Airlines are buying more and more older aircraft from lessors instead of just extending the lease contracts for a few more months or a year. AerCap is seeing this trend emerge as airlines have to wait longer for newly-built aircraft to be delivered. It is reflected in the number of sold aircraft in Q1, with AerCap selling 32 of them. AerCap: airlines are in for buying older aircraft.
“We are seeing more frequent requests from airlines to purchase older aircraft and engines to ensure that they have the capacity to meet the long-term demand they see for air travel,” said CEO Aengus Kelly during the earnings call on May 2. “This supports our view that airlines simply do not believe the production rates announced by the OEMs and they are planning accordingly.”
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
