Sumitomo, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo-managed funds and Brookfield completed the previously announced acquisition of Air Lease and renamed the business Sumisho Air Lease.
This transaction is aimed at improving the financial position of the business with long-term support and aviation expertise from co-investors Sumitomo, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield.
As part of the overall transaction, Air Lease’s orderbook has now transferred to SMBC Aviation Capital, bringing SMBC Aviation Capital’s orderbook with Airbus and Boeing to c. 420 aircraft.
SMBC Aviation Capital will be the servicer to the majority of Sumisho Air Lease’s portfolio of aircraft, bringing SMBC Aviation Capital’s owned, serviced and committed aircraft to over 1,700 across over 170 airline customers.
Takao Kusaka, group CEO, transportation and construction systems group of Sumitomo, said, “We are delighted to announce the completion of the acquisition of Air Lease Corporation together with our co-investors SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield. Reaching this important milestone is a testament to the strong alignment among the investor group and our shared long term vision for the business. As a core participant in the aviation industry ecosystem, Sumisho Air Lease is highly complementary to our strategic direction and reinforces the Sumitomo Corporation Group’s commitment to the commercial aviation sector. This transaction further enhances the scale, quality and resilience of our aviation platform. Looking ahead, we are confident that close collaboration between Sumisho Air Lease and the Sumitomo Corporation Group will unlock meaningful synergies and support the sustainable growth of our aviation portfolio.”
Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, said, “This transaction creates one of the most competitive, well capitalized, and customer focused leasing platforms in the global aircraft leasing market. With Sumisho Air Lease’s modern, high-quality fleet, supported by SMBC Aviation Capital’s industry-leading capabilities, we are ideally positioned to transform the industry with innovative solutions for our airline partners and sustainable returns for investors. In a supply constrained environment, SMBC Aviation Capital’s enhanced scale, financial strength and deep market insight will allow us to provide the new technology aircraft and the flexibility our customers need to achieve their growth ambitions. Backed by the long-term commitment and resources of our shareholders including our co-investor, Sumitomo Corporation, we look forward to unlocking new opportunities and driving innovation.”
Jamshid Ehsani, partner of Apollo, said, “The completion of this transaction establishes a high-quality aviation platform with strong industry sponsorship from our partners, Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital. Sumisho Air Lease’s new generation, in-demand fleet supported by Apollo’s flexible, long-term capital, positions the business to deliver innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of airline customers. This transaction also highlights Apollo’s established track record in aviation, led by our industry experts at Perseus Aviation, as well as our ability to provide scaled and creative capital solutions to support leading businesses in essential sectors of the global economy.”
Ryan Schwartz, managing director of Brookfield, said, “The closing of this transaction reflects Brookfield’s ability to deploy large-scale, flexible capital to support strategic partners in complex markets. Leveraging our credit expertise alongside Castlelake’s deep aviation experience, we delivered a tailored solution for Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital that advances their strategic objectives and positions the business for long-term success.”
Noriyuki Hiruta, CEO of Sumisho Air Lease, said, “Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Sumisho Air Lease. As an established aircraft lessor with a modern, fuel efficient fleet and a strong investment grade profile, we are ideally placed to meet the evolving needs of airlines and investors in a rapidly changing market. With the backing of Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield, we have the scale, financial strength and industry expertise to deliver long term value while building trusted partnerships with our customers around the world.”
The transaction was originally announced in September 2025, with Sumitomo, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield agreeing to acquire Air Lease for total valuation of approximately $7.4 billion, or approximately $28.2 billion including debt obligations to be assumed or refinanced net of cash.
