6 lessors that entered the narrowbody freighter space in 2022

Several companies entered the freighter leasing market in 2022 by either placing conversion orders for passenger aircraft or acquiring planes already in freighter configuration.

This year, Cargo Facts reported on at least six lessors committing assets to the narrowbody sector for the first time, as each company seeks to gain market share in a surging airfreight industry.

These new and established lessors accounted for at least twenty-nine Freighter Aircraft Transactions that Cargo Facts recorded in 2022.

1. Aventus Air Leasing

Doral, Fla.-based Aventus Air Leasing, a subsidiary of Xtreme Holdings Group — also the parent company of Xtreme Aviation and Aero Acquisitions — officially entered the freighter market this summer. Aventus has since delivered the 1991-vintage unit 25124, which previously flew for ASL Airlines France, to Colombia-based Aerosucre and expects to complete its agreement with the carrier for seven 737 Classic freighters by 2023.

2. China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings

With more than 150 passenger aircraft in its portfolio, China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) made the decision to enter the freighter market this year and has placed an order for its first 737-800SF freighter conversion with Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI).

CALC inducted for conversion the 2002-vintage unit 30516 (ex-Air China) in July at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (STAECO) facility in Jinan (TNA) and had expected to take redelivery of the aircraft in October.

3. Crestone Air Partners

Crestone Air Partners is a new company entering the freighter market segment that will strategize its growth one transaction at a time.

The lessor is initially focusing on the 737 Classic and recently added its first two 737-400SFs to its portfolio but will also consider other types like 757 and 767 freighters on a case-by-case scenario, taking into account the economic outlook and demand for air cargo as a whole to determine how many freighter types it will add to its inventory.

4. Fuyo General Lease

Japan-based Fuyo Lease Group subsidiary Fuyo General Lease quietly made its entry into the air cargo sector this year after agreeing to lease three A321-200P2F conversions to Yamato Transport. The aircraft will be operated by Japan Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary Spring Japan.

Two of the three IAE-powered A321-200 feedstock aircraft (4173 and 4406, both ex-Qatar Airways) have already been delivered to the lessor.

5. Jackson Square Aviation

After building a portfolio of more than 200 passenger aircraft with an average age of five years and worth over $10 billion, Jackson Square Aviation (JSA) became the latest lessor to enter the freighter conversion space this year.

The San Francisco-based lessor announced in October it had signed a conversion order with AEI for six 737-800SFs, with the first redelivery expected to begin in 2024 and the remaining conversions to be completed by 2026.

6. Nexus Aviation Ventures

Two companies, AMTRA Aero and Nehalem Aviation, both managed by executives with extensive backgrounds in finance and aviation, collaborated to form Nexus Aviation Ventures.

Nexus recently announced it will enter the freighter-leasing market by building up its portfolio with A321PCFs and has signed a purchase agreement for its first A321-200, which will be converted by 321 Precision Conversions and is expected to be inducted for conversion in Q2 2023.

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