Aircraft ACMI Leasing Market Report 2026

The aircraft ACMI leasing market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $10.81 billion in 2025 to $11.78 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing airline fleet expansion needs, rising seasonal passenger demand, growth in global tourism, expansion of low-cost carriers, increasing aircraft utilization requirements.

The aircraft ACMI leasing market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $16.73 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for flexible capacity solutions, growth in air cargo operations, increasing global route network expansion, rising need for cost-efficient fleet management, expansion of emerging market aviation sectors. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of wet lease acmi arrangements, rising demand for short-term fleet capacity expansion, growing use of acmi leasing for seasonal route optimization, expansion of cargo acmi leasing services, rising preference for outsourced crew and maintenance solutions.

The increasing air passenger traffic is expected to propel the growth of the aircraft ACMI leasing market going forward. Air passenger traffic refers to the total number of passengers boarding commercial aircraft at airports within a specific country or region over a defined timeframe, including both domestic and international travelers. The growth in air passenger traffic is driven by rising demand for both domestic and international travel, thereby contributing to increased aviation activity. Aircraft ACMI leasing is supporting this growth in air passenger traffic by providing airlines with additional aircraft along with crew, maintenance, and insurance on a flexible basis, enabling carriers to rapidly expand capacity, accommodate peak travel demand, and enter new routes without significant long-term fleet investments. For instance, in March 2025, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a US-based government agency that provides official transportation data, US airlines carried 83.3 million systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in December 2024, an increase of 8% compared to last year. Therefore, the increasing air passenger traffic is driving the growth of the aircraft ACMI leasing market.

Leading companies operating in the aircraft ACMI leasing market are focusing on digital platforms and algorithmic matching, such as seasonal capacity modulation, counter-seasonal deployment, and flexible wet-lease operations, to efficiently manage fluctuating passenger demand, optimize fleet utilization, and enhance airline profitability across diverse regional and short-haul routes. Seasonal capacity modulation refers to the strategic adjustment of available aircraft and crew resources to align with predictable fluctuations in passenger or cargo demand over different seasons, enabling airlines to efficiently scale operations, minimize idle fleet time, and maintain optimal load factors during peak and off-peak periods. For example, in October 2024, Thai SmartLynx, a Thailand-based ACMI and charter airline, launched as Thailand’s first ACMI provider. The company, in partnership with avia solutions group and local partners, aims to address seasonal aircraft capacity shortages by providing Airbus A320s with full crew, maintenance, and insurance, enabling Thai airlines to efficiently manage counter-seasonal demand cycles, accommodate the surge in tourism with 40 million visitors expected by the end of 2024, and optimize short-haul operations while improving profitability by 2% to 3% through flexible leasing solutions.

In June 2023, Avia Solutions Group PLC, an Ireland-based private holding company, acquired AirExplore s.r.o. for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Avia Solutions Group seeks to expand its ACMI and charter operations in Central and Eastern Europe, bolster fleet capacity, and improve operational flexibility to meet growing seasonal demand. AirExplore is a Slovakia-based provider of passenger and cargo charter services, operating a fleet of aircraft for flexible air transport solutions.

Major companies operating in the aircraft ACMI leasing market are Avia Solutions Group PLC, SunExpress Airlines, Chorus Aviation Inc., Cargojet, Alliance Airlines Pty Ltd, GlobalX Airlines, Hi Fly Malta Limited, Titan Airways Limited, EuroAtlantic Airways, DAT LT UAB, Air Atlanta Icelandic, Wamos Air, Privilege Style, Heston Airlines UAB, Sky Lease Cargo Inc., KlasJet, Fly2Sky Airlines, Airhub Airlines Limited, DHL Aviation, GetJet Airlines UAB, Smart Aviation Company Limited.

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

The aircraft ACMI leasing market includes revenues earned by entities through the provision of aircraft along with flight crew services, aircraft maintenance support, and aviation insurance as part of a comprehensive wet leasing arrangement. The market value includes the value of related operational services provided by the leasing company as part of the ACMI agreement. 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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