ITOCHU Acquires Stake in Sirius Aviation Capital

ITOCHU Corporation has acquired a strategic stake in Sirius Aviation Capital Holdings Limited, joining Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners to capitalize on surging global demand for mid-life Commercial-Aircraft leases.

Announced in a press release on June 23, 2026, the Investments aligns with a structural shift in the aviation market. Constrained new aircraft deliveries and frequent maintenance requirements for next-generation engines are forcing Airlines to extend the operational life of their existing fleets.

Strategic expansion in the mid-life aircraft market

Sirius Aviation Capital, established in 2019 and headquartered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), specializes in acquiring and managing mid-life aircraft on operating leases. According to transaction data, the firm has managed US$1.2 billion in aviation assets on behalf of its capital partners since its launch.

ITOCHU, based in Tokyo, currently manages a global portfolio of over 90 aircraft and engines. The Japanese trading house intends to leverage Sirius’s specialized expertise to expand its own aircraft investment business and generate synergies within the aerospace aftermarket.

Yu Takahashi, General Manager in the Aerospace Department of ITOCHU, stated that the company will support the next phase of growth for Sirius by drawing on ITOCHU’s network and decades of experience across the global aviation sector.

Supply chain constraints drive asset demand

The transaction highlights the growing reliance on mid-life aircraft, which currently represent approximately 42 percent of the global commercial fleet by unit count. Newer-generation aircraft account for 30 percent, while older airframes make up the remaining 28 percent.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) continue to face supply chain bottlenecks, limiting the pace of new aircraft deliveries. Concurrently, operators of next-generation single-aisle aircraft are encountering more frequent and costly engine maintenance events than initially projected. These factors have driven airlines to secure leased capacity to meet passenger demand.

“SIRIUS’s DNA lies in mid-life aircraft, which offer risk-adjusted returns to investors and continue to serve as the backbone and workhorse of commercial air travel,” said Edward Coughlan, Chairman and CEO of Sirius Aviation Capital.

AirPro News analysis

We view ITOCHU’s investment as a clear indicator that the mid-life aircraft leasing market will remain highly lucrative through the end of the decade. The ongoing durability issues with next-generation engines, particularly on narrowbody platforms, have fundamentally altered fleet retirement schedules. By partnering with a specialized asset manager like Sirius, ITOCHU is positioning itself to capture the premium lease rates currently commanded by proven, mid-life airframes while mitigating the operational risks associated with newer engine technologies.

Sources: ITOCHU Corporation