Post by : Badri Ariffin

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd, a prominent player in aviation services globally, has concluded 2025 with key transactions and notable fleet expansion, showcasing its increasing stature in the aviation industry worldwide.

A highlight of the year was DAE Capital's significant acquisition of Nordic Aviation Capital for US$2.0 billion, a strategic move that enhanced DAE’s aircraft portfolio and solidified its standing as a leading global aircraft lessor.

In total, DAE Capital added 280 aircraft to its fleet in 2025, including 261 owned and 19 managed. Portfolio optimization was also a focus, with 112 aircraft sold, comprising 95 owned and 17 managed assets. The leasing segment thrived, witnessing 273 lease agreements, extensions, and amendments related to its fleet.

Key transactions further propelled DAE’s activities, including a long-term sale and leaseback deal with United Airlines involving 10 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Additionally, 10 Boeing 737-8 aircraft were leased long-term to AJet, alongside a successful US$610 million two-tranche ABS transaction for clients managing DAE assets.

DAE Engineering also had a productive year, completing over 1.8 million man hours across more than 320 aircraft checks, servicing 60 airline clients from over 30 nations. The division’s capabilities expanded significantly with the launch of a new five-bay hangar, enhancing overall capacity by 30%.

Financially, DAE strengthened its foundation by securing US$3.9 billion in debt financing, with an average maturity of 5.3 years. It broke into the sukuk market with a US$650 million five-year benchmark issuance and gained a Positive Outlook from KBRA, signaling strong confidence in its credit standing.

DAE's achievements in fleet expansion, robust capital market presence, and enhanced engineering capacities underline a year marked by effective execution and strategic growth in its core aviation operations.

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