AerCap signed more than 160 leasing deals in second quarter

Dublin-based lessor, the biggest player in its global industry, also completed 37 sales, including 29 aircraft

Dublin-based AerCap Holdings is the world’s biggest leasing firm. Photograph: iStock
Dublin-based AerCap Holdings is the world’s biggest leasing firm. Photograph: iStock

AerCap signed more than 160 leasing deals in the second quarter of the year, the aircraft finance giant said on Monday.

The Dublin-based lessor, the biggest player in its global industry, confirmed that it signed 162 lease agreements in the period, covering six wide-body aircraft, 88 narrow-body aircraft, 47 engines and 21 helicopters.

It said it completed 47 purchases including 25 aircraft – two Airbus A220 family aircraft, 15 Airbus A320 neo family aircraft, three Airbus A330 neos, two Boeing 737 Max aircraft, one Boeing 787-9, two Embraer E195-E2s – as well as 20 engines and two helicopters.

It also completed 37 sales of 29 aircraft.

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The company said it had repurchased about 3.9 million of its own shares at an average price of $88.66 per share, for a total of about $345 million. It paid a first-quarter dividend of 25 US cents per share, and signed financing transactions for about $3.6 billion.

The lessor, which buys aircraft from manufacturers using a combination of its own cash and borrowings and then leases them to airlines and other customers, delivered a record net income of $3.1 billion last year.

The company, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is the global leader in aviation leasing with about 300 customers around the world. It is based in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Miami, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Dubai, Seattle, Toulouse and other locations around the world.

Chief executive Aengus Kelly described 2023 as a “record year for our company across many fronts”.

“These results reflect the continued strong operating environment across our businesses and the positive momentum for leasing and sales of aircraft, engines and helicopters,” he said. “This strong performance is a testament to the talent, dedication and commitment of the entire AerCap team and our industry leadership.

“Given the strong tailwinds that we see for demand for aircraft, engines and helicopters, we are confident about the outlook for AerCap in 2024 and beyond.”

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson is an Irish Times reporter