Air Lease to Be Acquired for $7.4B by Sumitomo Consortium

Air Lease Corporation, one of the world's largest aircraft leasing companies, has agreed to a $7.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital.

Air Lease shareholders will receive $65 per share in cash, an 8 percent premium over the company’s recent stock valuation.

The acquisition is expected to strengthen Air Lease's financial backing through SMBC’s support and expand its global reach.

After the deal is finalized, Air Lease will be renamed Sumisho Air Lease and maintain its status as an investment-grade aircraft lessor.

SMBC Aviation Capital will manage the new aircraft portfolio, combining Air Lease's fleet of 544 aircraft, including 260 on order, with SMBC’s 893-aircraft fleet. The new firm is set to become a major competitor close to market leader AerCap.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2026, with the combined entity headquartered in Dublin.

Other major acquisitions this year include Japan’s JTB Corporation purchasing Northstar Travel Group, Air France‑KLM acquiring a majority stake in Scandinavian Airlines, and TPG Capital buying Sabre’s Hospitality Solutions.

Photo by Bao Menglong on Unsplash