Dividend Power Score
A single, comprehensive score designed to measure the true strength of a company’s dividend.
This score combines three essential pillars of dividend quality:
Consistency – Measures how reliable the dividend has been over time, focusing on payment history, stability, and the absence of cuts or suspensions.
Payability – Assesses the company’s financial ability to sustain its dividend, taking into account cash flow, earnings coverage, balance sheet strength, and overall financial health.
Growth – Evaluates the long-term growth of both the dividend and the company’s share price, highlighting businesses that consistently increase payouts while creating shareholder value.
Higher scores identify companies that have historically delivered dependable income alongside sustained dividend growth and long-term capital appreciation.
Company Overview
Air Lease Corporation is a global aircraft leasing company that purchases commercial jet aircraft directly from manufacturers and leases them to airlines worldwide. The company operates within the aircraft leasing and aviation finance industries, serving as a key intermediary between aircraft manufacturers and airline operators. Its primary business model focuses on long-term operating leases, with revenue generated mainly from monthly lease rentals and, to a lesser extent, aircraft sales.
Founded in 2010, Air Lease Corporation was established by Steven F. Udvar-Házy, a pioneer of the aircraft leasing industry. The company went public in 2011 and has since built one of the largest and youngest fleets in the global leasing market. Its strategic positioning emphasizes ordering new, fuel-efficient aircraft in large volumes, which provides cost advantages, strong manufacturer relationships, and high demand from airlines seeking modern fleets with lower operating costs.
Business Operations
Air Lease Corporation operates a single, integrated business focused on aircraft leasing, commonly referred to as its Aircraft Leasing segment. The company acquires aircraft primarily from The Boeing Company and Airbus SE, then leases them to airlines under long-term contracts that typically span several years. Revenue is driven by fixed lease payments, supplemented by gains from the sale of aircraft at or near the end of lease terms.
The company conducts operations globally, with lessees spanning full-service, low-cost, and regional airlines. Air Lease Corporation maintains a portfolio of owned aircraft and a pipeline of aircraft on order. It does not operate airlines itself, allowing it to remain asset-focused and insulated from airline operational risks. The company also maintains subsidiaries that support financing, asset management, and regional leasing activities, including Air Lease Ireland Limited.
Strategic Position & Investments
Air Lease Corporation’s strategy centers on disciplined capital allocation, fleet modernization, and long-term growth through direct manufacturer orders. The company regularly places large multiyear aircraft orders, enabling it to secure favorable pricing and early delivery slots, which are increasingly valuable amid global aircraft supply constraints. It also actively manages its portfolio by selling aircraft to recycle capital and maintain a young average fleet age.
The company has made targeted investments in emerging aviation markets and next-generation aircraft technologies, including high-efficiency narrowbody and widebody jets. While Air Lease Corporation does not operate a venture-style investment arm, it maintains strategic relationships with manufacturers, financiers, and airline customers that support its long-term growth objectives. Its focus remains on organic expansion rather than large-scale acquisitions.
Geographic Footprint
Air Lease Corporation is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and operates globally across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Its customer base includes airlines in more than 60 countries, reflecting broad geographic diversification and limited exposure to any single market.
The company maintains regional offices in key aviation hubs, including Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, and London, which support customer relationships and asset management activities. This global footprint enables Air Lease Corporation to respond to regional demand trends and regulatory environments while maintaining centralized financial and risk management.
Leadership & Governance
Air Lease Corporation’s leadership team is composed of executives with extensive experience in aviation leasing, finance, and capital markets. The company emphasizes disciplined risk management, long-term planning, and maintaining strong relationships with manufacturers and airline customers. Its governance framework aligns management incentives with shareholder value creation and balance sheet strength.
Key executives include:
- John L. Plueger – President and Chief Executive Officer
- Steven F. Udvar-Házy – Executive Chairman
- Gregory B. Willis – Chief Financial Officer
- Alex A. Khatibi – Senior Vice President, Marketing
- Grant A. Levy – Senior Vice President, Treasurer