Targeted investments of $1.6 billion a year
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd and Blackstone Credit & Insurance have announced the launch of a new long-term global investment program called "Equator", to invest in aircraft leased to commercial airlines, with targeted investments of about US$1.6 billion a year.
The program aims to build a diversified portfolio of commercial aircraft leased to airlines around the world, in a step reflecting the continued strong activity in the aircraft leasing market and growing global interest in investing in income-generating aviation assets. Under the agreement, DAE will source the assets from third parties, while its Aircraft Investor Services platform will manage the assets owned by the program, according to a post on the Dubai Aerospace Enterprise website.
Firoz Tarapore, CEO of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, explained that the partnership with Blackstone supports the company's plans to expand its third-party fleet management business, adding that the size of the company's fleet and the global reach of its customer and partner network position it well to support the program's long-term success.
For his part, Anik Mamik, Senior Managing Director and Head of Asset-Based Finance Financial Services at Blackstone Credit & Insurance, noted that the program reflects Blackstone's drive to strengthen its presence in the aviation sector through investments backed by real assets, in partnership with one of the world's most prominent aircraft leasing companies.
Blackstone Credit & Insurance is expected to provide a comprehensive package of capital solutions to finance the program, ensuring financing flexibility able to keep pace with market cycles and investment opportunities in the aviation sector. The investor group will also include contributions from funds managed by ITE Management, a strategic partner of Blackstone Credit & Insurance.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is one of the world's aircraft leasing companies, managing about 700 aircraft, including more than 100 aircraft worth over $4 billion as of 31 December 2025, and it also acts as a service provider under 17 management and servicing agreements for institutional and financial investors.
The company's DAE Capital division has a fleet of about 700 owned, managed, on-order and mandated aircraft with a total value of up to $25 billion, while its DAE Engineering division provides aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services to customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia from its facility in Amman.
Meanwhile, Blackstone Credit & Insurance's Infrastructure and Asset-Based Credit group manages assets exceeding $100 billion as of 31 December 2025, and its team includes more than 90 investment professionals, focusing on diverse financing instruments including infrastructure, commercial finance and structured credit.
The launch of the "Equator" program reflects the continued appetite for investment in commercial aviation assets, especially given the ongoing global demand from airlines for leased aircraft and the growing importance of flexible financing solutions in supporting fleet expansion and modernization.
To view the post on the Dubai Aerospace Enterprise website, click here.
