The Leasing Top 50 2026

The single most authoritative review of the $400bn aircraft leasing industry

Independently analysed, benchmarked and ranked by Ishka Airfinance.

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Your leasing intelligence source is back – expanded for 2026

Our annual Leasing Top 50 returns, analysing the world’s leading aircraft lessors to deliver an independent view of financial performance, fleet concentrations, portfolio risk customer base and market outlook.

Designed for decision-makers, investors and strategists who need to raise funds, optimise risk-return from investments in the aviation asset class and allocate capital with confidence.

Leasing Top 50 2026 screen shots.

This year’s edition reveals

Cheap capital is winning, the gap between tier one and tier two lessors is widening, consolidation is accelerating and there’s no shortage of new entrants, many of them former C-suite executives striking out on their own.

Learn more with access to this essential interactive online report.

Leasing Top 50 2026 screen shots.

Key themes explored

Scale and ROE

Is the jury still out on the mooted correlation between scale and return on equity?

Enhancing ROE

What contribution do management fees, gains on sale and other income make to the ROE of major lessors?

Performance gaps

Why are some major lessors’ returns lagging the market leaders by such wide margins? If being a tier-two lessor does not generate attractive returns, what strategies are being pursued by those that do?

Economic transfer

What is the impact of the economic transfer from airlines to lessors through higher rentals, and what are the consequences for operator risk, defaults and restructurings?

New market entrants

How are the start-up lessors launched over the last five years performing? Have they had no choice but to build portfolios during the market peak, and what is their long-term outlook?

Ultimate ownership

Who are the real owners of the world’s leased fleet? This analysis traces ownership through to the nationalities of ultimate owners and controlling shareholders.

What's inside?

Leasing Top 50 2026 screen shots.
12,357Leased commercial aircraft worldwide
45%Owned by Top 10 lessors
0-18%Lessor ROE range
4.0%Lowest average debt cost
485Largest lessor order backlog

Independently analysed and reviewed using Ishka Airfinance’s intelligence data.

The aircraft leasing market mapped. One report. Every angle you need.

Lessors

Benchmark your position

Benchmark your position against the top 50 global lessors. Gain clarity on competitor debt strategies and fleet portfolios to defend your market share and spot consolidation opportunities, with a holistic view of financial performance, portfolio risk, customer base and average cost of debt across your peer group.

Commercial & Investment Banks

Optimise your aviation portfolio

Assess portfolio risk against independent measures of fleet concentration and financial health for the world’s top 50 lessors, supporting sound, risk-adjusted investment decisions and strategy for cross-over secured and unsecured debt candidates.

Investors & Private Equity

Identify opportunity and risk

Use standardised data and metrics on fleet concentration, cost of debt and financial health to assess counterparties, identify lessors with the strongest positions and spot potential consolidation opportunities before the market reprices.

Airlines

Strengthen your fleet strategy

Optimise fleet sourcing, acquisition and management strategy by identifying lessors with the strongest order books and healthiest portfolios, helping you secure your next aircraft on the best possible terms.

Law Firms, Consultancies & OEMs

Understand the market

Assess how clients, partners and other market participants are performing through independent data on the world’s leading lessors, their fleets and financial health.

New to aviation or already invested?

Build investment conviction

Access transparent fleet and financial metrics and participant data to understand the market, evaluate opportunities and optimise your portfolio. The fastest way to build conviction before you deploy capital.

Get the Leasing Top 50 2026

Every metric that matters. One interactive report. Buy now and get instant access.

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Leasing Top 50 2026 screen shots.