Aviation Capital Group (ACG) has placed the largest aircraft order in its history. The US lessor said on 16 October 2026 that it has finalised a deal with Airbus for 75 A320neo Family aircraft, adding a fresh block of new-technology narrowbodies to an order book that will now run into the mid-2030s.
The order comes a week after rival lessor Avolon announced firm orders for 250 Boeing and Airbus jets, another sign that aircraft leasing companies are locking in production slots years ahead as airlines struggle to get new aircraft.
The order in numbers
- Aircraft: 75 Airbus A320neo Family jets
- Deliveries: scheduled between 2032 and 2035
- Flexibility: conversion rights to switch between variants within the A320neo Family
- Current fleet: 118 A320neo Family aircraft in ACG's fleet as of 30 June 2026
- Outstanding orders: the new deal brings ACG's outstanding A320neo Family orders to 115 aircraft
ACG did not disclose an engine selection, FlightGlobal reported. The A320neo Family is offered with CFM LEAP-1A and Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, so that decision can come later in the process.
What ACG and Airbus said
"ACG's portfolio strategy is focused on new-technology narrowbody aircraft that are most in-demand with airlines globally," said Thomas Baker, ACG's chief executive officer and president. "Placing the largest order in our nearly 40-year history is a statement of confidence in the long-term future of air travel and in ACG's important role as a conduit between airlines, aircraft and capital."
Rob Downes, ACG's chief OEM officer, said the A320neo Family "remains one of the most sought-after aircraft families among our airline customers, supporting both their replacement and growth requirements". He added that the order extends the company's pipeline into the mid-2030s and positions it for further growth.
For Airbus, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president of sales for the commercial aircraft business, said the deal reinforces a partnership that dates back to 2007, when ACG placed its first order with the European manufacturer.
Why lessors are ordering now
Lessors buy aircraft directly from manufacturers and then lease them to airlines, which lets carriers add capacity without committing their own capital to large orders. With Airbus and Boeing production slots for popular narrowbodies booked up for years, lessors that hold early delivery positions are in a strong position to place aircraft with airlines.
The conversion rights in ACG's deal matter here. By 2032, airline demand could lean even more towards the larger A321neo, or towards the standard A320neo, and the flexibility to switch variants lets ACG match its deliveries to what customers want at the time.
The ACG announcement follows Avolon's 9 October update, in which the Dublin-based lessor ordered 140 Boeing 737 MAX and 110 Airbus aircraft, including 75 A320neo Family jets and 35 A330neo Family aircraft. Together, the two deals add 150 A320neo Family aircraft to Airbus's backlog in little more than a week.
About ACG
Founded in 1989 and based in Newport Beach, California, Aviation Capital Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's Tokyo Century Corporation. It reported about 500 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of 30 June 2026, leased to roughly 85 airlines in about 50 countries.
According to Airbus, the A320neo Family delivers up to 20% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat than the previous generation, with a 50% reduction in noise. The A320neo can carry up to 194 passengers with a range of up to 3,400 nautical miles, while the larger A321neo seats up to 244 and flies up to 4,000 nautical miles.
Sources: Aviation Capital Group via PR Newswire, FlightGlobal, aero.de, Airbus, Avolon.
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