The biggest commercial aircraft lessors by fleet size in 2026
January 4, 2026
In the competitive commercial aviation environment, airlines often lease aircraft rather than purchasing them outright to conserve capital, maintain fleet flexibility, cater to market demand, and mitigate the risks associated with large assets.
Aircraft leasing companies purchase aircraft and lease them to airlines, minimising upfront costs and operational risks. We explore some of the largest aircraft leasing companies in commercial aviation and their fleet sizes.
| Lessor | Owned aircraft | Managed aircraft | Total fleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| AerCap | 1,515 | 166 | 1,681 |
| SMBC | 490 | 232 | 722 |
| Avolon | 601 | 36 | 637 |
| BBAM | 560 | – | 560 |
| Air Lease Corporation | 503 | 50 | 553 |
| BOC Aviation | 425 | 17 | 442 |
AerCap – The world’s largest owner of commercial aircraft
AerCap is a global leader across all areas of aviation leasing, including aircraft, helicopters, and engines. The company has a massive portfolio comprising 1,681 aircraft, 300 helicopters, and over 1,200 engines. Of the total aircraft, AerCap owns 1,515 and manages 166. AerCap also has 358 aircraft and engines on order, 90% of which are new-generation narrowbodies.
As the world’s largest owner of commercial aircraft, the Irish-American company holds $72 billion worth of assets. Over 300 customers worldwide receive tailored fleet solutions, enabling reliable and efficient flight operations.
AerCap is the world’s largest lessor of the Airbus A320neo family and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family aircraft. With over 90% of its fleet comprising next-generation aircraft, AerCap offers long-term lease agreements, spanning up to 12 years in duration. The largest aircraft types owned and managed by AerCap are Airbus A320/A320neo family, Boeing 737 NG, 737 MAX, and 787 family.
SMBC – An SMBC-managed aircraft takes off or lands every minute
SMBC Aviation Capital is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and is owned by a Japanese consortium comprising Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and other financial groups. The company has 722 aircraft in its portfolio, including 232 managed for its customers.
The company specialises in leasing and trading of aircraft, asset management, and aircraft financing. SMBC focuses on purchasing young commercial aircraft types that are most popular with its customers. SMBC enjoys a healthy orderbook with 239 aircraft, comprising Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft.
A small portion of the company’s existing portfolio includes fuel-efficient widebodies such as Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. In a typical year, SMBC delivers in excess of 60 aircraft to its customers around the world. The company specialises in aircraft transition modification programs, which take place every time an aircraft is leased from one operator to another.
Avolon – Youngest fleet among the world’s three largest aircraft lessors
Another Ireland-based aircraft leasing company, Avolon, offers a comprehensive portfolio in the commercial aviation market. Founded in 2010, the company has built an industry-leading aircraft leasing business with 637 aircraft, including 36 managed by Avolon.
The company has an additional 552 fleet commitments, 84% of which consist of Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. Avolon is focused on investing in modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, enhancing its offerings to 141 airlines across 62 countries.
“Avolon built a leading position in the global aircraft leasing industry. The scale of our business reflects the ambition of our team, multi-cycle experience, and our focus on maintaining a fleet of young, fuel-efficient aircraft.”
In addition to ordering brand new aircraft from manufacturers, the company also acquires young aircraft through sale and leaseback transactions. Avolon specialises in diligent record keeping, management of maintenance records and reserves, insurance certification, and regular dialogue with the lessee.
The largest aircraft types owned and managed by AerCap are Airbus A320/A320neo family, A330/A330neo, and Boeing 737 NG/MAX.
BBAM – Over 1,700 aircraft successfully remarked or sold
Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM) is another large aviation lessor, having more than $21 billion in aviation assets under management. BBAM has 560 aircraft under its asset management portfolio, serving over 100 customers worldwide. The unique aspect of its fleet is its considerable proportion of freighter jets, including 17 Airbus A321-200P2Fs, 27 Boeing 737-800BCFs, 2 767-300Fs, and a single 777-200F.
The Singapore-based private partnership organisation has been catalytic in passenger and cargo growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The forward-looking investments in new and fuel-efficient aircraft help its customers and partners in achieving their sustainability goals.
“BBAM has nearly tripled the share of new technology aircraft in our passenger fleet. The aircraft in our freighter fleet deliver fuel-efficient, low-emission, and low-noise solutions to the growing global air cargo industry.”
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) – Over 269 modern aircraft available on order through 2029
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has 553 aircraft in its portfolio, including 50 managed for its customers. Investing in fuel-efficient aircraft, ALC holds a promising orderbook of over 228 new aircraft, mostly comprising next-generation narrowbody aeroplanes.
“Our core strategy is helping our airline customers modernise their fleets through our fleet planning services and our portfolio of aircraft that are generally 20-25% more fuel-efficient and have a significantly smaller noise footprint than the aircraft they will
replace.”
Air Lease Corp serves more than 108 customers in 55 countries.
BOC Aviation – Managing over $25 billion of aviation assets
BOC Aviation is a top-tier global aircraft leasing company specialising in aviation asset management. The company owns a diverse inventory of 442 aircraft and 10 engines. BOC also manages an additional 17 aircraft for its customers worldwide. The company has fleet commitments for 343 aircraft comprising Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families. BOC takes pride in keeping its aircraft mobile – allowing worldwide redeployment.
The Singapore-based company focuses on purchasing new, fuel-efficient, in-demand aircraft directly from aircraft manufacturers. Competitive discounts received on bulk purchases allow the lessor to attract customers, particularly on long-term operating and finance leases.
With 88 airlines in 46 countries using BOC’s diversified fleet, the company enjoys a strong market share in commercial aviation asset management. Apart from new-generation narrowbodies, BOC also owns a considerable fleet of Boeing 777-300ER and 787 family aircraft.
Featured Image: Boeing
