AIR Lease CORP: insider trades · United States · SEC (Form 4)

About AIR Lease CORP

Air Lease Corp. (NYSE: AL) is a global commercial aircraft leasing company headquartered in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. Founded in 2010 by aviation leasing veteran Steven F. Udvar-Házy, the company was built to capitalize on airline demand for newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft and to provide carriers with flexible fleet access without the capital burden of outright ownership. Over time, Air Lease has become one of the best-known independent lessors in the industry, with a business model centered on long-term lease contracts, disciplined asset selection, and close relationships with airline customers worldwide. The company’s core activity is purchasing new commercial aircraft from Airbus and Boeing and leasing them to airlines across a broad international customer base. Air Lease also engages in aircraft trading and portfolio management, including the sale of aircraft to third parties when doing so improves fleet efficiency or unlocks value. Its product mix is therefore not a consumer-facing offering, but an asset-heavy aviation finance platform. The strategic appeal lies in its focus on modern aircraft types that are in high demand with operators seeking lower fuel burn, improved operating economics, and fleet renewal. In a competitive leasing market, that emphasis on new technology aircraft and direct manufacturer orderbook access is a key differentiator. Air Lease operates globally, serving customers across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. That broad footprint provides diversification by geography and airline credit profile. The company has historically positioned itself as a long-duration capital allocator rather than a short-cycle trader, with leases designed to generate recurring cash flows and visibility over future rentals. For investors, the business combines industrial exposure to aircraft demand with financial exposure to lease spreads, residual values, interest rates, and airline credit trends. Recent developments are material. In 2025, Air Lease continued to report strong aircraft delivery activity, sales gains, and insurance recoveries related to its former Russian fleet. The company also announced a definitive all-cash merger agreement on September 1, 2025 with a consortium consisting of Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo-managed funds, and Brookfield, and stockholders later approved the transaction in December 2025. That pending transaction is the most important corporate event in the current investment case and may ultimately reshape the company’s standalone profile. From an equity perspective, Air Lease remains a leading listed aviation lessor on the NYSE, with a business model linked to global air traffic, aircraft supply constraints, and the financing needs of airlines worldwide.