AerCap nears $30 billion deal to acquire GE jet leasing unit

AerCap and General Electric’s GECAS are discussing a $30 billion deal to combine their jet-leasing businesses to create an industry giant with nearly 3,000 jets.

AerCap, with assets of $42 billion, is the world’s largest owner of commercial aircraft, with 1,080 jets under its name or managed on behalf of others. GECAS had about $35.9 billion in assets at the end of last year 1,650 aircraft owned or under management.

The combined company will have more clout in negotiating with aircraft manufacturers like Airbus SE and Boeing Co. while focusing on the strongest airline customers during the recovery.

The deal would mark AerCap’s most ambitious expansion.

In 2013, AerCap purchased its largest rival, International Lease Finance Corp, after the financial crisis.

Meanwhile, GE is offloading businesses and reduce debt. Last year, GE sold its biopharmaceutical business to Danaher Corp. for $21.4 billion and has sold its aircraft-financing business for $3.6 billion to Apollo Global Management and Athene Holding Ltd.

Aircraft lessors, who typically rent out aircraft for up to 12 years at a time, already account for about half of deliveries of jets built by Airbus and Boeing.