Aircraft Leasing Market Report 2026

The aircraft leasing market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $209.05 billion in 2025 to $226.7 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising aircraft acquisition costs, growing airline expansion strategies, increasing operational cost pressure, early adoption of leasing models, expansion of global aviation networks.

The aircraft leasing market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $319.96 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing airline fleet modernization, rising preference for flexible capital management, growing passenger traffic expansion, strengthening demand for cost optimized aviation operations, expanding use among global airlines. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing preference for leasing over aircraft purchasing, growing adoption of cost efficient fleet expansion strategies, rising demand for flexible leasing structures, increasing replacement of aging aircraft fleets, growing utilization of leasing for operational optimization.

The rising demand for air travel is expected to support the growth of the aircraft leasing market going forward. Air travel involves transportation by aircraft, including airplanes and helicopters, for domestic and international movement of passengers. Aircraft leasing is widely used within the aviation industry, allowing airlines to lease aircraft rather than purchase them outright. This approach offers airlines greater flexibility to adjust fleet size based on demand fluctuations, expand routes, and manage capacity while avoiding substantial upfront capital investments. For instance, in January 2025, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Canada-based trade association representing airlines worldwide, total global air traffic increased by 10.4% in 2024 compared to 2023. Therefore, the growing demand for air travel is driving the expansion of the aircraft leasing market.

Companies operating in the aircraft leasing market are increasingly focusing on technological advancements, such as advanced asset management software, to improve fleet utilization and streamline operational processes. Advanced asset management software is a digital solution that enables companies to efficiently track, monitor, and optimize asset usage, maintenance schedules, and asset value. For example, in April 2023, LEASEWORKS, a US-based provider of cloud-based software solutions for aircraft leasing and asset management, launched the LeaseWorks Utilization Tracker. This utilization records software for lessors is integrated into the Aeris MATCH software ecosystem and simplifies the collection of usage data from airlines operating across multiple regions and asset categories. The tool allows lessors to ensure compliance by auditing airline utilization data, comparing aircraft usage trends across fleets and regions, and tracking aircraft movements by location.

In November 2023, AviLease LLC, a Saudi Arabia-based aircraft leasing company, acquired Standard Chartered’s aircraft leasing business for $3.6 billion. This acquisition was aimed at expanding AviLease’s fleet size and strengthening its global presence in the aircraft leasing market. The move aligns with the company’s strategy to support Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector growth and broader economic diversification objectives. Standard Chartered is a UK-based financial services company that provides aircraft leasing and financing solutions to airlines and aviation-related businesses.

Major companies operating in the aircraft leasing market report are AerCap Holdings N.V., Air Lease Corporation, BOC Aviation Limited, Aviation Capital Group LLC, BBAM LLC, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Ltd., Nordic Aviation Capital A/S, Avolon Holdings Limited, Lease Corporation International, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited, CDB Aviation Lease Finance Limited, Aircastle Limited, Macquarie AirFinance, Aergo Capital Limited, Apollo Aviation Group, Falko Regional Aircraft Limited, Goshawk Aviation Limited, Jackson Square Aviation LLC, ORIX Aviation Systems Limited, Seraph Aviation Management.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the aircraft leasing market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global aircraft leasing market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the aircraft leasing market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the aircraft leasing market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The aircraft leasing market includes revenues earned by entities by providing aircraft leasing services such as operating lease and finance lease and damp leasing. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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