Global Aircraft ACMI Leasing or Wet-Leasing Market by Type (Short-Term Lease, Long-Term Lease), by Aircraft Type (Narrow Body Aircraft, Wide Body Aircraft, Regional Aircraft), by Application (Passenger Transportation, Air Freight Transportation), by End-User (Full-Service Carriers, Low-Cost Carriers, Cargo-Carriers), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America) Forecast till 2035
Industry Overview
Growing at a CAGR of 8.4% (2024-2035), the global Aircraft ACMI Leasing Market is forecasted to hit USD 13,244.8 million by 2035. ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) leasing, commonly called wet-leasing, is a flexible solution where one airline supplies a fully operational aircraft to another carrier. The lessee is responsible only for fuel, airport fees, and route planning, while the lessor handles the technical and operational aspects. This arrangement is especially valuable for airlines looking to manage short-term capacity, cover fleet shortages, or enter new markets with minimal risk.
Rising global air travel demand is the most influential force shaping the Aircraft ACMI Leasing market. Airlines worldwide are grappling with the need to accommodate increasing passenger traffic, driven by higher GDP per capita, affordable fares, and rapidly improving infrastructure in emerging economies. While developed markets maintain steady growth, regions like Asia and Latin America experience explosive expansion. ACMI leasing provides carriers with the agility to balance capacity, swiftly meet seasonal or regional fluctuations, and reduce long-term capital risks.
Major Company Development
It was remarkable for ACC Aviation to achieve two kinds of important things that show how the company could improve its strategy. In September 2023, it partnered with USC GmbH, a German airline, to provide ACMI support to Madagascar Airlines. The venture marking USC GmbH's first commercial trip and its first ACMI assignment also signifies how much ACC is enabling global carriers to connect. Conversely, in February 2019, YFM-backed ACC Aviation had taken over Aerotask, a Dubai-based consultancy, to accelerate its development in the Asian, African, and U.S. markets. With this acquisition, ACC not only extends its range in the fields of ACMI leasing, aircraft charter, and aftermarket services but also adds asset management and advisory to the company's forte, thus furthering its global aviation partner reputation.
Key Players
Major players in the global aircraft ACMI leasing or wet leasing market are Air Lease Corporation, Avolon, AerCap, Atlas Air, BOC Aviation, CityJet, Chapman Freeborn Airchartering, ACC Aviation, Delta World Charter, Avia Solutions Group, Avico, Falko Regional Aircraft, ICBC Leasing, Titan Airways, and Zela Aviation.
Report Attribute Details
Market Size 2035 USD 13,244.8 Million
CAGR (2025-2035) 8.4%
Base Year 2024
Market Forecast Period 2025-2035
Historical Data 2019-2024
Industry Segmentations
By Type: Short-Term Lease - 8.5%, Long-Term Lease - 8.2%.
By Aircraft Type: Narrow Body Aircraft - 8.5%, Wide Body Aircraft - 8.3%.
By Application: Passenger Transportation - 8.6%, Air Freight Transportation - 8.1%.
By End-User: Full-Service Carriers - 8.3%, Low-Cost Carriers - 8.6%.
Regional Analysis
The success of the ACMI leasing industry in North America is largely due to the high degree of operational flexibility that characterizes the leasing strategies of US and Canadian airlines. Seasonal surges during winter holidays and summer vacations are efficiently handled through short-term wet leases. The North American market is led by the U.S. at USD 1,103.0 million, while Canada adds significant value with USD 148.8 million.
Europe is a global ACMI leasing center that has financial and leasing downtowns in Ireland, the UK, and Malta. Both full-service carriers and ultra-low-cost airlines use ACMI leases to get a hold of variable passenger traffic, especially during the summer peak. In Europe, the UK holds the highest share at USD 247.5 million, with Germany and France following at USD 213.9 million and USD 185.2 million.
The need for ACMI leasing in Asia-Pacific has been increasing and is still growing along with the development of low-cost carriers. IndiGo and AirAsia use leases to take advantage of the rising domestic and regional demand, whereas Japan and China are extending their capacity in the area of leisure and business travel. Asia-Pacific growth is fueled by China at USD 696.1 million, supported by notable contributions from India (USD 126.2 million) and Japan (USD 101.8 million).
The Middle East remains a strong ACMI market, balancing demand from both global giants and low-cost regional players. Emirates and Qatar Airways leverage leasing for strategic seasonal flexibility, while Flydubai and Air Arabia use it to scale efficiently. Africa's fragmented aviation sector depends on leasing to overcome limited capital access and regulatory constraints.
South America's ACMI leasing market is shaped by economic cycles and unstable profitability in aviation. Airlines in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina often choose ACMI leasing to expand routes without major financial risks.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2 MARKET INTRODUCTION
2.1 DEFINITION
2.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
2.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
2.4 MARKET STRUCTURE
3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 OVERVIEW
3.2 DATA FLOW
3.2.1 DATA MINING PROCESS
3.3 PURCHASED DATABASE:
3.4 SECONDARY SOURCES:
3.4.1 SECONDARY RESEARCH DATA FLOW:
3.5 PRIMARY RESEARCH:
3.5.1 PRIMARY RESEARCH DATA FLOW:
3.5.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH: NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED
3.5.3 PRIMARY RESEARCH: REGIONAL COVERAGE
3.6 APPROACHES FOR MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION:
3.6.1 REVENUE ANALYSIS APPROACH
3.7 DATA FORECASTING
3.7.1 DATA FORECASTING TECHNIQUE
3.8 DATA MODELING
3.8.1 MICROECONOMIC FACTOR ANALYSIS:
3.8.2 DATA MODELING:
3.9 TEAMS AND ANALYST CONTRIBUTION
4 MARKET DYNAMICS
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 DRIVERS
4.2.1 INCREASING DEMAND OF AIR TRAVEL
4.2.2 FLEXIBILITY IN FLEET MANAGEMENT
4.2.3 COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF ACMI LEASING
4.2.4 EMERGENCE OF NEW AIRLINES
4.2.5 RISE OF ULTRA-LOW-COST CARRIERS (ULCCS) FUELING ACMI LEASING GROWTH
4.3 RESTRAINT
4.3.1 HIGH COMPETITION FROM DRY LEASING AND DIRECT AIRCRAFT OWNERSHIP
4.3.2 VOLATILITY IN FUEL PRICES IMPACTING LEASING COSTS
4.3.3 CHALLENGES IN MAINTAINING AIRLINE BRANDING AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
4.3.4 CREW SHORTAGES AND LABOR UNION RESTRICTIONS
4.4 OPPORTUNITY
4.4.1 EXPANSION OF LOW-COST CARRIERS (LCCS)
4.4.2 GROWTH IN CARGO AND E-COMMERCE LOGISTICS
4.4.3 FLEET MODERNIZATION AND TRANSITION TO FUEL-EFFICIENT AIRCRAFT
4.4.4 EXPANSION OF ACMI SERVICES INTO NEW MARKETS
4.4.5 INCREASED DEMAND FOR ACMI LEASING FROM START-UP AIRLINES
4.5 MARKET & TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
4.5.1 GROWING POPULARITY DURING PEAK TRAVEL SEASONS
4.5.2 SHIFT TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AVIATION AND FUEL-EFFICIENT AIRCRAFT IN LEASING FLEETS
4.5.3 SHORTER LEASE TERMS AS AIRLINES NAVIGATE MARKET UNCERTAINTY
4.6 COVID IMPACT ANALYSIS
4.6.1 IMPACT ON OVERALL AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
4.6.2 IMPACT ON GLOBAL AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET
4.6.3 IMPACT ON SUPPLY CHAIN OF AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET
4.6.4 IMPACT ON MARKET DEMAND OF AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET
4.6.5 IMPACT ON PRICING OF AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET
5 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS
5.1 SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS
5.1.1 AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS AND OEMS:
5.1.2 ACMI LEASING PROVIDERS:
5.1.3 MRO SERVICE PROVIDERS:
5.1.4 REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND AVIATION COMPLIANCE BODIES:
5.1.5 END USERS:
5.2 PORTER'S FIVE FORCES MODEL
5.2.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS (MODERATE):
5.2.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS (MODERATE TO HIGH):
5.2.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS (HIGH):
5.2.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS (MODERATE TO LOW):
5.2.5 RIVALRY AMONG EXISTING COMPETITORS (HIGH):
5.3 REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
5.4 MARKET SWOT ANALYSIS
5.5 MARKET PESTEL ANALYSIS
5.5.1 POLITICAL
5.5.2 ECONOMIC:
5.5.3 SOCIAL:
5.5.4 TECHNOLOGICAL:
5.5.5 ENVIRONMENTAL:
5.5.6 LEGAL
6 GBAL AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET , BY TYPE
6.1 OVERVIEW
6.2 SHORT TERM LEASE
6.3 LONG TERM LEASE
7 GLOBAL AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET , BY AIRCRAFT TYPE
7.1 OVERVIEW
7.2 NARROW BODY AIRCRAFT
7.3 WIDE BODY AIRCRAFT
7.4 REGIONAL AIRCRAFT
8 GLOBAL AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET , BY APPLICATION
8.1 INTRODUCTION
8.2 PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION
8.3 AIR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION
9 GLOBAL AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET , BY END-USERS
9.1 INTRODUCTION
9.2 FULL-SERVICE CARRIERS
9.3 LOW-COST CARRIERS
9.4 CARGO-CARRIERS
10 GLOBAL AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET , BY REGION
10.1 OVERVIEW
10.1.1 GLOBAL AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING OR WET-LEASING MARKET , BY REGION, 2019-2032 (USD MILLION)
10.2 NORTH AMERICA
10.2.1 US
10.2.2 CANADA
10.2.3 MEXICO
10.3 EUROPE
10.3.1 GERMANY
10.3.2 UK
10.3.3 ITALY
10.3.4 FRANCE
10.3.5 SPAIN
10.3.6 BELGIUM
10.3.7 IRELAND
10.3.8 ICELAND
10.3.9 NETHERLAND
10.3.10 PORTUGAL
10.3.11 SWITZERLAND
10.3.12 CROATIA
10.3.13 CZECH REPUBLIC
10.3.14 ESTONIA
10.3.15 HUNGARY
10.3.16 LATVIA
10.3.17 LITHUANIA
10.3.18 POLAND
10.3.19 SLOVAKIA
10.3.20 SLOVENIA
10.3.21 FINLAND
10.3.22 NORWAY
10.3.23 SWEDEN
10.3.24 GREECE
10.3.25 REST OF EUROPE
10.4 ASIA-PACIFIC
10.4.1 CHINA
10.4.2 JAPAN
10.4.3 INDIA
10.4.4 SOUTH KOREA
10.4.5 AUSTRALIA
10.4.6 SINGAPORE
10.4.7 MALAYSIA
10.4.8 REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC
10.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
10.5.1 UAE
10.5.2 SAUDI ARABIA
10.5.3 KUWAIT
10.5.4 QATAR
10.5.5 ISRAEL
10.5.6 SOUTH AFRICA
10.5.7 EGYPT
10.5.8 REST OF MIDDLE EAST AFRICA
10.6 SOUTH AMERICA
10.6.1 BRAZIL
10.6.2 ARGENTINA
10.6.3 CHILE
10.6.4 COLOMBIA
10.6.5 BOLIVIA
10.6.6 PARAGUAY
10.6.7 PERU
10.6.8 REST OF SOUTH AMERICA
11 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
11.1 INTRODUCTION
11.2 COMPETITOR DASHBOARD
11.3 COMPANY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS, 2023
11.4 KEY DEVELOPMENTS & GROWTH STRATEGIES
11.4.1 NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH/ DEVELOPMENT
11.4.2 PARTNERSHIP/COLLABORATION, INVESTMENT, EXPANSION, AND OTHERS