Air Lease Corporation has announced the placement of five new Airbus A321neo LR/XLRs on long-term lease with Qanot Sharq Airlines of Uzbekistan. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027 from ALC’s orderbook with Airbus.
On Tuesday (February 18, 2025), Air Lease Corporation (ALC) announced the placement of five new Airbus A321neos on long-term lease with Qanot Sharq Airlines of Uzbekistan, including three A321-200neo XLRs and two A321neo LRs. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027 from ALC’s orderbook with Airbus. Led by a team of highly accomplished airline industry professionals, Qanot Sharq is Uzbekistan’s first privately owned airline. Operating from several regional airports in Uzbekistan, the carrier provides scheduled and charter air services to international destinations such as Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Jeddah, Medina, Sharm El-Sheikh, Phuket, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Budapest, Prague, and Milan.
In Tuesday’s announcement, Air Lease Corporation’s SVP – Marketing, AJ Abedin, said,
“We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Qanot Sharq and support the airline’s continued growth with the addition of five new Airbus A321neo LR/XLR aircraft. As the airline successfully executes its expansion, these new A321neo jets will enhance its network reach while delivering exceptional performance, range, and fuel efficiency, enabling the airline to provide high quality service to the Uzbek market.”
Also commenting on the new lease agreements, Qanot Sharq Airlines’ Owner, Nosir Abdugafarov, added,
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Air Lease and take a significant step forward in expanding our fleet with these new Airbus A321neo LR and XLR aircraft. These state-of-the-art aircraft will allow us to open new routes, improve fuel efficiency, and provide an enhanced travel experience for our passengers. As Uzbekistan’s first private airline, we are dedicated to growth and innovation, and this agreement represents a key milestone in our long-term vision to expand our destination network while maintaining our commitment to exceptional service.”
Based in Los Angeles, California, Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) is a leading global aircraft leasing company. The ALC team is principally involved in the purchase of commercial aircraft and leasing them to airlines worldwide with customized leasing and financing solutions. At December 31, 2024, the company had a globally diversified customer base of 116 airlines across 58 countries.
Source: Air Lease Corporation