Oasis Leasing ranks 16th in global aircraft operating lease survey

It ranked the lessors based on the number of aircraft, both owned and managed, and the value of the portfolio. It also published the aircraft models available on lessors' portfolios to identify companies that have the most popular aircraft which featured in the 2006 Airfinance Journal Investors' Poll.

The survey said the international operating lease market for aircraft is consolidating, but the "leasing bubble is far from bursting". New players are entering the market to tap into opportunities in markets such as China, India and Russia.

Identifying the involvement of hedge funds and private equity firms as another market issue, the survey said the fears of these funds beating a sudden retreat from the industry are unfounded. "Considering the increase in demand for aircraft, any retreat by private equity and hedge fund groups would seem a long way off," it said.

"The most important thing is that the lessors recognize the pressure airlines are under to transport an increasing number of passengers over point to point and hub to hub", it added.

Salem Rashid Al Noaimi, Acting CEO of Oasis Leasing, said: "We are very pleased with our ranking. Oasis is among the leading aircraft leasing companies in the region, and we would certainly seek to leverage the opportunities offered by the ongoing economic developments in the region."