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FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Sumitomo, SMBC, Apollo and Brookfield complete $28.2bn buyout of Air Lease, forming Sumisho Air Lease

Sumitomo, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield completed a $28.2 billion acquisition of Air Lease Corporation and formed Sumisho Air Lease to manage a fleet of more than 1,700 aircraft. SMBC will service the majority of the portfolio and arranged a $2 billion syndicated facility to support fleet funding.

2026-04-08T09:22:09.066032-07:00

Reuters

DAE and Blackstone launch 'Equator' to deploy $1.6bn/year in aircraft leasing

2026-04-09T04:37:08.763361-07:00

FlightGlobal

FAA approves Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF P2F STC; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared

2026-04-08T10:56:03.924327-07:00

Aviation Week

Aura Aero raises €340m to accelerate 19‑seat hybrid ERA, scale production and fund twin factories in France and Florida

2026-04-08T11:32:37.479703-07:00

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Flybondi wet‑leases a Boeing 737 as it moves to restore fleet Argentina’s low‑cost carrier Flybondi has wet‑leased a Boeing 737 as it seeks to restore its fleet and rebuild capacity. The move is aimed at returning aircraft to service and stabilising operations while the carrier works through its fleet challenges.

2026-04-09T11:17:04.405805-07:00

Flybondi wet‑leases a Boeing 737 as it moves to restore fleet

Reuters

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UK court orders SpiceJet to pay ~$8m to engine lessor over unpaid rent and maintenance A UK court has ordered SpiceJet to pay about $8 million to an engine lessor for unpaid rent and maintenance on three engines after the carrier failed to contest claims. The judgment underscores the strength of English courts for lessors and imposes a clear legal obligation on the cash‑strapped airline.

2026-04-09T06:12:25.205731-07:00

UK court orders SpiceJet to pay ~$8m to engine lessor over unpaid rent and maintenance

Reuters

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DAE and Blackstone launch 'Equator' to deploy $1.6bn/year in aircraft leasing Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and Blackstone Credit & Insurance have launched "Equator", a dedicated aircraft‑leasing investment platform that will deploy roughly $1.6 billion per year. Under the programme DAE will acquire aircraft — including a reported €1.4bn purchase — using Blackstone‑backed flexible credit capital to place with global airlines.

2026-04-09T04:37:08.763361-07:00

DAE and Blackstone launch 'Equator' to deploy $1.6bn/year in aircraft leasing

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Air Sénégal returns its last Airbus A330-900neo Air Sénégal has returned its last Airbus A330-900neo, completing its exit from the A330-900neo type. The move removes the neo variant from the airline's fleet and ends its A330-900neo operations as it reshapes long‑haul/widebody capacity.

2026-04-09T04:31:32.260756-07:00

Air Sénégal returns its last Airbus A330-900neo

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Estonia rejects investment in airBaltic as carrier seeks Latvian state loan amid fuel-cost shock Estonian politicians from both governing and opposition parties have rejected investing in neighbouring Latvia’s airBaltic, leaving the carrier’s funding uncertain. airBaltic has formally asked the Latvian state for a loan to cover an explosion in jet‑fuel costs driven by Middle East war‑related market tensions.

2026-04-09T02:21:42.525507-07:00

Estonia rejects investment in airBaltic as carrier seeks Latvian state loan amid fuel-cost shock

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Croatia Airlines to wet-lease ATR aircraft in early 2Q26 Croatia Airlines plans to wet-lease ATR turboprops in early second-quarter 2026, the carrier said. The short-term wet-lease will add regional capacity while the airline manages near-term fleet availability; the company did not disclose aircraft numbers, lessor identity or deployment details.

2026-04-09T01:00:38.882631-07:00

Croatia Airlines to wet-lease ATR aircraft in early 2Q26

Aviation Week

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Aura Aero raises €340m to accelerate 19‑seat hybrid ERA, scale production and fund twin factories in France and Florida Aura Aero closed a fresh €50m tranche that brings total funding to €340m to advance its 19‑seat hybrid‑electric ERA, ramp Integral trainer production, scale drone programmes, and back twin factory build‑outs in Toulouse and Florida while unlocking prior French/European and state aid.

2026-04-08T11:32:37.479703-07:00

Aura Aero raises €340m to accelerate 19‑seat hybrid ERA, scale production and fund twin factories in France and Florida

FlightGlobal

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FAA approves Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF P2F STC; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared Mammoth Freighters has received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for its Boeing 777-200LRMF passenger‑to‑freighter conversion, clearing the type for commercial service and enabling deliveries to launch customer Qatar Airways Cargo. The US converter says it will accelerate production and is pursuing a China partner for global expansion.

2026-04-08T10:56:03.924327-07:00

FAA approves Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF P2F STC; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared

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Aircraft Finance & Leasing News

Sumitomo, SMBC, Apollo and Brookfield complete $28.2bn buyout of Air Lease, forming Sumisho Air Lease

DAE and Blackstone launch 'Equator' to deploy $1.6bn/year in aircraft leasing

FAA approves Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF P2F STC; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared

Aura Aero raises €340m to accelerate 19‑seat hybrid ERA, scale production and fund twin factories in France and Florida

News Timeline