What Perseus Aviation does

Perseus Aviation is a global aircraft leasing, management, and finance company formed in 2023 by entities affiliated with Apollo Global Management, operating under Apollo Aligned Alternatives (AAA). The company runs an open-m mandate platform investing across aircraft type, age, scale, duration, and structure with a stated focus on risk-adjusted returns and capital preservation backed by a proprietary in-house underwriting framework. Its owned and managed fleet reached 72 aircraft across 12 aircraft types, 31 lessees, and 24 countries as of December 31, 2025.

The platform operates three core revenue activities: aircraft leasing to airlines globally, active aircraft management services (keeping aircraft on lease, extending useful life, optimizing cashflow, and mitigating risk), and aviation finance solutions including structured financing and investment products. GTM is enterprise field sales, targeting airlines alongside institutional investors, family offices, financial advisors, and government agencies. In September 2025, Perseus joined a consortium with Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, and Brookfield to acquire Air Lease Corporation in a $7.4 billion transaction, materially expanding its platform.

Perseus is a private limited partnership (Perseus Aviation L.P.) domiciled in the United States, with a 7-person leadership team spanning CEO, CCO, CTO, General Counsel, and Managing Directors in Capital Markets and Trading & Pricing. The company is differentiated primarily by Apollo's capital backing (over $840 billion in AUM as of June 2025), domain-specific talent, and the ability to assemble large multi-party aviation transactions.

Name

Perseus Aviation

Legal name

Perseus Aviation L.P.

Website

https://perseusaviation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Perseus Aviation is a global aircraft leasing, management, and finance company formed in 2023 by Apollo Global Management affiliates. It operates an open-mandate platform across 72 aircraft, 12 types, 31 lessees, and 24 countries, serving airlines and institutional investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Leasing: Revenue generated through leasing aircraft to airlines globally, with flexible investment mandates across aircraft types, ages, and structures
2. Aircraft Management Services: Management fees for overseeing aircraft portfolios on behalf of investors and partners
3. Aviation Finance Solutions: Custom capital solutions for aviation-related transactions, including structured financing and investment products

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Perseus Aviation is a global aircraft leasing, management, and finance company that owns and manages a diversified fleet of 72 aircraft across 12 types, leased to 31 lessees in 24 countries. The company provides commercial airlines with aircraft leasing, active portfolio management services to keep aircraft on lease and optimize cashflow, and flexible aviation finance and investment solutions targeting risk-adjusted returns with downside protection.

Product overview

Perseus Aviation is a single integrated offering combining aircraft leasing, management, and finance services into one unified platform. The company manages a fleet of 72 aircraft across 12 aircraft types serving 31 lessees in 24 countries, providing end-to-end aviation asset solutions that include aircraft leasing (providing airlines access to diversified aircraft), aircraft management (proactive management to optimize cashflow and mitigate risks), and aircraft finance (investment and financing solutions with flexibility across asset types and structures).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Leasing

Quantifiable outcome

• 72 aircraft owned and managed across 24 countries with 31 lessees

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship.

• Sumitomo CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2025Strategic partner in the $7.4 billion acquisition of Air Lease Corporation through newly established Sumisho Air Lease Corporation (Ireland) DAC. Sumitomo Corporation is an integrated trading and business investment company with operations in 64 countries.
• SMBC Aviation CapitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2025Strategic partner in Air Lease acquisition. SMBC Aviation Capital is a leading aircraft lessor globally by number of aircraft, with an A- and BBB+ rating from S&P and Fitch. Will act as servicer to Sumisho Air Lease's portfolio.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BBAM Aircraft Management: One of the largest third-party aircraft asset managers globally, managing commercial aircraft portfolios on behalf of institutional investors. Highly comparable to Perseus's management services and managed fleet model.
• BOC Aviation: Singapore-listed aircraft lessor majority-owned by Bank of China, operating a globally diversified passenger aircraft portfolio. Comparable model of bank-affiliated global aircraft leasing with multi-region airline customers.
• AerCap Holdings: World's largest aircraft lessor by fleet value, serving commercial airlines globally with a diversified book of owned and managed aircraft. Closest direct competitor in scale, customer base, and global leasing footprint.
• Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE): Global aircraft leasing and servicing company headquartered in Dubai, operating a fleet of owned and managed aircraft across commercial airline customers. Comparable scale and global footprint.
• Avolon Aerospace Leasing: Major global aircraft lessor headquartered in Dublin with a broad commercial aircraft book leased to airlines worldwide. Direct competitor for airline lessee relationships and OEM placements.
• SMBC Aviation Capital: One of the top global aircraft lessors by fleet count, owned by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation. Direct counterparty in the Air Lease acquisition deal and a flagged strategic partner of Perseus.
• Jackson Square Aviation: Private global aircraft lessor founded and managed by industry veterans, serving commercial airlines with a focused portfolio. Closely comparable model to Perseus as a privately funded, sponsor-backed commercial lessor.
• Air Lease Corporation: NYSE-listed global aircraft lessor that was the subject of the $7.4B acquisition (via Sumisho Air Lease Corporation) in which Perseus partnered with Sumitomo, SMBC, and Brookfield. Operates a comparable commercial aircraft leasing book across airlines worldwide.

Emerging players

• Griffin Global Asset Management: Newer alternative-asset platform focused on commercial aircraft investment and management. Comparable thematic positioning as a sponsor-backed aviation asset manager but at an earlier stage of development.

Others

• Castlelake: Global alternative investment manager with a dedicated aviation sector strategy and identified as a strategic partner alongside Brookfield in the Air Lease acquisition. Comparable as a specialty aviation sponsor and co-investor rather than a direct operating lessor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/perseus-aviation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Perseus Aviation