Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) signed agreements with multiple counterparties to acquire 17 aircraft for approximately $1bn, the company said on March 14, 2025.
“Consistent with our commitment to improve the next generation content of our fleet and reduce the fleet average age, we are delighted to add these modern, fuel-efficient, next-generation technology assets to our portfolio,” said DAE CEO Firoz Tarapore.
Upon completion, these aircraft are expected to reduce DAE's weighted average passenger fleet age to 6.9 years and increase DAE's weighted average passenger fleet lease term remaining to 6.6 years. Additionally, on completion, DAE's pro-forma fleet composition is expected to be 46% Airbus aircraft, 49% Boeing aircraft, and 5% ATR 72-600.
“This transaction also allows us to further deepen our relationship with our global base of airline customers, and we welcome three airline customers back to DAE,” Tarapore added.
The portfolio is comprised of 100% next generation aircraft. DAE said the portfolio is 89% narrowbodies. Airbus manufactured aircraft make up 80% of the portfolio and the remaining are manufactured by Boeing. These 17 aircraft are on lease to 11 airlines in 10 countries.
The company said it is continuing to source “attractive assets in the secondary market” amid the ongoing new aircraft delivery delays to meet its growth and portfolio management targets.