DAE Capital to Acquire Macquarie Airfinance in Aircraft Leasing Deal

Dubai-based aircraft lessor DAE Capital is nearing a deal to acquire control of Macquarie AirFinance, two industry sources confirmed on Friday, as competition intensifies for aircraft leasing assets.

The potential acquisition comes as airlines worldwide struggle to secure sufficient aircraft to meet surging demand, with Boeing and Airbus facing production constraints. This supply-demand imbalance has created a favorable market for lessors, allowing them to realize premium prices on asset sales, according to industry analysts.

DAE Capital competed with Saudi’s AviLease and Qatar’s Lesha Bank for Macquarie’s aircraft leasing assets, highlighting the strong interest in the sector from Middle Eastern investors. Neither DAE Capital nor Macquarie AirFinance immediately responded to requests for comment.

This move builds on DAE Capital’s previous expansion in the aircraft leasing market. In 2017, the company acquired Dublin-based AWAS, becoming the world’s tenth-largest aircraft lessor at the time. The acquisition of Macquarie AirFinance would further consolidate DAE Capital’s position in the industry.

Reuters reported in January that DAE Capital was among the final bidders for Macquarie’s aircraft leasing assets. The deal’s progression suggests a continued trend of consolidation within the aircraft leasing industry, driven by the current market dynamics.