- Latest edition November 13th: Headwinds and tailwinds
- Latest edition October 30th: Quarterly reports show strength of market
- Latest edition October 16th: ABS issuance has a strong start to Q4
- Latest edition October 2nd: ABS issuance fully regains early year momentum
- Latest edition September 18th: Insurers can't appeal London judgement in Russia 'stranded assets' case
- September 4th edition: The latest move in the quest for scale
Leasing Business Air Lease profits surge
Leasing Business Former Standard Chartered executives lead new leasing platformStandard Chartered's former aviation head Kieran Corr is heading up a new global aircraft leasing outfit, Aera Aviation Capital, with two former Standard Chartered colleagues - Chris Helme and Will McCallum - joining Corr on the management team as chief financial officer and chief commercial officer, respectively. The lessor is headquartered in Dublin. Aircraft ABS Carlyle issuance to maintain ABS momentumThe latest aircraft-backed deal from Carlyle will be its third issuance of 2025 and once closed will bring the total amount of aviation assets backing its issuances in 2025 to 69. The latest issuance is a $602.4 million 23 aircraft-backed deal and follows on from other Q4 2025 issuances from Griffin Global Asset Management, its first foray into aircraft-backed ABS market, and Castlelake, who also got their third deal of the year away in recent weeks. |
In this issue In this issueAs the leasing side of the aviation complex enjoys 'bonanza' profits, as evidenced in this and previous issues highlighting the latest record quarterly financial results for a number of lessors, the list of uncertainties facing the wider aviation market is growing as outlined in this issue's Perspectives column by Dr Adam Pilarski. His insightful analysis of the good, the bad and the ugly of the current aviation market looks at the headwinds/tailwinds buffeting the major players and warns that the increasing uncertainties, including short-term trade policy shifts and swings, have the potential to create long-term negative impacts in the aviation market more so than in many other sectors. Perspectives The good, the bad and the ugly of the aviation market
Leasing Business Aviation Capital Group grows portfolio by 12%Over the first 9 months of 2025 Aviation Capital Group has deployed $2.4 billion on aircraft purchases with CEO Tom Baker saying improvements in utilisation, cost of funds and its credit profile means the business is 'poised to accelerate growth and performance.' |
Ahead of the expected H1 2026 closing of its merger with Sumisho Air Lease (which will be owned by Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited, and affiliates of Apollo Capital Management, L.P. and affiliates of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd), Air Lease has reported another strong quarter as it recorded year-on-year rent revenue growth of 9% thanks to the continued growth of its fleet (it ended the quarter with 503 owned aircraft) and an increase in its portfolio lease yield. Year-on-year net income was up almost 47% thanks to higher rental revenues and its latest Russia-related insurance settlement.
Dr Adam Pilarski gives his view on the aviation market as the industry continues to struggle (or thrive) with slower production rates and new-technology-engine-related increased groundings. It is an ill wind that blows no good and large parts of the aviation market, including aircraft lessors, are enjoying a ‘bonanza’ in profits. Pilarski says the ‘bad’ (an increase in routine global uncertainties) and the ‘ugly’ (erratic and unpredictable economic policy swings) uncertainties ‘can wreak havoc in our industry more easily than in many others’ and illustrates the potential long-lasting negative impact of short-term economic policy shifts on innovation.