AWAS (company)

Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services was Ansett Australia's subsidiary and leasing arm since 1985.{{cite web|url=http://www.touchbriefings.com/pdf/12/avia031_t_ANSETT.PDF|title= A report by Ansett Worldwide|publisher=Morgan Stanley|date=2004|accessdate=27 September 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109015621/http://www.touchbriefings.com/pdf/12/avia031_t_ANSETT.PDF|archivedate=9 November 2005|url-status=usurped}} By 1996, it was made a distinct company from Ansett Australia. Like Ansett Australia, Ansett Worldwide was owned by TNT and News Corporation.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/news-corp-could-have-saved-ansett-20040819-gdjkqk.html|title=News Corp 'could have saved Ansett'|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 August 2004|accessdate=27 September 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927053846/https://www.smh.com.au/business/news-corp-could-have-saved-ansett-20040819-gdjkqk.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true|archivedate=27 September 2019|url-status=live}} When TNT sold its share in Ansett Australia to Air New Zealand in 1996, it retained its ownership of Ansett Worldwide.

Ansett Worldwide was sold to an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in February 2000 for close to US$600 million. At the time of sale, AWAS had a leasing portfolio of 105 aircraft valued at US$4 billion, with 47 airlines.{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3078/is_200004/ai_n7766145 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018233144/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3078/is_200004/ai_n7766145 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2008-10-18 | title=Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services.(sale to an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included) |publisher = Air Transport World }} 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.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-15 |title=From the archives: The Ansett collapse |url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/09/from-the-archives-the-ansett-collapse/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Australian Aviation |language=en-AU}}

Morgan Stanley sold AWAS in 2006 to the UK hedge fund Terra Firma with management and operations relocated to Dublin.

In 2007 AWAS acquired and integrated it with the Pegasus Aviation Finance Company into one company."[http://www.awas.com/Portals/0/pdf/awas_operational_review.pdf AWAS ANNOUNCE OPERATIONAL REVIEW FOR 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003165207/http://www.awas.com/Portals/0/pdf/awas_operational_review.pdf |date=3 October 2011 }}." AWAS. 1 February 2008. Retrieved on 8 August 2011.{{Cite press release|title=AWAS Announce Operational Review For 2008|date=1 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322145531/http://www.awas.com/Portals/0/pdf/awas_operational_review.pdf |url=http://www.awas.com/Portals/0/pdf/awas_operational_review.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 March 2016}}{{Cite web |title=Terra Firma acquires Pegasus Aviation |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fa373ea0-ff8f-11db-8c98-000b5df10621 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Financial Times|first1=Peter|last1=Smith|first2=Gordon|last2=Smith|date=11 May 2007|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2007 |date=29 May 2008 |page=5 |url=http://awas.com/Portals/0/pdf/AWAS%20Annual%20Report%2019.09.08%20FINAL.pdf |publisher=AWAS |accessdate=25 December 2011 |archive-date=26 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426072231/http://awas.com/Portals/0/pdf/AWAS%20Annual%20Report%2019.09.08%20FINAL.pdf |url-status=dead }}

As of 2010 it was one of the top ten largest aircraft leasing companies in the world.{{cite web |title=Feature: 2010 Operating Lease Survey |url=http://www.airfinancejournal.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2636134 |work=Airfinance Journal |date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=25 December 2011}}

AWAS had its head office in The Galleries building (500 George Street) in the CBD of Sydney, Australia during the period of Morgan Stanley ownership. Administratively, the CEO and selected staff relocated to the Seattle office to be closer to the owners in Morgan Stanley's New York headquarters. The company's marketing, I.T., communications, legal, financial and administrative sections remained in Sydney throughout this period. Post the acquisition by Terra Firma the Sydney office closed, staff were either retrenched or relocated to the new Ireland office in Block B of Riverside IV along Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin, Republic of Ireland."[http://www.awas.com/OurCompany/Locations/tabid/64/Default.aspx Locations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719203900/http://www.awas.com/OurCompany/Locations/tabid/64/Default.aspx |date=19 July 2011 }}." ([http://www.awas.com/Portals/0/flash/map-locations.swf Direct link to Flash] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003165329/http://www.awas.com/Portals/0/flash/map-locations.swf |date=3 October 2011 }}) AWAS. Retrieved on 8 August 2011. "AWAS, Block B, Riverside IV, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland" and "Miami Office AWAS, 801 Brickell Avenue, Suite 800, Miami, Florida, 33131, USA" and "New York Office AWAS 444 Madison Avenue NY NY 10022" and "AWAS, 435 Orchard Road, #10-03 Wisma Atria, Singapore, 238877" Its Miami office was in One Brickell Square in Downtown Miami, while its New York City office was in Suite 203 of 620 at 444 Madison Avenue.

Previously, its Dublin location was in the City West Business Campus. It also had a London office in the City of Westminster."[https://web.archive.org/web/20011020043432/http://www.awas.com/contact/corporate_locations.asp Corporate Locations]." Ansett Worldwide. 20 October 2001. Retrieved on 8 August 2011. "Dublin Office Ansett Worldwide 3013 Lake Drive City West Business Campus Dublin 24 Ireland" and "London Office Ansett Worldwide 3rd Floor 14 Floral Street London WC2E 9DS United Kingdom" and "Seattle Office Ansett Worldwide 110-110th Avenue NE Suite 410 Bellevue WA 98004 USA" At a later point the Dublin office was located in Regus House at Harcout Centre."[https://web.archive.org/web/20060620233113/http://awas.com/contact/corporate_locations.asp Corporate Locations]." Ansett Worldwide. 20 June 2006. Retrieved on 8 August 2011. By 2007 the company opened its new Dublin headquarters, Alexandra House, The Sweepstakes, Ballsbridge. At that time it consolidated its London office into its Dublin headquarters."[https://web.archive.org/web/20070406221332/http://awas.com/contact/corporate_locations.asp Corporate Locations]." AWAS. 6 April 2007. Retrieved on 8 August 2011.

The company previously had an office in Bellevue, Washington State. In 2006, the office had 30 employees in the office."[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002772736_bizbriefs31.html AWAS plane-leasing firm to be sold]." The Seattle Times. Tuesday 31 January 2006. Business Digest. Retrieved on 8 August 2011. By 2007, it merged into the Miami office."[https://web.archive.org/web/20070728205527/http://www.awas.com/contact/corporate_locations.asp Corporate Locations]." AWAS. 28 July 2007. Retrieved on 8 August 2011.

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Ireland|Companies|Aviation}}

• [http://www.dubaiaerospace.com/ AWAS Official site]

{{Aircraft leasing companies}}

Category:Companies based in Dublin (city)

Category:Aircraft leasing companies of the Republic of Ireland

Category:Ansett Australia

Category:Transport companies established in 1985

Category:Irish companies established in 1985

Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2017

Category:2017 disestablishments in Ireland

Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Aircraft leasing companies