Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
High Ridge Aviation Acquires Boeing 787-8 Leased to TUI
High Ridge Aviation acquires a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from BBAM, leased to TUI, marking a new partnership and fleet expansion.
High Ridge Aviation (HRA) has officially announced the acquisition of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from BBAM Aircraft Leasing & Management. The transaction, announced on December 22, 2025, marks a significant expansion of HRA’s fleet and establishes new commercial relationships for the lessor. The aircraft, identified by Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 34423 and registration G-TUIB, is currently on lease to the European leisure travel group TUI and will remain in operation with the airline.
This acquisition represents a notable milestone for High Ridge Aviation, a company established in 2022. According to the announcement, this deal constitutes the first asset trade between HRA and BBAM, one of the industry’s largest asset managers. Furthermore, the transaction introduces TUI as a new customer within HRA’s growing client base.
The acquisition involves a mid-size, wide-body aircraft that serves as a core component of TUI’s long-haul operations. The Boeing 787-8 is widely recognized for its fuel efficiency and composite construction, features that have maintained the type’s liquidity in the secondary market. By acquiring this asset with an attached lease, HRA secures immediate revenue generation while expanding its footprint in the wide-body sector.
Greg Conlon, Chief Executive Officer of High Ridge Aviation, emphasized the importance of industry relationships in executing this deal. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Conlon highlighted the company’s strategic focus:
“This transaction is a testament to our team’s extensive experience and long-standing relationships throughout the industry. We are focused on executing disciplined transactions that support operators while delivering durable, long-term value.” The deal underscores the operational capacity of HRA, which is led by a team of former GECAS executives and backed by the global investment management firm PIMCO. This partnership allows the lessor to leverage a “managed money” model, facilitating scalable capital deployment for assets like the Dreamliner.
The secondary market for wide-body aircraft has seen sustained activity throughout late 2025. As supply chain constraints continue to impact the delivery schedules of new aircraft from major Manufacturers, existing mid-life assets, such as the 2013-vintage Dreamliner involved in this transaction, have retained strong utility and value.
For High Ridge Aviation, this move signals a transition from its initial launch phase into a period of maturity and aggressive growth. Trading with a legacy giant like BBAM, which manages a fleet valued at over $20 billion, demonstrates HRA’s ability to compete and collaborate at the highest levels of the aircraft leasing industry. Additionally, diversifying its portfolio with a TUI-operated wide-body reduces risk by placing assets with established, global operators.
This acquisition was reported alongside HRA’s purchase of an Airbus A330-300 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft, further indicating a strategy to build a balanced portfolio across different asset types and sectors.
High Ridge Aviation Adds TUI-Leased Boeing 787-8 to Portfolio
Transaction Overview and Executive Commentary
AirPro News Analysis: Market Context
Summary of Key Details
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Photo Credit: High Ridge Aviation