Aircraft Engine Lease Finance Inc. (AELF) has acquired two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, both manufactured in 2015, from ICBC Aviation Leasing (ICBC). The aircraft are currently on lease to Aerolíneas Argentinas, marking AELF’s first assets placed with the Argentine flag carrier.
The transaction represents AELF’s first completed deal with ICBC and reflects the complementary nature of the two companies’ business models. AELF focuses on mid-life aircraft, aligning well with the objectives of large leasing platforms and Chinese counterparties seeking to trade, recycle or phase out assets at a particular stage of their lifecycle.
The acquisition supports AELF’s ongoing expansion of a diversified portfolio of aircraft on lease to airlines worldwide. By adding two in-demand narrow-body aircraft with established operators, AELF continues to reinforce the resilience and flexibility of its leasing platform.
Headquartered in the United States, AELF is an established commercial aircraft lessor with more than a decade of operating experience. The company provides tailored and flexible capital solutions to airlines, lessors, banks and non-traditional aircraft owners. Its activities span the acquisition of aircraft and engines on long-term lease, as well as the purchase of dormant or short-term leased assets, which it returns to service through targeted maintenance and remarketing programmes.
