Aircraft ACMI Leasing Market Size, Share, Growth, And Industry Analysis, By Type (Widebody, Narrowbody, Turboprop and Others), By Application (PAX and Cargo), Regional Forecast To 2033

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AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING MARKET OVERVIEW

The global aircraft acmi leasing market was valued at USD 5.84 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to USD 6.24 billion in 2025, reaching USD 10.7 billion by 2033, with a projected CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period.

In the market study, our analysts have considered aircraft acmi leasing players such as Atlas Air Inc, ABX Air, ASL Aviation Holdings, Air Atlanta Icelandic, Smartlynx, Avion Express, Titan Airways, Hi Fly, Air Charter Service, euroAtlantic, GetJet Airlines, 21Air, LLC.

ACMI leasing is a type of aircraft leasing arrangement that stands for "Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance". In an ACMI leasing agreement, the lessor (the aircraft owner or leasing company) provides the lessee (the airline) with a complete aircraft package that includes not only the aircraft itself but also the crew, maintenance, and insurance needed to operate the aircraft. This means that the lessee can operate the aircraft without having to worry about the logistics of crewing, maintaining, or ensuring the aircraft, which can be especially beneficial for new airlines or airlines that are expanding their operations quickly.

ACMI leasing is typically a short-term arrangement, lasting from a few months to a few years, and the cost is usually based on the number of hours that the aircraft is flown. It can be a flexible option for airlines that need additional capacity during peak seasons or for specific routes, as the aircraft can be returned to the lessor at the end of the lease term.

AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING MARKET KEY FINDINGS

COVID-19 IMPACT

Pandemic Hamper the Demand of Aviation Industry to Market GrowthI

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the aviation industry, including the ACMI leasing market. With the decrease in air travel demand, many airlines have reduced their operations and fleet size, leading to a decrease in demand for ACMI leasing services. In particular, the pandemic has had an impact on short-term ACMI leasing arrangements, which are often used by airlines to meet short-term increases in demand or to cover unexpected maintenance issues. With the decrease in demand for air travel, airlines have been less likely to need short-term capacity, leading to a decrease in demand for ACMI leasing services. 

LATEST TRENDS

Cost-Savings vs Short-Term Lease Arrangements to Spur Market Expansion

Long-term ACMI leasing arrangements typically last for several years and provide airlines with a more stable and predictable source of capacity, crew, maintenance, and insurance. This allows airlines to better plan their operations and can also provide cost savings compared to short-term leasing arrangements.

• Rising Demand from E-commerce Logistics : According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air cargo traffic reached 66.6 billion cargo tonne-kilometers in 2023, with over 38% of cargo now carried by freighters under ACMI contracts due to e-commerce expansion. Major leasing firms have added over 50 wide-body freighters in response to this trend.

• Growth in Seasonal ACMI Leasing for Tourism Routes : As per Eurocontrol's 2024 air traffic overview, seasonal travel demand in Europe has surged by 18% year-on-year, prompting airlines to increasingly opt for short-term ACMI leasing. For instance, Smartlynx Airlines operated over 10,000 ACMI flights in summer 2023 alone to meet peak tourism needs.

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AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

According to type, the aircraft ACMI leasing market can be segmented widebody, narrowbody, turboprop and others.

In terms of type, the widebody is anticipated to be the largest segment during the forecast period.  

By Application Analysis

Based on application, the aircraft ACMI leasing market can be divided into PAX and cargo.

In terms of application, the cargo market is projected to hold the largest aircraft ACMI leasing market share through forecast period.

DRIVING FACTORS

Cost Reductions in Some Areas will Drive Market Expansion 

One of the primary driving factors behind the growth of the ACMI leasing market is cost savings. ACMI leasing allows airlines to avoid the capital investment and operational costs associated with owning and maintaining their own aircraft and crew. This can provide cost savings and greater flexibility for airlines, especially during periods of uncertain demand. 

• Fleet Shortages and Supply Chain Delays : According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), delivery delays for new aircraft extended to 24+ months in 2023, pushing regional and global carriers to lease aircraft under ACMI models to fill temporary gaps. This has led to over 300 new ACMI contracts globally.

• Regulatory Compliance Favoring Wet Leasing : The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) reports that over 70% of new operators in 2023 used ACMI leases to quickly meet EASA Part-TCO (Third Country Operator) compliance, as it allows faster route deployment without undergoing full AOC certification.

Expanding Geographically and Optimizing the Fleet will Increase Market Demand

ACMI leasing can also help airlines to optimize their fleet operations by providing additional capacity when needed, without the need to purchase new aircraft. This can help airlines to better manage their fleet size and reduce the risk of underutilization or overcapacity. ACMI leasing can also provide airlines with a way to expand their operations into new geographic regions without making a significant capital investment. This can help airlines to enter new markets and explore new routes, while minimizing their risk and exposure.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Economic Factors and Competition will Limit Market Expansion

The aircraft ACMI leasing market is highly dependent on economic conditions, as airlines are less likely to lease aircraft when they are facing financial challenges or when demand for air travel is low. Economic downturns or market disruptions can lead to a decrease in demand for ACMI leasing services and may result in increased competition among ACMI lessors. Also, the aircraft ACMI leasing market is highly competitive, with several major lessors competing for business. This can lead to pricing pressure and may impact on the profitability of ACMI leasing services. The emergence of new players or disruptive technologies can also impact the market and challenge established players.

• High Operating Costs Due to Fuel and Crew Rates : According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), average jet fuel prices rose by 22% in 2023, leading to increased ACMI rates. Additionally, pilot shortages have raised hourly crew costs by 15–20%, reducing leasing margins for carriers.

• Limited Availability of Wide-body Aircraft : Based on data from Aviation Working Group (AWG), less than 12% of the global wide-body fleet was available for lease in 2023 due to high utilization post-COVID. This scarcity restricts leasing flexibility and drives up short-term ACMI costs significantly.

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AIRCRAFT ACMI LEASING MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The North America Region will Dominate Market Due to Strong Demand for Air Travel

North America is one of the largest markets for aircraft ACMI leasing, with a significant number of ACMI lessors based in the region. The market is driven by a strong demand for air travel, and by the presence of several major airlines. The market is highly competitive, with several established players competing for business.  

The Asia-Pacific region is a growing market for aircraft ACMI leasing, driven by a strong demand for air travel and by the growth of low-cost carriers in the region. The market is highly fragmented, with several smaller players competing for business. The market is also impacted by regional factors, such as geopolitical tensions and regulatory changes.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Adoption Aluminum Recycling Services by Key Players Influencing Market Development

The top key players in the market are Atlas Air Inc, ABX Air, ASL Aviation Holdings, Air Atlanta Icelandic, Smart lynx, Avion Express. Most of the top players hold the aircraft ACMI leasing market shares. In addition, the strategies to develop new technologies, capital investment in R&D, improve product quality, acquisitions, mergers, and compete for the aircraft ACMI leasing market growth in the competition help them to perpetuate their position and value in the market. Besides, collaboration with other companies & extensive possession of market shares by the key players stimulates the aircraft ACMI leasing market.  

• Atlas Air Inc : In 2023, Atlas Air operated more than 1,100 flights per month under ACMI contracts, with its Boeing 747 fleet covering over 90 countries, according to FAA filings.

• ABX Air : According to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) records, ABX Air operated 600+ cargo ACMI flights monthly in 2023, primarily supporting e-commerce fulfillment for global logistics companies.

List of Top Aircraft ACMI Leasing Companies

• Atlas Air Inc (U.S.) 
• ABX Air (U.S.)
• ASL Aviation Holdings (Ireland)
• Air Atlanta Icelandic (Iceland)
• Smartlynx (Latvia)
• Avion Express (Lithuania)
• Titan Airways (UK.)
• Hi Fly (Portugal)
• Air Charter Service (UK.)
• euroAtlantic (Portugal)
• GetJet Airlines (Lithuania)
• 21Air, LLC (U.S.)

REPORT COVERAGE

This report examines an understanding of the aircraft ACMI leasing market’s size, share, growth rate, segmentation by type, application, key players, and previous and current market scenarios. The report also collects the market’s precise data and forecasts by market experts. Also, it describes the study of this industry’s financial performance, investments, growth, innovation marks, and new product launches by the top companies and offers deep insights into the current market structure, competitive analysis based on key players, key driving forces, and restraints that affect the demand for growth, opportunities, and risks.

Furthermore, the post-COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on international market restrictions and a deep understanding of how the industry will recover, and strategies are also stated in the report. The competitive landscape has also been examined in detail to provide clarification of the competitive landscape.

This report also discloses the research based on methodologies that define price trend analysis of target companies, collection of data, statistics, target competitors, import-export, information, and previous years’ records based on market sales. Moreover, all the significant factors which influence the market such as small or medium business industry, macro-economic indicators, value chain analysis, and demand-side dynamics, with all the major business players have been explained in detail. This analysis is subject to modification if the key players and feasible analysis of market dynamics change.