Aera Aviation Capital has arranged the acquisition of two commercial aircraft portfolios comprising eight narrowbody aircraft, marking the company’s first aviation transaction. The deals, with a combined value exceeding 300 million dollars (257 million euros), establish its aircraft investment and asset management activities.

Aera Aviation Capital is a newly launched aircraft investment and asset management company. Macquarie Asset Management is part of Macquarie Group, headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ticker: MQG). For the year ended 31 March 2026, the group reported net profit of 4.85 billion Australian dollars (2.99 billion euros), and Macquarie Asset Management grew its assets under management to 959.1 billion Australian dollars (592 billion euros).

MUFG Bank is part of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2026, the group reported a record profit attributable to owners of 2.43 trillion yen (13.3 billion euros).

The portfolios consist predominantly of newer-generation Airbus A320neo-family and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on lease to a diversified group of mainline and low-cost airlines. The transactions were secondary-market acquisitions.

The purchases were funded with equity from a fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management and debt financing provided by MUFG Bank. Aera originated and arranged the transactions and will manage the eight aircraft following completion, and the deals mark the first collaboration between Aera and Macquarie Asset Management.

“We are pleased to announce AERA’s first aviation transaction,” said Kieran Corr, chief executive of Aera Aviation Capital. He described Macquarie Asset Management as an investor with a global outlook and a long-term commitment to the aviation sector.

Aera said the transaction gives it a platform for further growth in the aviation leasing market. Airbus held a backlog of 9,222 commercial aircraft at the end of June, with its narrowbody family among the types in the portfolios.

For the sector, the deals show a new aircraft investment platform entering the leasing market through portfolios of newer-generation narrowbody aircraft.

Source: Aviator / AviTrader / Macquarie