Falko

What Falko does

Falko is an aircraft leasing and asset management company focused exclusively on the regional commercial aircraft segment (70-130 seat jets and turboprops). Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Hatfield, United Kingdom, Falko operates a portfolio of 260-266 aircraft leased to 38 airline customers across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and South America as of 2024. Its offerings encompass operating leases on Embraer E-Jets, Bombardier CRJ series, and ATR/Dash 8 turboprops; third-party fund management through the Falko Regional Aircraft Opportunities Fund I and II (Fund II closed at $650m of equity in July 2019); engine leasing for CF34 and CT7 powerplants; aircraft trading; CAMO continuing airworthiness services; an ATR full-flight simulator; and special missions aircraft (aerial firefighting and amphibious operations).

Falko's business model combines balance-sheet leasing with fee-based asset management. The company generates recurring lease income on long-term contracts (typically exceeding five years), transaction-based revenue from aircraft trading and part-outs, and management plus performance fees on third-party capital. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting regional airlines globally and institutional investors through investor summits (e.g., Falko Regional Aviation Investor Summit 2024 in New York) and industry conferences (Deutsche Bank Aviation Forum). Technology infrastructure is anchored by GE Aviation's AirVault Asset Transfer System for technical records and asset lifecycle management. The company maintains offices in Hatfield (UK), Dublin, Singapore, and Tianjin (China).

The company has undergone two major ownership transitions: founded in 2011 when Fortress Investment Group acquired BAE Systems Asset Management, Falko merged with Chorus Aviation Capital in 2022 (adding ~100 aircraft), then was acquired by HPS Investment Partners in December 2024. Under HPS ownership, Falko closed a $672m financing facility in January 2026 and is pursuing additional geographic channels, including its first Japanese operating lease transaction in December 2025.

Name

Falko

Legal name

Falko Regional Aircraft Limited

Website

https://falko.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Falko is a UK-based aircraft leasing and asset management firm focused exclusively on regional commercial aircraft (70-130 seats), operating a portfolio of ~260 aircraft leased to 38 airline customers globally under HPS Investment Partners ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aircraft Leasing and Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Equipment & Asset Finance (Leasing, Fleet, Capex) (FSABABAH)

Keywords

• Regional aircraft leasing
• Aircraft asset management
• Engine leasing
• Aircraft portfolio management
• Commercial aircraft financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hatfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Leasing: Operating leases on regional commercial aircraft including regional jets (Embraer E-Jets, Bombardier CRJ) and turboprops (ATR, Dash 8). Aircraft are leased to regional airlines globally on long-term contracts typically exceeding five years.
2. Asset Management: Third-party fund management for Falko Regional Aircraft Opportunities Fund I and II. Falko manages aircraft portfolios on behalf of institutional investors, earning management fees and performance fees.
3. Engine Leasing: Leasing of aircraft engines including CF34 and CT7 engines supporting the regional jet fleet.
4. Aircraft Trading: Buying and selling regional aircraft and engines in the secondary market, including part-out transactions for teardown companies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Falko is an established asset management company engaged in all aspects of commercial aircraft leasing, financing, and management, with exclusive focus on the regional aircraft market (70-130 seat aircraft). The company acquires, leases, trades, and manages regional jets (Embraer E-Jets, Bombardier CRJ) and turboprops (ATR, Dash 8) for regional airlines globally, and also provides third-party fund management for institutional investors.

Product overview

Falko operates as a specialized aircraft leasing and asset management company offering a unified platform focused exclusively on the regional aircraft sector (70-130 seat commercial aircraft). The core offering comprises aircraft leasing and asset management services, supported by engine leasing capabilities and an ATR simulator for customer training. Falko's portfolio includes Embraer E-Jets, ATR turboprops, and Bombardier CRJ series aircraft, with additional services including CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization) for aircraft maintenance oversight during lease transfers, and support for special missions aircraft such as aerial firefighting conversions. The company maintains offices in the UK (Hatfield), Dublin, and Singapore.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Regional Aircraft Leasing Operating lease arrangements for regional commercial aircraft including Embraer E-Jets (E170, E175, E190, E195), ATR turboprops (ATR 72-500, ATR 72-600), and Bombardier CRJ series aircraft, leased to regional airlines globally on long-term contracts typically exceeding five years.
• Asset Management Services Third-party fund management for institutional investors through Falko Regional Aircraft Opportunities Fund I and II. Falko manages aircraft portfolios on behalf of institutional investors, earning management fees and performance fees, with investments in over 40 Bombardier and Embraer regional aircraft.
• Engine Leasing Leasing services for aircraft engines supporting regional aircraft, including CF34 engines for Embraer E-Jets and CT7 engines, with engine sales and trading capabilities.
• ATR Simulator Full-flight ATR simulator capability supporting customer training needs for ATR turboprop aircraft operations.
• Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) UK CAA-approved CAMO services managing continuing airworthiness of regional aircraft including Embraer ERJ170, ERJ175, ERJ190, ERL195, BAe 146, Avro RJ, and Bombardier CL-600 series during lease transfers.
• Special Missions Aircraft Aircraft leasing and support for special purpose missions including aerial firefighting (airtanker conversions of RJ85 aircraft) and amphibious airtanker operations (CL415).

Quantifiable outcome

• Regional aircraft leasing yielded superior risk-adjusted returns compared to infrastructure, shipping, and REITs over the past nine years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, major and minor.

• ITRMsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026IT vendor supporting Falko's IT infrastructure and laptop donation initiative to local schools and community groups.
• Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Falko acquired 24 Embraer E-Jet aircraft from NAC in 2024, including 18 completed by Q4 2024. Transaction included E175, E190, and E195 aircraft on lease to LOT Polish Airlines.
• Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Falko is a member of Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI), which provides funding for SAF research projects including collaboration with Trinity College Dublin and University of Limerick examining potential SAF manufacturing in Ireland.
• Trinity College Dublin / University of LimericksupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Four-year research study on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production examining potential avenues for manufacturing SAF in Ireland and developing a viable supply chain for SAF raw materials.
• TCPID (Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TCPID Business Partner providing employment opportunities for graduates with intellectual disabilities. Falko hosted student Dale O'Neill for 8-week placement in Dublin office and 6-month internship program.
• University of HertfordshiresupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership formed in 2021 supporting engineering students through studies while introducing them to aircraft leasing and asset management sector. Falko sponsors design module for first-year students and provides annual Falko Aerospace Scholarship.
• GE AviationsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2019GE Aviation provides AirVault Asset Transfer System across Falko's regional aircraft portfolio including Bombardier, Embraer, BAe Systems and ATR aircraft. System streamlines technical records and asset lifecycle management.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Air Lease Corporation: Publicly traded aircraft lessor with a younger, fuel-efficient fleet including regional jets. Competes with Falko in providing lease financing to regional and larger airlines globally; broader in product range but overlapping in regional jet lease placements.
• AerCap Holdings: World's largest aircraft lessor with ~3,000+ aircraft across narrowbody, widebody, and regional types. While broader in scope than Falko, AerCap competes for institutional capital and regional airline lease placements, and represents the dominant incumbent Falko must differentiate against.
• Avolon: Major global aircraft lessor owned by Bohai Leasing. Avolon sold a 49-aircraft regional portfolio to Falko in 2019, demonstrating the overlapping business. Avolon now focuses on larger aircraft but remains a benchmark competitor in the regional aircraft lessor space.
• Jackson Square Aviation: Mid-sized global aircraft lessor backed by Mitsubishi HC Capital. Provides narrowbody leasing solutions to regional and larger carriers, comparable to Falko in serving regional airline customers though with broader aircraft type mix.
• SMBC Aviation Capital: One of the world's largest aircraft lessors, owned by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Competes with Falko in regional airline lease placements, particularly in APAC where SMBC has a strong presence; offers broader portfolio including larger narrowbodies.
• Orix Aviation: Aircraft leasing arm of Orix Corporation with a diversified fleet of 200+ aircraft including regional jets. Serves similar global regional airline customers and competes with Falko for institutional capital deployment into aircraft as an asset class.
• Aviation Capital Group (ACG): Aircraft lessor owned by Tokyo Century Corporation with a fleet of ~500 aircraft. Provides regional jet and turboprop financing to airlines globally; competes with Falko for airline lease placements while offering a wider aircraft portfolio.

Direct peers

• Azorra Aviation: Regional aircraft lessor focused on Embraer E-Jets and similar narrowbody platforms serving regional airlines. Comparable to Falko in dedicated regional aircraft focus, customer base (similar US/European airline lessees), and asset management orientation. Ron Baur (Azorra President) has appeared alongside Falko at industry forums.
• Chorus Aviation Capital: Regional aircraft leasing arm of Chorus Aviation Inc. that merged with Falko in 2022, adding ~100 aircraft to Falko's portfolio. Operated in the same regional aircraft segment with overlapping leasing, trading, and asset management activities prior to the merger.
• Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC): Direct regional aircraft lessor focused on turboprops and regional jets; Falko has acquired multiple E-Jet portfolios from NAC (2022 and 2024 deals). NAC and Falko are the two most prominent dedicated regional aircraft lessors globally, both serving similar airline customers with comparable aircraft types.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Falko_ra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/falko-regional-aircraft

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Falko