Dry Lease Aircraft Solutions

ACMI Lease develops dry lease aircraft solutions for airlines and operators that require aircraft without an accompanying crew, maintenance and insurance package. A dry lease may support fleet growth, aircraft replacement, market entry, seasonal planning or the transition to a different aircraft type.

The lessee must have the organisation, approvals and resources required to operate the aircraft. Send the aircraft type, delivery window, intended term, utilisation and operating region so we can assess suitable options and the proposed lease structure.

Send your dry lease requirement

What is an aircraft dry lease?

A dry lease provides the aircraft without the operating package supplied under an ACMI or wet lease. The lessee normally provides the flight and cabin crew, maintenance arrangements and insurance required for its operation. The aircraft is operated within the lessee’s approved operational structure, subject to the applicable aviation authority approvals and the agreed lease terms.

This structure gives an airline more control over how the aircraft is integrated into its fleet, but it also places greater responsibility on the lessee. Technical acceptance, records review, registration, maintenance planning, crew qualification, insurance and redelivery conditions must be addressed before delivery.

When a dry lease can support an airline

• Fleet growth: adding aircraft while avoiding an immediate aircraft purchase.
• Replacement capacity: covering an aircraft retirement, delayed delivery or longer maintenance input.
• Seasonal planning: adding capacity when the required term and economics support a dry-lease structure.
• Fleet transition: introducing a new aircraft family or replacing older equipment over an agreed period.
• Passenger or cargo development: supporting planned network expansion with an aircraft appropriate to the intended operation.

Dry lease or ACMI wet lease?

If you need aircraft together with crew, maintenance and insurance, review our ACMI wet lease explanation.

How we assess a dry lease requirement

Aircraft type is only the starting point. We review the required variant, age range, engine and configuration preferences, delivery window, lease term, expected utilisation, operating geography and return conditions. The proposed aircraft also needs to fit the lessee’s technical and regulatory capability.

Depending on the programme, a solution may involve aircraft owned or managed by ACMI Lease, aircraft placed with or sourced from partner organisations, aircraft acquired or financed with our involvement, or selected third-party capacity. The commercial and technical structure is confirmed for the specific transaction.

We do not treat a generic aircraft list as confirmed availability. A suitable opportunity must be matched to the proposed delivery date, lease term, technical specification, jurisdiction and agreed commercial conditions.

From initial requirement to aircraft delivery

1. Define the requirement: aircraft type, quantity, delivery schedule, term, utilisation and operational region.
2. Assess potential aircraft: review commercial availability and the headline technical fit.
3. Technical and commercial review: examine records, maintenance status, configuration, lease conditions and required approvals.
4. Contracting and delivery planning: agree conditions precedent, inspection, acceptance, registration, insurance and delivery arrangements.

Information needed for a dry lease proposal

Please include:

• Airline or operator name, AOC country and principal operating regions.
• Aircraft type, preferred variant, quantity and acceptable year-of-manufacture range.
• Required delivery date, lease term and delivery-location preference.
• Passenger, cargo or combi requirement and the preferred configuration.
• Expected monthly utilisation, route profile and operating environment.
• Engine, maintenance-status or technical requirements that are essential to the programme.
• Budget guidance, security-deposit expectations and evidence of financial capability, when available.

Use our Contact ACMI Lease page and identify the enquiry as a Dry Lease Aircraft Requirement. Detailed requirements help us exclude unsuitable aircraft before commercial discussions begin.

Dry lease aircraft questions

Are the aircraft listed above immediately available?

No. They are examples of aircraft families that may be assessed. Availability depends on the delivery window, aircraft specification, lease term, technical status, jurisdiction and agreed commercial conditions.

Does a dry lease include crew and maintenance?

No. A standard dry lease concerns the aircraft. The lessee arranges the crew, maintenance programme and insurance required under the agreement and applicable approvals. If those services are required with the aircraft, an ACMI or wet lease may be more appropriate.

Can a dry lease be arranged for a short requirement?

We can assess the requirement, but dry leasing normally involves more technical, regulatory and delivery work than a short ACMI programme. The viable structure depends on the aircraft, proposed term, delivery costs and the lessee’s operational readiness.

Send your aircraft requirement. Every proposed programme remains subject to confirmation by ACMI Lease and, where applicable, by the responsible owner or AOC holder, together with aircraft availability, technical and operational feasibility, regulatory approval and agreed commercial terms.

Send your dry lease requirement