Below are details on all the leasing companies (in alphabetical order) that made this year's Airline Business top 50 ranking.
The ranking was based on a snapshot of the fleets owned and managed by operating lease companies as of early December 2007. Leasing company rankings and definitions are here.
AERCAP
Rank 9
Evert van de Beekstraat 312, Amsterdam Schipol Airport, Schipol, NL-1118CX, Netherlands
Tel +31 20 655 9616
Web www.aercap.com
Fleet (units) 231
Value ($m) 4,255
Description AerCap, which is listed at the New York Stock Exchange, has a war chest of nearly $1.4 billion in financing available to acquire new aircraft or conduct other market transactions. Its latest buy of new aircraft was for 10 more A330-200s in May 2007, adding to the 20 it already had on order.
AERGO CAPITAL
Rank 49
16 Clanwilliam Terrace, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin, 2, Ireland
Tel +353 1 676 1077
Web www.aergocapital.com
Fleet (units) 59
Value ($m) 141
Description The Dublin-based lessor was established in 1999 and focuses on older 737s and MD-82s. It also manages narrowbodies for investors, banks and airlines with surplus aircraft.
AIRBUS ASSET MANAGEMENT
Rank 40
Airbus Central Entity, 1 Rond Point Maurice BellonteBP33, Blagnac Cedex, F-31707, France
Tel +33 561 933 333
Web www.airbus.com
Fleet (units) 14
Value ($m) 245
Description The leasing/asset management arm of the European manufacturer.
AIRCASTLE INVESTMENT
Rank 14
300 First Stamford Place, 5th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902, USA
Tel +1 203 504 1020
Web www.aircastle.com
Fleet (units) 85
Value ($m) 2,279
Description US lessor Aircastle was established in 2004 and floated on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2006. Its most recent order was for 15 A330-200 freighters, placed at the Paris Air Show in mid-2007.
AIRCORP INCORPORATED
Rank 44
c/o JRW Aviation, 8611 Lemmon AvenueHangar B, Suite 104, Dallas, TX 75209, USA
Tel +1 214 661 7194
Web www.jrwaviationsales.com
Fleet (units) 29
Value ($m) 218
Description The Texas-based lessor specialises in 727s and 737s.
ALAFCO
Rank 18
PO Box 2255, Safat, 13023, Kuwait
Tel +965 240 2207
Web www.alafco-kw.com
Fleet (units) 27
Value ($m) 1,191
Description The Kuwait-based lessor is an emerging provider of innovative Sharia-based commercial aircraft leasing products that comply with Islamic law. Owned by Kuwait Finance House, it offers A320, A310s and 737NGs. In 2007 ALAFCO ordered 22 787s, firmed up its 2005 commitment for 12 A350s and placed a follow-on order for seven more A320s.
ALLCO EQUIPMENT LEASING
Rank 13
Level 24, Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel +61 2 9255 4048
Web www.allco.com.au
Fleet (units) 55
Value ($m) 2,636
Description Part of Allco Finance Group, the Australian-based lessor grew its portfolio in 2007 from 46 to 55 aircraft. It focuses on leasing aircraft to major carriers. About half its fleet is leased to Qantas, which in early 2007 Allco unsuccessfully tried to acquire as part of a consortium that also included Macquarie Bank and Texas Pacific Group.
ATR ASSET MANAGEMENT
Rank 26
1 Allee Pierre Nadot, , Blagnac Cedex, F-31712, France
Tel +33 5 6221 6221
Web www.atraircraft.com
Fleet (units) 120
Value ($m) 575
Description The leasing/asset management arm of the Toulouse-based turboprop manufacturer.
AUTOMATIC
Rank 50
1900 Summit Tower Boulevard, Suite 860, Orlando, FL 32810, USA
Tel +1 407 916 7777
Web www.automatic.cc
Fleet (units) 21
Value ($m) 139
Description Automatic is an aircraft leasing, sales and trading boutique that was established in September 2000.
AVIATION CAPITAL GROUP
Rank 7
610 Newport Center Drive, 14th Floor, Newport Beach, CA 92660, USA
Tel +1 949 219 4600
Web www.aviationcapital.com
Fleet (units) 233
Value ($m) 5,057
Description This US lessor has build up a portfolio of over 200 aircraft since its formation in 1989. It is part of Pacific LifeCorp. In 2005 it boosted its fleet with the purchase of Boullioun Aviation Services from WestLB. In 2007 it upped its order backlog of A320s to over 120 aircraft. It also has 64 737NGs and five 787s on order.
AWAS
Rank 6
Alexandra House, The Sweepstakes, Ballsbridge, County Dublin, 4, Ireland
Tel +353 1 664 1431
Web www.awas.com
Fleet (units) 325
Value ($m) 5,892
Description AWAS owner, private equity firm Terra Firma, added Pegasus Aviation to its lessor group in May 2007. AWAS itself has returned to ordering new aircraft with recent deals for 50 737s and 75 A320s.
BABCOCK & BROWN
Rank 5
2 Harrison Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
Tel +1 145 512 1515
Web www.babcockbrown.com
Fleet (units) 268
Value ($m) 6,830
Description The two arms to Babcock & Brown are BB Aircraft Management, which buys and manages mostly new aircraft (it currently manages over 245 units), and its recently launched fund B&B Air, which was created to buy and manage aircraft from its sister company and other sources. B&B Air has an outstanding credit facility of $1.1 billion for new acquisitions this year. BBAM ordered 20 737NGs in December, taking its fleet of the type to over 125 aircraft.
BAE SYSTEMS ASSET MANAGEMENT
Rank 23
1 Bishop Square, St Albans Road West, Hatfield, AL10 9NE, UK
Tel +44 1707 255580
Web www.baeam.com
Fleet (units) 270
Value ($m) 665
Description BAE's asset management and leasing arm concentrates on the BAe 146 and the AVRO regional jets of BAe Systems.
BAVARIA INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT LEASING
Rank 31
Ludwig-Ganghofer-Strasse 6, Gruenwald, D-82031, Germany
Tel +49 89 923 8237
Web www.bavaria-ial.com
Fleet (units) 19
Value ($m) 396
Description Part of the Schoerghuber Corporate Group. The lessor specialises in Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies and Bombardier regional jets.
BCI AIRCRAFT LEASING
Rank 20
330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2801, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Tel +1 312 329 1700
Web www.bciaircraft.com
Fleet (units) 57
Value ($m) 833
Description The company specialises in aircraft such as the Boeing 737, 757 and Airbus A320s, and also has a division targettting widebodies for purchase. It closed several new transactions in 2007 including the purchase of two A321s, one A330 and three 737-300QCs and the sale of two 737-200s.
BOC AVIATION
Rank 11
#18-01 Temasek Tower, 8 Shenton Way, Singapore, 068811, Singapore
Tel +65 6323 5559
Web www.bocaviation.com
Fleet (units) 74
Value ($m) 3,236
Description Previously known as Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE), BOC Aviation is Asia's largest lessor. SALE was acquired by Bank of China In December 2006.
BOEING AIRCRAFT HOLDING CO
Rank 28
c/o Boeing Aircraft Trading, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, PO Box 3707, Seattle, WA 98055, USA
Tel +1 206 766 2646
Web www.boeing.com/commercial/airtrade
Fleet (units) 15
Value ($m) 462
Description A wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, it offers asset-backed lending and leasing, concentrating on assets that are critical to the core operations of Boeing customers.
BOEING CAPITAL CORPORATION
Rank 8
PO Box 3707, 3rd Floor, Seattle, WA 98124, USA
Tel +1 425 965 4000
Web www.boeing.com/bcc
Fleet (units) 313
Value ($m) 4,683
Description The arm of Boeing that sells and leases Boeing-owned aircraft acquired through trades, lease returns, and other mechanisms. Its role is usually to work with operators that must expand their fleet immediately, or who are not in a position to purchase new equipment. Boeing Capital's predecessor was the McDonnell Douglas Finance Corporation.
BOMBARDIER CAPITAL
Rank 45
261 Mountain View Drive, Colchester, VT 05446-0991, USA
Tel +1 802 654 8295
Web www.capital.bombardier.com
Fleet (units) 45
Value ($m) 214
Description The leasing/asset management arm of the Canadian regional aircraft manufacturer.
CENTER-CAPITAL
Rank 47
PO Box 168, Moscow, 127051, Russia
Tel +7 495 780 7866
Fleet (units) 12
Value ($m) 196
Description Center-Capital specialises in 757s bought from Condor and primarily leased to Vim-Avia of Russia.
CENTRAL AIR LEASING
Rank 48
Great Chesterford Court, Great Chesterford, CB10 1PF, UK
Tel +44 1799 531111
Web www.centralairleasing.com
Fleet (units) 4
Value ($m) 171
Description The lessor specialises in MD-11s.
THE CIT GROUP INC
Rank 3
505 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel +1 212 771 1051
Web www.cit.com
Fleet (units) 293
Value ($m) 7,332
Description Over the past decade CIT Aerospace has grown to become one of the world's largest lessors with a portfolio of mainly Airbus and Boeing types of over 300 aircraft. It has outstanding orders for 737NGs and A320s as well as A350s and 787s among widebody aircraft.
DEUTSCHE STRUCTURED FINANCE
Rank 39
Westendstraße 24, Frankfurt, D-60325, Germany
Tel +49 69 971 497 0
Web www.dsf-fra.de
Fleet (units) 15
Value ($m) 265
Description The aircraft leasing and finance company's portfolio includes 737 Classics, 767s and Bombardier CRJ100ERs.
FINOVA CAPITAL CORPORATION
Rank 34
4800 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
Tel +1 480 636 4824
Web www.finova.com
Fleet (units) 40
Value ($m) 376
Description Finova has been gradually selling its remaining assets and winding up its leasing operation since the end of 2006, in line with a US bankruptcy court order. It had been a major lessor of commercial aircraft before entering bankruptcy protection.
GA TELESIS
Rank 38
Prospect Park III, 5400 NW 35th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, USA
Tel +1 954 676 3111
Web www.gatelesis.com
Fleet (units) 26
Value ($m) 267
Description GA Telesis provides maintenance services as well as aircraft and jet engine finance and leasing.The fast-growing company acquired several aircraft in 2007 including 11 DC9-30s, seven A320s, six CRJ200s, two A340s, two A300s and one 737-300.
GECAS
Rank 2
201 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06927, USA
Tel +1 203 357 6978
Web www.gecas.com
Fleet (units) 1,408
Value ($m) 33,259
Description A subsidiary of the General Electric Company, the lessor offers Airbus A320s, A330s, 737s, 767s and 777s, as well as regional jets. It added 60 aircraft to its A320 backlog in 2007 and ordered six more 777 freighters.
GENESIS LEASE
Rank 16
4230 Atlantic Avenue, West park, Shannon, County Claire, Ireland
Tel +353 61 233 300
Web www.genesislease.com
Fleet (units) 53
Value ($m) 1,619
Description Established in late 2006 by GE and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. GE now owns 11% of Genesis Lease and its GECAS unit manages Genesis' aircraft portfolio. It has predominantly modern narrowbodies in its growing fleet.
GLOBAL AVIATION ASSET MANAGEMENT
Rank 17
Level 19, Gateway1 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel +61 2 8456 5555
Fleet (units) 48
Value ($m) 1,575
Description One of the world's fastest expanding leasing companies, GAAM grew its portfolio in 2007 from 11 to 48 aircraft. Its largest transaction to date was the purchase in November 2007 of 20 aircraft from Lease Corporation International.
GOAL
Rank 32
Tölzer Strasse 15, Grunwald, D-82031, Germany
Tel +49 89 641 43152
Web www.goal-leasing.de
Fleet (units) 29
Value ($m) 382
Description A joint venture between Lufthansa and KGAL (KG Allgemeine Leasing), GOAL is one of Europe's largest providers of leasing services.
GUGGENHEIM AVIATION PARTNERS
Rank 29
227 West Monroe, Suite 4900, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
Tel +1 312 827 0103
Web www.guggenheimpartners.com
Fleet (units) 30
Value ($m) 434
Description Established in 1993 by Guggenheim Capital and a team of long-term aviation investors, it initially focused on Boeing 747 freighters. In 2007 it placed orders for six A330-200 freighters and firmed options for three additional 777 freighters, increasing it commitment in the new type to six. But its portfolio shrunk significantly in 2007 due to the sale of 38 aircraft to AirCastle.
ILFC
Rank 1
10250 Constellation Boulevard, Suite 3400, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA
Tel +1 310 788 1999
Web www.ilfc.com
Fleet (units) 1061
Value ($m) 42,236
Description Wholly owned subsidiary of insurance giant American International Group (AIG). Chairman Hungarian-born Steven Udvar Hazy started the company in 1973 with what is believed to be the world's first operating lease, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8 for Aeromexico. AIG acquired the group in 1990. ILFC's latest order for new types was for 20 Airbus A350 XWBs in October.
ITOCHU AIRLEASE INC
Rank 25
18000 Pacific Highway South, Tower 1, Suite 415, Seattle, WA 98188, USA
Tel +1 206 242 2323
Web www.itochuaero.com
Fleet (units) 23
Value ($m) 648
Description The North American subsidiary of the Japan's Itochu Corporation.
JETSCAPE
Rank 37
10 South New River Drive East, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, USA
Tel +1 954 763 4737
Web www.jetscape.aero
Fleet (units) 21
Value ($m) 301
Description Founded in 2000 and acquired in 2002 by International Aircraft Investors. It completed several transactions in 2007 including the sale of three A320s to VGS.
JETWORKS LEASING LLC
Rank 36
283 Greenwich Avenue, 4th Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830, USA
Tel +1 203 983 6677
Web www.jetworks.aero
Fleet (units) 26
Value ($m) 311
Description Established in 2004, Jetworks has a portfolio of widebody freighters. In 2005 it entered into an alliance with Sigma Aircraft Management, providing for aircraft currently under Sigma asset managent contracts to be managed by Jetworks.
MACQUARIE AIRFINANCE
Rank 10
Level 1, South Bank HouseBarrow Street, Dublin, 4, Ireland
Tel +353 1 238 3200
Web www.macquarie.aero
Fleet (units) 140
Value ($m) 3,523
Description Established in 2006, Macquarie AirFinance launched its presence in the industry through the acquisition of a majority of the aircraft leasing assets of GATX Corporation.
NORDIC AVIATION CONTRACTOR A/S
Rank 46
Stratusvej 12, Billund, DK-7190, Denmark
Tel +45 7651 1200
Web www.nac-dk.com
Fleet (units) 61
Value ($m) 209
Description Nordic Aviation Contractor was established in Denmark in 1990. It focuses on turboprop and regional jet aircraft.
OASIS INTERNATIONAL LEASING CO
Rank 19
PO Box 28922, Khalifa StreetADNIC Building, 7th Floor, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel +971 2 627 3880
Web www.oasisleasing.com
Fleet (units) 26
Value ($m) 1,002
Description Established in 1997, the UAE-based lessor deals mainly with used aircraft. Its portfolio now includes A320s, A330s, A340s, 737s, 777s and CRJs. In early 2007 it announced a restructuring under which a new parent, Oasis Holdings, and two new subsidaries, Oasis Leasing and Oasis Capital, were created. It also has a US subsidiary.
ORIX AVIATION
Rank 12
2nd Floor, Booterstown Hall, Booterstown Avenue, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel +353 1 670 0633
Web www.orixaviation.com
Fleet (units) 115
Value ($m) 2,721
Description A subsidiary of Orix Corporation of Japan. Orix completed several transactions in 2007, including the purchase of eight aircraft from Q Aviation.
PEMBROKE GROUP LTD
Rank 21
Pembroke House, 33-41 Lower Mount Street, Dublin, Ireland
Tel +353 1 619 4700
Web www.pembroke-group.com
Fleet (units) 60
Value ($m) 825
Description The lessor was purchased in late 2007 by London and Hong Kong-listed bank Standard Chartered but continues to operate as Pembroke. It was originally set up as a 50-50 joint venture between GATX and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce but in 2006 was taken over in a management buy-out. Its fleet includes Boeing 717s, 737s, 767s and Fokkers.
Q AVIATION
Rank 27
301 Commerce Street, Suite 29/75, Fort Worth, TX 76102, USA
Tel +1 817 332 9500
Fleet (units) 23
Value ($m) 480
Description Built up in recent years by hedge fund-type investors, its fleet includes A319/A320s, A330s, 737s, 757s and 767s. It sold eight aircraft to Orix in 2007. In 2006 it was put up for sale but in 2007 its owners decided against a sale after concluding it could not get a satisfactory price.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT CREDIT CORP
Rank 42
101 Southwebb Road, Suite 300, Wichita, KS 67207-0085, USA
Tel +1 316 676 7673
Web www.raytheon.com
Fleet (units) 119
Value ($m) 222
Description The leasing arm of the US-based turboprop manufacturer.
RBS AVIATION CAPITAL
Rank 4
IFSC House, IFSC, Dublin, 1, Ireland
Tel +353 1 859 9023
Web www.rbs.aero
Fleet (units) 202
Value ($m) 7,065
Description Established in 2001, this unit of the Royal Bank of Scotland leases and manages over 200 aircraft. In June 2007 RBS undertook a $1 billion securitisation to raise capital for future aircraft purchases.
SAAB AIRCRAFT LEASING
Rank 35
21300 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, VA 20166 6520, USA
Tel +1 703 406 7200
Web www.saabaircraftleasing.com
Fleet (units) 151
Value ($m) 372
Description The leasing/asset management arm of the Swedish manufacturer.
SAFAIR LEASE FINANCE
Rank 43
PO Box 938, Kempton Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 1620, South Africa
Tel +27 11 928 0000
Web www.safair.co.za
Fleet (units) 9
Value ($m) 221
Description The Safair fleet is mainly made up of 737 Classics.
SKYTECH-AIC
Rank 33
Carriage House, Hurst Farm, Winchfield, RG27 8SL, UK
Tel +44 1252 844775
Web www.skytech-aic.com
Fleet (units) 9
Value ($m) 380
Description Skytech-AIG, founded in 1992, mainly deals with widebodies, but also arranges finance for all aircraft types. It sold one of its 747-400s in 2007.
SOJITZ AIRCRAFT LEASING BV
Rank 24
12th Floor, World Trade Centre Tower CStrawinskylaan 1241, Amsterdam, 1077 XX, Netherlands
Tel +31 20 575 2360
Web www.sojitz.com/en
Fleet (units) 22
Value ($m) 648
Description Formerly Sunrock Aircraft Corporation, Sojitz was established in 1990 as the Irish operating lease subsidiary of Japanese trading house Nissho Iwai Corporation.
SUMISHO AIRCRAFT ASSET MANAGEMENT BV
Rank 15
World Trade Center, Strawinskylaan 907, Amsterdam, NL1077 XX, Netherlands
Tel +31 20 575 2570
Fleet (units) 53
Value ($m) 1,874
Description The leasing arm of Japan's Sumitomo Corporation, its fleet includes A320s, A321s, A330s, A340s, 737NGs and 767s.
TOMBO AVIATION
Rank 30
3780 Kilroy Airport Way, Suite 700, Long Beach, CA 90806, USA
Tel +1 562 988 2688
Web www.tombo.com
Fleet (units) 9
Value ($m) 416
Description Owned by Mitsui & Co of Japan, with a fleet that includes new narrowbodies and widebodies.
VELING
Rank 41
PCL Building, 43 Sir William Newton Street, Port Louis, Mauritius
Tel +230 211 2870
Web www.veling.aero
Fleet (units) 10
Value ($m) 223
Description Veling specialises in aircraft sales and remarketing, aircraft asset management and structured finance. In late 2007 it completed a sale-and-leaseback transaction on three Airbus A340-300s with SriLankan Airlines.
VGS AIRCRAFT HOLDING LTD
Rank 22
Riverside One, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, 2, Ireland
Fleet (units) 44
Value ($m) 700
Description Established in early 2007 after combining the portfolios of Sweden's Volito Aviation and the leasing unit of Goldman Sachs. VGS provides mainly Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies. The new joint venutre also has 767s and acquired two 757s from GECAS in late 2007.
Source: Airline Business
