The world for rental of plane narrows with $ 7.4 billion in aerial rental rental

Aircraft rental company Aerial leaseFounded by the Steven Udvar-Házy industry magnate, agreed to sell itself in an agreement that would deprive it to a group of investors for $ 7.4 billion, which inaugurated more consolidation in the planes sector.

The planned acquisition, announced on Tuesday, was led by the capital of Japan Sumitomo and the SMBC aviation, and also includes asset managers Apollo And Brookfield. Air -based shareholders based in Los Angeles would receive $ 65 per share, a bonus of almost 8% compared to Friday’s fence. Including debt, investors assess the company at around $ 28.2 billion.

Donors praise airlines to airlines, helping these carriers to keep money they should otherwise use to buy planes that can cost more than $ 100 million each at the list prices. A shortage of aircraft in recent years – pulled by the cocovated pandemic, supply chain problems and other slowdowns – has grown rental rates for new and old models.

The aircraft rental activity, which holds more than half of the world fleet of passenger jets, has passed on the one hand of ownership of 51% in 2009 to a share of 58% currently, according to the aviation company IBA Group. This has not experienced more growth because some large airlines have become profitable, which allows them to have many of their planes.

“Money is no longer a foreign to these guys,” said Stuart Hatcher, chief economist of IBA Group.

At the same time, many airlines are now rethinking their capacity plans as an excess offer of thefts have weighed on the prices and eaten in their profits this year. In the extreme, Spirit Airlines deposited chapter 11 for the second time for the second time in less than a year after having failed to bring major changes the first time and emerged with high costs and a drop in demand.

The private intake agreement highlights a wave of consolidation in industry and will help companies develop their scale. Air Bail ended in the second quarter with 495 planes in its belonging fleet.

Including its backwards, Air Bail is the fifth largest aircraft, according to a statement by IBA. The parties expect the agreement to end in the first half of 2026. The new company will be based in Dublin.

“This is perfectly logical when you consider that it is … the cheapest way to buy market growth,” said Hatcher from IBA.

The acquisition of aerial lease is the last in a series of transactions.

General electric Sold his airplane rental arm to the plane lessor n ° 1 Aercap In 2021, the conglomerate turned units to focus on large companies such as the manufacture of plane engines.

Two years ago, Standard Chartered agreed to sell its aircraft rental activities in Avillease, which belongs to the Sovereign Heritage Fund for Saudi Arabia.

Often nicknamed the “godfather” of aviation rental, Udvar-Házy founded Air Bail in 2010, working in close collaboration with the CEO of Air Lease John Plueger.

“Since the creation of aerial lease in 2010, we have been unwavering in our mission to shape the future of the aeronautical industry and provide airlines from around the world access to the most modern and fuel economical aircraft,” said Udvar-Házy on Tuesday.

Udvar-Házy, who fled Soviet Hungary with his parents in the late 1950s, had a life for aviation life and was often credited with the creation of the planes rental company. He co -founded his previous rental company, later known as ILFC, in 1973 and was then sold in AIG. He continued to execute him until 2010 and announced his air retirement last March.