Press Release

Steven Townend Elected to ISTAT’s Board of Directors

28 Mar 2011

BOC Aviation is pleased to announce that Mr. Steven Townend, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer, has been elected to the board of directors of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) for a four-year term. 

Mr. Townend’s appointment is significant as he will be the first Asia-based board director of this premier industry association that represents more than 2,000 members worldwide.  Mr. Townend has over 20 years of aviation experience and holds a senior management position in BOC Aviation, Asia’s largest aircraft leasing company.  He is therefore in a unique position to represent the Asia Pacific aviation community on this global platform.

“It will be an honour for me to serve on the board of ISTAT, an institution of which I have been a member for 15 years,” said Mr. Townend.  “Asia Pacific is now the world’s largest aviation market and projected to account for one-third of global air traffic by 2014.  As one of my first priorities, I look forward to broadening ISTAT’s membership with our business partners in the Asia-Pacific region.”

BOC Aviation is the leading Asia-based aircraft leasing company with a portfolio of 167 modern aircraft operated by airlines worldwide. In addition, the company has 62 aircraft on firm order and another three aircraft on committed purchase and leaseback.  The Company has one of the youngest fleets in the industry with an average aircraft age of less than four years.  BOC Aviation is 100% owned by Bank of China, one of the largest banks in the world.

For over 25 years, ISTAT has been dedicated to fostering and promoting interest and educational opportunities in commercial aviation while providing a forum for those involved in the aviation and supporting industries. ISTAT’s members are involved in operating, manufacturing, maintaining, selling, purchasing, financing, leasing, appraising, insuring or other activities related to the commercial aviation sector. Today, ISTAT is the premier industry association providing forums for increased networking and educational opportunities within the aviation community.

For more information, please contact:

Elsie Ng
Tel: +65 9710 0790
[email protected]
www.bocaviation.com 

*Note for Editors:
(1) According to IATA’s press release no. 8 dated 14 February 2011, 1 billion people will travel by air in Asia Pacific by 2014, accounting for 30% of global total, up from 26% in 2009.  In terms of cargo, Asia Pacific will account for 28% of global volumes.

(2) For more information on ISTAT, please visit www.istat.org