,” concludes Rob Watts, ACC Aviation director of consulting.