Fitch: Aircraft lessors increasingly tap capital markets

Fitch Ratings notes that an uptick in unsecured bond issuance by aircraft lessors could signal that the capital markets are once again becoming a viable financing alternative for the sector. Aircraft leasing companies, including International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) and Air Lease Corp., recently tapped the unsecured market with sizable offerings, underscoring significant investor demand. These companies are seeing improved execution in the unsecured bond market at a time of increased uncertainty within the banking sector, with European lenders particularly stressed. Fitch views lessors’ ability to access unsecured debt positively, as unsecured funding provides leasing companies with increased financial and