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FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Sumitomo, SMBC, Apollo and Brookfield complete $28.2bn acquisition of Air Lease; Sumisho Air Lease formed

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

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

Aviation Week

Aura Aero raises €340M (incl. €50M Series B) to scale production; ERA 19‑seat hybrid prototype first flight slips to late 2027

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

FlightGlobal

FAA certifies Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF conversion; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared

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

flightlineweekly.com

Bell 505 sets Latin America sales record, cements Southern Cone leadership

2026-04-08T06:01:54.197075-07:00

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Air Data News

India's MTA race pivots as A400M drops from contention; IAF seeks 60 An‑32 replacements India's Medium Transport Aircraft competition has entered a decisive phase after local reports say the Airbus A400M is increasingly seen as unsuitable — too large and costly — for the requirement. The IAF, following an Acceptance of Necessity in March, is seeking 60 aircraft to replace more than 100 An‑32 transports.

2026-04-08T11:59:05.210444-07:00

India's MTA race pivots as A400M drops from contention; IAF seeks 60 An‑32 replacements

Aviation Week

Aura Aero raises €340M (incl. €50M Series B) to scale production; ERA 19‑seat hybrid prototype first flight slips to late 2027 Toulouse‑based Aura Aero has secured €340 million in new financing — including a €50 million Series B — to fund industrial scale‑up in France and the U.S., new production capacity and complementary drone programmes. The company now targets the 19‑seat hybrid‑electric ERA prototype's first flight for late 2027.

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

Aura Aero raises €340M (incl. €50M Series B) to scale production; ERA 19‑seat hybrid prototype first flight slips to late 2027

FlightGlobal

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FAA certifies Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF conversion; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared Mammoth Freighters has received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for its 777-200LRMF passenger-to-freighter conversion, clearing the type for commercial service and enabling imminent deliveries to launch customer Qatar Airways Cargo. The certification underpins Mammoth’s planned production ramp and stated ambitions to expand conversion operations internationally, including China.

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

FAA certifies Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF conversion; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared

FlightGlobal

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Sumitomo, SMBC, Apollo and Brookfield complete $28.2bn acquisition of Air Lease; Sumisho Air Lease formed Sumitomo, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield have completed a $28.2 billion acquisition of Air Lease Corporation, creating Sumisho Air Lease Corporation with a combined fleet of more than 1,700 aircraft. SMBC will service the majority of the portfolio and secured a $2 billion syndicated facility to support fleet funding.

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

Sumitomo, SMBC, Apollo and Brookfield complete $28.2bn acquisition of Air Lease; Sumisho Air Lease formed

flightlineweekly.com

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Bell 505 sets Latin America sales record, cements Southern Cone leadership At FIDAE 2026 in Santiago, Bell Textron said the Bell 505 recorded its highest number of orders in Latin America during 2025, becoming the product of choice across the Southern Cone. The milestone highlights rising regional demand for a low‑operating‑cost, single‑engine light helicopter across utility, tourism and private missions.

2026-04-08T06:01:54.197075-07:00

Bell 505 sets Latin America sales record, cements Southern Cone leadership

FlightGlobal

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BOC Aviation signs purchase-and-leaseback for three A321XLRs with SKY Airline BOC Aviation has signed a purchase-and-leaseback for three Airbus A321XLRs with Chilean low‑cost carrier SKY Airline, the first A321XLRs added to the lessor’s portfolio. The deal supplies SKY with extra‑long‑range narrowbody capacity to expand medium‑to‑long‑haul routes while preserving balance‑sheet flexibility.

2026-04-08T02:37:06.059379-07:00

BOC Aviation signs purchase-and-leaseback for three A321XLRs with SKY Airline

FlightGlobal

airBaltic takes delivery of fourth A220-300 in 2026 (YL‑BTF), reinforcing single‑type A220 fleet Latvia's airBaltic received its fourth Airbus A220‑300 of 2026, registration YL‑BTF, in Riga, further consolidating its single‑type A220 fleet. The deliveries support a planned expansion to about 56 aircraft in 2026 as the carrier seeks short‑term funding—reported as a loan up to €30m—to stabilise finances.

2026-04-08T02:16:56.896856-07:00

airBaltic takes delivery of fourth A220-300 in 2026 (YL‑BTF), reinforcing single‑type A220 fleet

AeroTime

Belgium becomes first military customer for Textron Cessna C408 SkyCourier Belgium has signed a contract with Textron Aviation for five Cessna C408 SkyCourier twin‑turboprop transport aircraft, making the country the launch customer for the type in military service. The order is the SkyCourier's first defence sale and officially brings the model into the global military market.

2026-04-08T01:06:21.755397-07:00

Belgium becomes first military customer for Textron Cessna C408 SkyCourier

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Sumitomo, SMBC, Apollo and Brookfield complete $28.2bn acquisition of Air Lease; Sumisho Air Lease formed

Aura Aero raises €340M (incl. €50M Series B) to scale production; ERA 19‑seat hybrid prototype first flight slips to late 2027

FAA certifies Mammoth Freighters' 777-200LRMF conversion; deliveries to Qatar Airways Cargo cleared

Bell 505 sets Latin America sales record, cements Southern Cone leadership

News Timeline