Aircastle Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

News provided by

Aircastle Advisor LLC

Apr 23, 2025, 07:00 ET

Three Months Ended February 28, 2025

Net income of $61 million compared to $29 million in fourth quarter 2023;
Total revenues of $206 million and Adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾ of $222 million;
Acquired 29 aircraft for $1.0 billion; 68% of NBV acquired composed of new technology aircraft;
Sold 7 aircraft for proceeds of $92 million and gains on sale or disposition of $20 million; and
Russia-related settlement proceeds of $50 million in other income.

Full Year Ended February 28, 2025

Net income of $124 million compared to $83 million in fiscal 2023;⁽¹⁾
Acquired 50 aircraft during fiscal year 2024 for $1.6 billion; 45% of NBV as of February 28, 2025 composed of new technology aircraft;
25% increase in cash flows from operations as compared to fiscal year 2023;
Sold 27 aircraft and other flight equipment with an average age of 16 years for proceeds of $566 million and a gain on sale or disposition of $77 million;
Executed 183 transactions for fiscal year 2024, largely comprised of purchases, sales, lease amendments, and extensions.

Liquidity

Raised $1.0 billion in new financings from unsecured senior notes;
Received $300 million of shareholder equity, the final tranche of a $500 million commitment;
As of April 1, 2025, total liquidity of $2.7 billion includes $2.1 billion of undrawn credit facilities, $0.5 billion of projected adjusted operating cash flows through April 1, 2025, and $0.1 billion of unrestricted cash;
As of February 28, 2025, we have 244 unencumbered aircraft and other flight equipment with a net book value of $7.1 billion.

______________________

(1)	Refer to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.
(2)	Refer to the selected financial information accompanying this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP numbers.

STAMFORD, Conn., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Inglese, Aircastle's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We successfully acquired 50 aircraft this fiscal year making it our most successful trading year since 2019. We completed fiscal 2024 with a 48% increase in net income and a 25% increase in operating cash flows. New technology now composes 45% of our book value while there is continuing high demand for current technology. We're building relationships with new counterparties and reinforcing relationships with our many long-standing trading partners."

Mr. Inglese concluded, "On the funding side of our business, in the fourth quarter we issued $500 million of unsecured senior notes at 5.25%, a 108 basis point spread versus treasury which represents the tightest spread for any Aircastle issuance. As we move into 2025 with elevated vigilance, we believe investors and rating agencies will continue to see value and discipline in our investment approach and the outstanding support of our shareholders, Marubeni Corporation and Mizuho Leasing."

Aviation Assets

As of February 28, 2025, Aircastle owned 265 aircraft and other flight equipment having a net book value of $7.9 billion. We also manage 8 aircraft with a net book value of $244 million on behalf of our joint venture with Mizuho Leasing.

	As of February 28/29
Owned Aircraft	2025	2024
Net Book Value of Flight Equipment ($ mils.)	$ 7,902	$ 7,223
Net Book Value of Unencumbered Flight Equipment ($ mils.)	$ 7,127	$ 5,839
Number of Aircraft	265	243
Number of Unencumbered Aircraft	244	205
Number of Lessees	76	74
Number of Countries	47	43
Weighted Average Fleet Age (years)⁽¹⁾	9.1	9.3
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (years)⁽¹⁾	5.4	5.4
Weighted Average Fleet Utilization for the fourth quarter⁽²⁾	99.3 %	99.2 %
Weighted Average Fleet Utilization for the year ended⁽²⁾	99.2 %	98.3 %

Managed Aircraft on behalf of Joint Venture
Net Book Value of Flight Equipment ($ mils.)	$ 244	$ 272
Number of Aircraft	8	9

_______________

(1)	Weighted by Net Book Value.
(2)	Aircraft on lease as a percentage of total days in period weighted by net book value.

Conference Call

In connection with this press release, management will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time. All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call. The conference call can be accessed by dialing +1 (800) 836-8184 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or +1 (646) 357-8785 (outside the U.S. and Canada) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start. Please reference our company name "Aircastle" when prompted by the operator.

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.aircastle.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast.

For those who are not available to listen to the live call, a replay will be available on Aircastle's website shortly after the live call.

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited acquires, leases, and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of February 28, 2025, Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint ventures 273 aircraft leased to 77 customers located in 47 countries.

Safe Harbor

All statements in this press release, other than characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, statements relating to our proposed public offering of notes and our ability to acquire, sell, lease or finance aircraft, raise capital, pay dividends, and increase revenues, earnings, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and the global aviation industry and aircraft leasing sector. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our historical performance and that of our subsidiaries and on our current plans, estimates and expectations and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements; Aircastle can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this press release. These risks or uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described from time to time in Aircastle's filings with the SEC and previously disclosed under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Aircastle's most recent Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Aircastle to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Aircastle expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

	February 28/29,
	2025	2024
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 279,052	$ 129,977
Accounts receivable	9,662	12,518
Flight equipment held for lease, net	7,644,867	6,940,502
Net investment in leases, net	257,249	282,439
Unconsolidated equity method investment	45,813	42,710
Other assets	273,521	271,807

Total assets	$ 8,510,164	$ 7,679,953

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Borrowings from secured financings, net	$ 502,609	$ 875,397
Borrowings from unsecured financings, net	4,452,781	3,823,099
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	295,132	219,588
Lease rentals received in advance	68,120	52,654
Security deposits	82,477	69,544
Maintenance payments	583,658	505,897
Total liabilities	5,984,777	5,546,179

Commitments and Contingencies

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preference shares, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 400 (aggregate liquidation preference of $400,000) shares issued and outstanding at February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024	—	—
Common shares, $0.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 17,840 and 15,564 shares issued and outstanding at February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, respectively	—	—
Additional paid-in capital	2,378,774	2,078,774
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	146,613	55,000
Total shareholders' equity	2,525,387	2,133,774
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 8,510,164	$ 7,679,953

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in thousands)

	Three Months Ended February 28/29		Year Ended February 28/29
	2025	2024	2025	2024
	(Unaudited)
Revenues:
Lease rental revenue	$ 168,990	$ 149,665	$ 652,379	$ 603,571
Direct financing and sales-type lease revenue	5,118	5,510	21,295	16,503
Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives	(3,677)	(3,448)	(21,682)	(20,420)
Maintenance revenue	14,446	23,956	90,490	132,179
Total lease revenue	184,877	175,683	742,482	731,833
Gain on sale or disposition of flight equipment	20,282	54,406	77,191	121,646
Other revenue	399	134	1,302	1,937
Total revenues	205,558	230,223	820,975	855,416

Operating expenses:
Depreciation	91,029	86,465	355,666	348,229
Interest, net	61,934	58,087	247,923	229,050
Selling, general and administrative	25,845	23,910	86,416	82,127
Provision for credit losses	8,434	676	8,715	12,081
Impairment of flight equipment	—	18,084	19,391	55,240
Maintenance and other costs	3,527	5,390	16,938	29,884
Total operating expenses	190,769	192,612	735,049	756,611

Other income (expense):
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—	—	285	—
Other	49,690	(667)	56,247	5,571
Total other income (expense)	49,690	(667)	56,532	5,571

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and earnings of unconsolidated equity method investments	64,479	36,944	142,458	104,376
Income tax provision	5,067	7,979	21,948	23,265
Earnings of unconsolidated equity method investment, net of tax	1,366	418	3,103	2,205
Net income	$ 60,778	$ 29,383	$ 123,613	$ 83,316
Preference share dividends	(10,500)	(10,500)	(21,000)	(21,000)

Net income available to common shareholders	$ 50,278	$ 18,883	$ 102,613	$ 62,316

Total comprehensive income available to common shareholders	$ 50,278	$ 18,883	$ 102,613	$ 62,316

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)

	Year Ended February 28/29,
	2025	2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 123,613	$ 83,316
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and restricted cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	355,666	348,229
Amortization of deferred financing costs	17,033	17,090
Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives	21,682	20,420
Deferred income taxes	17,550	20,053
Collections on net investments in leases	7,628	3,557
Security deposits, maintenance payments and insurance settlements included in earnings	(59,959)	(54,373)
Gain on sale or disposition of flight equipment	(77,191)	(121,646)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	(285)	—
Impairment of flight equipment	19,391	55,240
Provision for credit losses	8,715	12,081
Other	(3,188)	(2,512)
Changes on certain assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(6,984)	(443)
Other assets	13,532	(9,317)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	7,475	(15,907)
Lease rentals received in advance	19,343	14,466

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities	464,021	370,254
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition and improvement of flight equipment	(1,588,197)	(1,240,183)
Proceeds from sale or disposition of flight equipment	565,921	361,826
Proceeds from settlement of insurance claims	49,500	—
Aircraft purchase deposits and progress payments, net of returned deposits and aircraft sales deposits	4,157	5,650
Other	(1,613)	(6,408)
Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities	(970,232)	(879,115)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	300,000	200,000
Proceeds from secured and unsecured debt financings	1,702,048	2,029,750
Repayments of secured and unsecured debt financings	(1,452,340)	(1,917,744)
Deferred financing costs	(9,849)	(25,035)
Debt extinguishment costs	285	—
Security deposits and maintenance payments received	152,521	159,792
Security deposits and maintenance payments returned	(16,379)	(18,786)
Dividends paid	(21,000)	(21,000)
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities	655,286	406,977
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents:	149,075	(101,884)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	129,977	231,861

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 279,052	$ 129,977

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
(Dollars in thousands)

	Three Months Ended February 28/29		Year Ended February 28/29
	2025	2024	2025	2024
	(Unaudited)
Net income	$ 60,778	$ 29,383	$ 123,613	$ 83,316
Depreciation	91,029	86,465	355,666	348,229
Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives	3,677	3,448	21,682	20,420
Interest, net	61,934	58,087	247,923	229,050
Income tax provision	5,067	7,979	21,948	23,265

EBITDA	222,485	185,362	770,832	704,280
Adjustments:
Impairment of flight equipment	—	18,084	19,391	55,240
Gain on extinguishment of debt	—	—	(285)	—
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 222,485	$ 203,446	$ 789,938	$ 759,520

______________

We define EBITDA as income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, interest expense, and depreciation and amortization. We use EBITDA to assess our consolidated financial and operating performance, and we believe this non-U.S. GAAP measure is helpful in identifying trends in our performance.

This measure provides an assessment of controllable expenses and affords management the ability to make decisions which are expected to facilitate meeting current financial goals, as well as achieving optimal financial performance. It provides an indicator for management to determine if adjustments to current spending decisions are needed.

EBITDA provides us with a measure of operating performance because it assists us in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis as it removes the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges on our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results. Accordingly, this metric measures our financial performance based on operational factors that management can impact in the short-term, namely the cost structure, or expenses, of the organization. EBITDA is one of the metrics used by senior management and the Board of Directors to review the consolidated financial performance of our business.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA (as defined above) further adjusted to give effect to adjustments required in calculating covenant ratios and compliance as that term is defined in the indenture governing our senior unsecured notes. Adjusted EBITDA is a material component of these covenants.

______________________

Contact:
Aircastle Advisor LLC
Jim Connelly, SVP ESG & Corporate Communications
Tel: +1-203-504-1871
[email protected]

SOURCE Aircastle Advisor LLC