Quarterlytics / Industrials / Rental & Leasing Services / Air Lease

Air Lease

al · NYSE Industrials
Claim this profile
Ticker al
Exchange NYSE
Sector Industrials
Industry Rental & Leasing Services
Employees 11-50
← All annual reports
FY2014 Annual Report · Air Lease
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
ANNUAL REPORT

AIR LEASE CORPORATION

2014

Teamwork Throughout  
the Aircraft Life Cycle

AIR  LEASE  CORPORATION  IS  A  LEADING  AIRCRAFT  LEASING  COMPANY  BASED  IN  LOS  ANGELES, 

CALIFORNIA .  ALC  AND  ITS  TEAM  OF  DEDICATED  AND  EXPERIENCED  PROFESSIONALS  ARE 

PRINCIPALLY  ENGAGED  IN  PURCHASING  NEW  COMMERCIAL  AIRCRAFT  DELIVERING  FROM  ITS 

DIRECT ORDERS WITH BOEING, AIRBUS, EMBRAER, AND ATR, AND LEASING THEM TO ITS AIRLINE 

CUSTOMERS WORLDWIDE THROUGH CUSTOMIZED AIRCRAFT LEASING AND FINANCING SOLUTIONS. 

THE MISSION OF ALC IS TO WORK WITH THESE AIRLINES TO MODERNIZE AND GROW THEIR FLEETS, 

CONSULT WITH MANUFACTURERS AS THEY DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF FUEL-EFFICIENT 

AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT, AND CONTINUE TO EXPLORE STRATEGIC BUSINESS 

SOLUTIONS  FOR  OUR  CLIENTS  TO  SUPPORT  THEIR  GROWTH  AND  SUCCESS.  BEYOND  LEASE 

EXPERTISE, ALC OFFERS ROUTE AND SCHEDULE ANALYSIS, FLEET OPTIMIZATION AND PLANNING, 

AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE PURCHASING CONSULTING, AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT SERVICES, AIRCRAFT 

FINANCING SUPPORT, AIRCRAFT INVESTMENT ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CAN ACT AS 

GLOBAL SERVICER AND MANAGER FOR AIRCRAFT LEASE PORTFOLIOS.

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Our  team  members  are  the  foundation  for  the  strategic  partnerships 
with our manufacturers, suppliers, and financiers that generate leading 
results. Our combined efforts impact every stage of the life cycle of an 
airplane relating to our leasing business. Throughout the pages of this 
annual report you will find a few of our own team members, illustrating 
the heart and talent behind ALC’s collective success.

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Order

Anticipating the Needs  
of our Customers

As a leading customer of Boeing and Airbus, we control one of the largest order books in the aircraft 
leasing industry. Our pipeline of aircraft deliveries over the next decade ensures that we will have the 
most modern and in-demand narrowbody and widebody aircraft in our fleet. We help Boeing and 
Airbus shape aircraft design for the future of aviation. These insights along with regular consultation 
with our airline customers on their business objectives and route networks allow us to make informed 
decisions in constructing our fleet with aircraft that will have the broadest application in the market.

2

Pipeline of Growth  
Through 2023

419

Aircraft on Order
(As of February 26, 2015 including orders subject to confirmation)

3

2014 Global  
Airline Network

80

Customers

47

Countries

4

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Market

Providing Solutions to  
a Global Customer Base

Our Marketing team cultivates long-term customer relationships built on respect, trust, execution, 
responsiveness, creativity, and flexibility. After determining which fleet configuration will optimize 
an  airline’s  operational  requirements,  we  lease  aircraft  from  our  pipeline  that  are  best  suited  to 
meet  those  requirements.  Our  team  works  collaboratively  with  our  customers  to  anticipate 
their  needs  many  years  into  the  future.  With  the  combination  of  favorable  funding  costs, 
volume  pricing,  and  a  strong  balance  sheet,  ALC  is  able  to  deliver  competitive  lease  terms  to  
our airline customers.

5

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Lease

Documenting  
the Transaction

An aircraft lease is not a short-term proposition, but rather a business agreement that lasts for many 
years. Our Legal team negotiates and documents the terms of the lease and works creatively to deliver 
lease provisions that support airline business objectives, while protecting ALC’s long-term interests. 
We pride ourselves in being responsive to our customers’ needs, and conducting ourselves with the 
highest ethical standards.

6

Aircraft Lease  
Agreements  
Signed in 2014

66

Leases

25

Customers

7

Aircraft Components 
Purchased in 2014

70+

Vendors

64,000+ 

Components

8

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Build

Building the Aircraft  
of Tomorrow

The Aircraft Procurement and Specification team turns a lease term sheet into a flying aircraft. 
In addition to the airframe purchase agreements with Boeing and Airbus, we negotiate master 
purchase agreements with numerous component manufacturers for engines, seats, galleys, and 
avionics. We work closely with our airline customers to determine the technical requirements 
for their aircraft, as well as their desired interior configuration. Our team orders all the various 
components and monitors the build and engineering behind each individually specified aircraft.

9

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Deliver

Connecting the Customer  
with the Aircraft

The Contracts team coordinates the related parties and documentation required to physically deliver 
ALC aircraft to our airline customers, ensuring compliance with each agreement written in the lease 
along the way. Our team confirms insurance, various registrations, tax compliance, and physical 
inspections of the aircraft. The documentation never stops, from the time the lease is signed until 
well beyond the delivery. We work tirelessly to make the delivery process seamless for our customers.

10

New Aircraft  
Delivered in 2014

36

Aircraft

14

Customers

11

Fleet Activity in 2014

600,000+

Flight Hours

300,000+

Flight Cycles

12

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Maintain

Protecting the Value  
of our Aircraft

Every ALC aircraft lease is written as triple net, meaning that the airline is responsible for all taxes, 
insurance,  and  maintenance.  Our  Technical  team  monitors  the  utilization  of  each  aircraft  in  our 
fleet and ensures the scheduled maintenance programs are properly performed in a timely fashion.  
The team facilitates our aircraft transitions at lease expiry, as well as sales of ALC aircraft to third 
parties. Our active approach in monitoring the maintenance condition of our fleet helps protect the 
value of our aircraft assets.

13

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Manage

Leveraging our Expertise to  
Grow Management Services

ALC  has  supplemented  our  core  business  model  of  purchasing,  leasing,  and  selling  aircraft  by 
providing comprehensive management services to third party investors. By offering these services, 
we are able to better serve our airline customers who regularly ask us for additional leased aircraft 
beyond our current portfolio or available order pipeline, or where we are nearing ALC’s established 
customer credit or regional risk limits. By charging a fee for these services, we are able to capitalize on 
incremental profitable lease transactions and leverage the broad capabilities of the existing ALC team.

14

Aircraft Fleet Under 
Management

17

Aircraft

15

2014 Financial  
Highlights

$11B

Total Assets

$1B

Revenue

$395M

Pretax Income

38%

Pretax Margin

16

ORDER       MARKET       LEASE       BUILD       DELIVER       MAINTAIN       MANAGE       FINANCE

Finance

Building on our Strong  
Financial Profile

From the outset, our financing strategy has been focused on building an investment grade credit 
profile. With our unsecured funding strategy primarily achieved by issuing long dated unsecured 
notes in the debt capital markets and supplemented with an unsecured bank revolver, we have a 
competitive advantage in the leasing market with increased operational flexibility. Our balance sheet 
has low leverage, targeting 2.5 to 1 debt to equity, and our fixed rate long-term debt exceeds 70% 
of our debt balance. This strategy has allowed ALC to achieve two investment grade corporate credit 
ratings to date, as we continue to strengthen our financial profile with each passing quarter.

17

Steven F. Udvar-Házy
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 

John L. Plueger
President & Chief Operating Officer

18

To Our Fellow Shareholders

By  the  time  you  read  this,  Air  Lease  Corporation  will  have  celebrated  its  fifth  anniversary  and 
concluded another record year. ALC employees, officers, and members of the board of directors 
collectively own ten percent of the company. As significant stakeholders, we believe that consistently 
strong financial and operating results, quarter after quarter and year after year, is the right formula for 
building long-term shareholder value.

ALC concluded 2014 with its first year of over $1 billion in revenues. Importantly, we continued to 
expand our profitability with an industry leading 38% pretax margin. Our team achieved these results 
with consistent portfolio yields from our leases, and simultaneously lengthened the tenor of our debt 
and maintained our cost of funding at 3.6%. We surpassed our long stated goal of having 70% of our 
outstanding debt at fixed rates and ended with a ratio of only 11% secured debt to total assets. These 
metrics were accomplished while staying below our targeted 2.5 to 1 debt to equity ratio. Our leading 
financial metrics have been well received by the capital and bank markets, which have consistently 
supported Air Lease Corporation’s business objectives. We continue to run the Company with very 
conservative financial metrics that strengthen our financial profile with each passing quarter.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that global passenger traffic grew 5.9% 
during 2014, continuing a five year growth and profitability trend that underpins the continued need 
for new aircraft despite the presence of global volatility (geo-political, economic, fuel price, currency). 
To continue meeting these needs and to provide a steady, consistent growth platform well into 
the future, ALC became the launch customer for the Airbus A330neo as announced during the 
Farnborough Airshow in July 2014, and in January 2015 launched the Airbus A321neo 97 ton variant 
with longer range capabilities. These orders represent the conclusion of extensive work with the 
airframe manufacturer to help develop and design new products, which are key to the continued 
improvement in airline performance.

19

At the core of our business, we work closely with airlines to understand their operational needs and 
help develop their long-term fleet plans, and we monetize this work through lease placements from 
our orderbook. In so doing, our team has built a strong brand across our world-wide airline customer 
base. We’ve now built the aircraft leasing industry’s largest order backlog of new aircraft purchased 
directly from aircraft manufacturers. We are confident this positions ALC as a leading distributor of 
the most modern aircraft for years to come.

As a global aircraft marketer, utilizing our well balanced leasing platform, ALC’s owned and managed 
fleet expanded to include 80 airline customers in 47 countries during 2014. Placements remain 
strong and we’ve been able to generate consistent portfolio returns. Our owned fleet has remained 
very young at 3.5 years of age coupled with a very long portfolio lease term of 7.3 years remaining. 
These metrics speak to the fundamental difference in our business model, focusing on delivering 
new aircraft, which produces significantly better results than can be generated as a capital provider 
competing in the sale leaseback market. We compete with our orderbook of new aircraft, current 
fleet inventory, and the ability to provide fleet solutions in addition to our capital resources.

As we’ve previously communicated, we intend to hold aircraft in our fleet for about the first third 
of their 25 year useful lives. We witnessed strong demand from both established players and new 
capital sources looking to acquire quality used aircraft assets during the year and we acted on those 
opportunities. These sales are a natural part of our business that allows us to generate liquidity and 
keep the fleet young. Our conservative balance sheet and long-term lease agreements allow us to 
be selective in choosing when to hold and when to sell assets from our fleet, and we will continue to 
prudently harvest gains on sale as market conditions allow.

With our core business strong, we focused our attention on further building out our management 
business. This year we entered into a joint venture named Blackbird Capital I which will acquire up 
to $2 billion in aircraft over the next two years. Our team will source and manage aircraft for the joint 
venture, as well as structure its financing. We are actively working with our airline customers to offer 
them incremental lease opportunities through the joint venture, allowing us to better serve their needs. 
The joint venture will also provide us with contingent capital that will further reduce our risk profile and 
generate management fees by leveraging the expertise of our existing team. We believe that this joint 
venture serves as a template for how we will build our management business in future years.

We have created a culture that fosters innovation with a unified objective to further strengthen and 
grow our business and shareholder value. We celebrate our fifth anniversary by saying thanks to our 
fabulous ALC team and world-class board of directors, as well as our investors, banks, and suppliers. 
We couldn’t be more excited about the next five years.

Respectfully yours,

Steven F. Udvar-Házy
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 

John L. Plueger
President & Chief Operating Officer

20

 
 
 
 
 
Financial Review

2014 Review 

Selected Financial Data 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Consolidated Balance Sheets 

Consolidated Statements of Income 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Leadership Team 

22

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

74

21

2014 Review

Business

OVERVIEW

Air Lease Corporation (the “Company”, “ALC”, “we”, “our” or “us”), is a leading aircraft leasing company that was 
founded  by  aircraft  leasing  industry  pioneer,  Steven  F.  Udvar-Házy.  We  are  principally  engaged  in  purchasing  new 
commercial jet transport aircraft directly from aircraft manufacturers, such as The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) and 
Airbus S.A.S. (“Airbus”), and leasing those aircraft to airlines throughout the world. In addition to our leasing activities, 
we sell aircraft from our operating lease portfolio to third parties, including other leasing companies, fi nancial services 
companies and airlines. We also provide fl eet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios for 
a management fee.

We currently have relationships with over 200 airlines across 70 countries. We operate our business on a global basis, 
providing aircraft to airline customers in every major geographical region, including markets such as Asia, the Pacifi c 
Rim, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Many of these markets are experiencing increased demand 
for passenger airline travel and have lower market saturation than more mature markets such as North America and 
Western Europe. We expect that these markets will also present signifi cant replacement opportunities in upcoming 
years as some airlines in these markets look to replace aging aircraft with new, modern technology, fuel effi cient jet 
aircraft. An important focus of our strategy is meeting the needs of this replacement market. Airlines in some of these 
markets have fewer fi nancing alternatives, enabling us to command relatively higher lease rates compared to those 
in more mature markets.

We  mitigate  the  risks  of  owning  and  leasing  aircraft  through  careful  management  and  diversifi cation  of  our  leases 
and  lessees  by  geography,  lease  term,  and  aircraft  age  and  type.  We  believe  that  diversifi cation  of  our  operating 
lease  portfolio  reduces  the  risks  associated  with  individual  lessee  defaults  and  adverse  geopolitical  and  regional 
economic  events.  We  mitigate  the  risks  associated  with  cyclical  variations  in  the  airline  industry  by  managing 
customer  concentrations  and  lease  maturities  in  our  operating  lease  portfolio  to  minimize  periods  of  concentrated 
lease expirations. In order to maximize residual values and minimize the risk of obsolescence, our strategy is to own 
an aircraft during the fi rst third of its expected 25 year useful life.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we took delivery of 36 aircraft from our new order pipeline and we sold 16 
aircraft, ending the year with a total of 213 aircraft. We leased the aircraft in our fl eet to a globally diversifi ed customer 
base  comprised  of  77  airlines  in  46  countries.  The  weighted-average  lease  term  remaining  of  our  operating  lease 
portfolio was 7.3 years and the weighted-average age of our fl eet was 3.5 years as of December 31, 2014. In addition, 
we managed 17 jet aircraft for third parties as of December 31, 2014.

During  2014,  we  entered  into  defi nitive  agreements  with  Airbus,  Boeing  and  Avions  de  Transport  Régional  (“ATR”) 
to purchase 97 additional aircraft. From Airbus, we agreed to purchase 60 A321neo aircraft, two A321-200 aircraft 
and one A320-200 aircraft. From Boeing, we agreed to purchase six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, one 737-800 aircraft 
and confi rmed the purchase of 20 737-8/9 MAX aircraft which were previously subject to reconfi rmation. From ATR, 
we agreed to purchase seven ATR 72-600 aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to commence in 2015 and 
continue through 2023. As of December 31, 2014, we had, in the aggregate, 364 aircraft on order with Boeing, Airbus 
and ATR for delivery through 2023, with an estimated aggregate purchase price of $28.8 billion, making us one of the 
largest customers of Boeing and Airbus.

22

We were the fi rst launch customer for the Airbus A330neo aircraft and A321LR aircraft. In July 2014, we entered into 
a  non-binding  memorandum  of  understanding  with  Airbus  to  purchase  25  A330neo  aircraft.  In  January  2015,  we 
entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Airbus to purchase 30 A321LR aircraft. Deliveries of 
the aircraft are scheduled to commence in 2018 and continue through 2023.

As of December 31, 2014, all of our 213 aircraft were leased. Our airline customers were obligated to make $7.5 billion 
in minimum future rental payments over the non-cancellable lease term. In addition, we have signed lease agreements 
for 99 aircraft that we ordered from the manufacturers for delivery through 2023. Under these lease agreements our 
airline customers are contractually obligated to make $9.0 billion in minimum future rental payments over the non-
cancellable lease term. In the aggregate, between aircraft we own in our operating lease portfolio and those that we 
have leased from our orderbook, our customers are contractually obligated to make $16.5 billion in minimum future 
rental payments.

We  fi nance  the  purchase  of  aircraft  and  our  business  with  available  cash  balances,  internally  generated  funds, 
including aircraft sales and trading activities, and debt fi nancings. Our debt fi nancing strategy is focused on raising 
unsecured debt in the global bank and capital markets, with a limited utilization of export credit or secured fi nancing. 
We ended 2014 with total debt outstanding of $6.7 billion, of which 75.2% was at a fi xed rate and 82.3% of which 
was unsecured, with a composite cost of funds of 3.64%.

In 2014, we had total revenues of $1.1 billion, representing an increase of $191.8 million or 22.3% compared to 2013. 
This is comprised of rental revenues on our operating lease portfolio of $991.2 million and aircraft sales, trading and 
other  revenue  of  $59.3  million.  We  recorded  earnings  before  income  taxes  of  $394.8  million  in  2014,  an  increase 
of  $101.3  million  or  34.5%  compared  to  2013,  for  a  pretax  profi t  margin  of  37.6%.  Our  operating  performance  is 
principally  driven  by  the  growth  of  our  fl eet,  the  terms  of  our  leases  and  the  interest  rates  on  our  indebtedness, 
supplemented by the gains of our aircraft sales and trading activities and management fees.

OPERATIONS TO DATE

Current Fleet
As of December 31, 2014, we owned 213 aircraft, comprised of 163 single-aisle narrowbody jet aircraft, 32 twin-aisle 
widebody jet aircraft and 18 turboprop aircraft, with a weighted-average age of 3.5 years. As of December 31, 2013, 
we owned 193 aircraft, comprised of 146 single-aisle narrowbody jet aircraft, 31 twin-aisle widebody jet aircraft and 
16 turboprop aircraft, with a weighted-average age of 3.7 years. In addition, we also managed 17 jet aircraft for third 
party owners on a fee basis as of December 31, 2014.

Geographic Diversifi cation
Over 95% of our aircraft are operated internationally. The following table sets forth the dollar amount and percentage 
of our rental of fl ight equipment revenues attributable to the respective geographical regions based on each airline’s 
principal place of business:

Region 

Rental Revenue 

% of Total  

Rental Revenue 

% of Total  

Rental Revenue 

% of Total

Year Ended 

December 31, 2014 

Year Ended 

December 31, 2013 

Year Ended 

December 31, 2012

Amount of 

Amount of 

Amount of

(dollars in thousands)
Asia  
Europe 
Central America,  
  South America 
  and Mexico  
The Middle East and Africa 
Pacifi c, Australia, 
  New Zealand 
U.S. and Canada 

$409,014 
337,349 

41.3% 
34.0% 

$299,472 
300,761 

35.8% 
36.0% 

$204,675 
253,376 

111,583 
47,958 

30,330 
55,007 

11.3% 
4.9% 

3.1% 
5.4% 

107,857 
55,624 

15,436 
57,366 

12.9% 
6.6% 

1.8% 
6.9% 

84,341 
39,398 

10,862 
53,201 

31.7%
39.2%

13.1%
6.1%

1.7%
8.2%

  Total 

$991,241 

100.0% 

$836,516 

100.0% 

$645,853 

100.0%

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table sets forth the regional concentration of our owned aircraft portfolio based on net book value as of 
December 31, 2014 and 2013:

Region 

(dollars in thousands)
Asia  
Europe 
Central America, South America and Mexico  
The Middle East and Africa 
Pacifi c, Australia, New Zealand 
U.S. and Canada 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

Net Book 

 Net Book

Value 

% of Total  

Value 

% of Total

$3,838,523 
2,953,232 
778,991 
498,896 
471,630 
412,532 

42.9% 
33.0% 
8.7% 
5.6% 
5.2% 
4.6% 

$3,165,367 
2,656,816 
829,930 
372,618 
151,751 
436,653 

41.6%
34.9%
10.9%
4.9%
2.0%
5.7%

  Total 

$8,953,804 

100.0% 

$7,613,135 

100.0%

At December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, we owned and managed leased aircraft to customers in the following regions:

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

December 31, 2012

Region  
Asia  
Europe 
Central America,  
  South America and Mexico 
The Middle East and Africa 
Pacifi c, Australia, New Zealand 
U.S. and Canada 

  Total 

Number of 

Customers (1) 
29 
24 

10 
7 
2 
8 

80 

(1) A customer is an airline with its own operating certifi cate.

% of Total 
36.3% 
30.0% 

12.5% 
8.8% 
2.4% 
10.0% 

100.0% 

Number of 

Customers (1) 
29 
21 

12 
7 
2 
8 

79 

% of Total 
36.7% 
26.6% 

15.2% 
8.9% 
2.5% 
10.1% 

100.0% 

Number of

Customers (1) 
26 
17 

9 
8 
2 
7 

% of Total
37.7%
24.6%

13.0%
11.6%
3.0%
10.1%

69 

100.0%

In 2014, rental of fl ight equipment revenue attributable to China was $218.6 million or 22.1%, and represented our 
only country concentration in excess of 10%. In 2013, rental of fl ight equipment revenue attributable to China was 
$129.8 million or 15.5%, and represented our only country concentration in excess of 10%. In 2012, three countries 
represented  at  least  10%  of  our  rental  revenue.  Rental  of  fl ight  equipment  revenue  attributable  to  China,  Italy  and 
France was $75.5 million or 11.7%, $71.0 million or 11.0% and $67.4 million or 10.4%, respectively.

In 2014 and 2013, no individual airline represented at least 10% of our rental of fl ight equipment revenue. In 2012, 
one airline represented at least 10% of our rental of fl ight equipment revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2012, 
Alitalia attributed for $71.0 million of 11.0% of our rental fl ight equipment revenue.

AIRCRAFT ACQUISITION STRATEGY

We seek to acquire the most highly in demand and widely distributed, modern technology, fuel effi cient narrowbody 
and widebody commercial jet transport aircraft. Our strategy is to order new aircraft directly from the manufacturers. 
When placing new aircraft orders with the manufacturers, we strategically target the replacement of aging aircraft with 
modern technology aircraft. Additionally, we look to supplement our order pipeline with opportunistic purchases of 
aircraft in the secondary market and participate in sale-leaseback transactions with airlines.

Prior to ordering aircraft, we evaluate the market for specifi c types of aircraft. We consider the overall demand for 
the aircraft in the marketplace based on our deep knowledge of the aviation industry and our customer relationships. 
It is important to assess the airplane’s economic viability, the operating performance characteristics, engine variant 
options, intended utilization by our customers, and which aircraft types it will replace or compete with in the global 
market.  Additionally,  we  study  the  effects  of  global  airline  passenger  traffi c  growth  in  order  to  determine  the  likely 
demand for our new aircraft.

24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For new aircraft deliveries, we source many components separately, which include seats, safety equipment, avionics, 
galleys, cabin fi nishes, engines and other equipment. Often times we are able to achieve lower pricing through direct 
bulk purchase contracts with the component manufacturers than would be achievable if the airframe manufacturers 
sourced  the  components  for  the  airplane.  Manufacturers  such  as  Boeing  and  Airbus  install  this  buyer  furnished 
equipment in our aircraft during the fi nal assembly process at their facilities. With this purchasing strategy, we are able 
to meet specifi c customer confi guration requirements and lower the total acquisition cost of the aircraft.

AIRCRAFT LEASING STRATEGY

The  airline  industry  is  a  complex  industry  with  constantly  evolving  competition,  code  shares  (where  two  or  more 
airlines share the same fl ight), alliances and passenger traffi c patterns. This requires frequent updating and fl exibility 
within an airline’s fl eet. The operating lease allows airlines to effectively adapt and manage their fl eets through varying 
market  conditions  without  bearing  the  full  fi nancial  risk  associated  with  these  capital  intensive  assets  which  have 
an expected 25 year useful life. This fl eet fl exibility enables airlines to more effectively operate and compete in their 
respective markets. We work closely with our airline customers throughout the world to help optimize their long-term 
aircraft fl eet strategies.

We  work  to  mitigate  the  risks  of  owning  and  leasing  aircraft  through  careful  management  of  our  fl eet,  including 
managing  customer  concentrations  by  geography  and  region,  staggering  lease  maturities,  balancing  aircraft  type 
exposures, and maintaining a young fl eet age. We believe that diversifi cation of our operating lease portfolio reduces 
the risks associated with individual customer defaults and the impact of adverse geopolitical and regional economic 
events.  We  work  to  mitigate  the  risks  associated  with  cyclical  variations  in  the  airline  industry  by  entering  into 
long-term leases and staggering our lease maturities. In order to maximize residual values and minimize the risk of 
obsolescence,  our  strategy  is  generally  to  own  an  aircraft  for  approximately  the  fi rst  third  of  its  expected  25  year 
useful life.

Our management team identifi es prospective airline customers based upon industry knowledge and long-standing 
relationships.  Prior  to  leasing  an  aircraft,  we  evaluate  the  competitive  positioning  of  the  airline,  the  strength  and 
quality  of  the  management  team,  and  the  fi nancial  performance  of  the  airline.  Management  obtains  and  reviews 
relevant  business  materials  from  all  prospective  customers  before  entering  into  a  lease  agreement.  Under  certain 
circumstances,  the  customer  may  be  required  to  obtain  guarantees  or  other  fi nancial  support  from  a  fi nancial 
institution. We work closely with our existing customers and potential lessees to develop customized lease structures 
that address their specifi c needs. We typically enter into a lease agreement 18 to 36 months in advance of the delivery 
of a new aircraft from our order pipeline. Once the aircraft has been delivered and operated by the airline, we look 
to remarket the aircraft and sign a follow-on lease six to 12 months ahead of the scheduled expiry of the initial lease 
term. Our leases typically contain the following key provisions:

•  our leases are primarily structured as operating leases, whereby we retain the residual rights to the aircraft;
•   our  leases  are  triple  net  leases,  whereby  the  lessee  is  responsible  for  all  operating  costs  including  taxes, 

insurance, and aircraft maintenance;

•  our leases typically require all payments be made in U.S. dollars;
•  our leases are typically for fi xed rates and terms;
•  our leases typically require cash security deposits and maintenance reserve payments; and
•   our leases contain provisions which require payment whether or not the aircraft is operated, irrespective of 

the circumstances.

The lessee is responsible for compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to the aircraft. We require 
our lessees to comply with the standards of either the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) or its equivalent in 
foreign jurisdictions. As a function of these laws and the provisions in our lease contracts, the lessees are responsible 
to perform all maintenance of the aircraft and return the aircraft and its components in a specifi ed return condition. 
Generally, we receive a cash deposit and maintenance reserves as security for the lessee’s performance of obligations 
under the lease and the condition of the aircraft upon return. In addition, most leases contain extensive provisions 
regarding our remedies and rights in the event of a default by a lessee. The lessee generally is required to continue to 
make lease payments under all circumstances, including periods during which the aircraft is not in operation due to 
maintenance or grounding.

25

Some foreign countries have currency and exchange laws regulating the international transfer of currencies. When 
necessary, we may require, as a condition to any foreign transaction, that the lessee or purchaser in a foreign country 
obtain  the  necessary  approvals  of  the  appropriate  government  agency,  fi nance  ministry  or  central  bank  for  the 
remittance of all funds contractually owed in U.S. dollars. We attempt to minimize our currency and exchange risks 
by negotiating the designated payment currency in our leases to be U.S. dollars. To meet the needs of certain of our 
airline customers, we have agreed to accept certain of our lease payments in a foreign currency. After we agree to the 
rental payment currency with an airline, the negotiated currency typically remains for the term of the lease. We may 
enter into contracts to mitigate our foreign currency risk, but we expect that the economic risk arising from foreign 
currency denominated leases will be insignifi cant to us.

We may, in connection with the lease of used aircraft, agree to contribute specifi c additional amounts to the cost of 
certain fi rst major overhauls or modifi cations, which usually refl ect the usage of the aircraft prior to the commencement 
of the lease, and which are typically covered by the prior operator’s usage fees. We may be obligated under the leases 
to make reimbursements of maintenance reserves previously received to lessees for expenses incurred for certain 
planned major maintenance. We also, on occasion, may contribute towards aircraft modifi cations and recover any 
such costs over the life of the lease.

Monitoring
During the lease term, we closely follow the operating and fi nancial performance of our lessees. We maintain a high 
level of communication with the lessee and frequently evaluate the state of the market in which the lessee operates, 
including  the  impact  of  changes  in  passenger  air  travel  and  preferences,  emerging  competition,  new  government 
regulations, regional catastrophes and other unforeseen shocks that are relevant to the airline’s market. This enables 
us  to  identify  lessees  that  may  be  experiencing  operating  and  fi nancial  diffi culties.  This  identifi cation  assists  us  in 
assessing  the  lessee’s  ability  to  fulfi ll  its  obligations  under  the  lease.  This  monitoring  also  identifi es  candidates, 
where appropriate, to restructure the lease prior to the lessee’s insolvency or the initiation of bankruptcy or similar 
proceedings. Once an insolvency or bankruptcy occurs we typically have less control over, and would most likely incur 
greater costs in connection with, the restructuring of the lease or the repossession of the aircraft.

During  the  life  of  the  lease,  situations  may  lead  us  to  restructure  leases  with  our  lessees.  When  we  repossess  an 
aircraft leased in a foreign country, we generally expect to export the aircraft from the lessee’s jurisdiction. In some 
very limited situations, the lessees may not fully cooperate in returning the aircraft. In those cases, we will take legal 
action in the appropriate jurisdictions, a process that could ultimately delay the return and export of the aircraft. In 
addition, in connection with the repossession of an aircraft, we may be required to pay outstanding mechanics’ liens, 
airport charges, and navigation fees and other amounts secured by liens on the repossessed aircraft. These charges 
could relate to other aircraft that we do not own but were operated by the lessee.

Remarketing
Our lease agreements are generally structured to require lessees to notify us nine to 12 months in advance of the lease’s 
expiration if a lessee desires to renew or extend the lease. Requiring lessees to provide us with such advance notice 
provides our management team with an extended period of time to consider a broad set of alternatives with respect to 
the aircraft, including assessing general market and competitive conditions and preparing to remarket or sell the aircraft. 
If a lessee fails to provide us with notice, the lease will automatically expire at the end of the term, and the lessee will be 
required to return the aircraft pursuant to the conditions in the lease. Our leases contain detailed provisions regarding 
the required condition of the aircraft and its components upon redelivery at the end of the lease term.

26

AIRCRAFT SALES & TRADING STRATEGY

Our strategy is to maintain a portfolio of young aircraft with a widely diversifi ed customer base. In order to achieve 
this profi le, we primarily order new planes directly from the manufacturers, place them on long-term leases, and sell 
the aircraft when they near the end of the fi rst third of their expected 25 year economic useful lives. We typically sell 
aircraft that are currently operated by an airline with multiple years of lease term remaining on the contract, in order to 
achieve the maximum disposition value of the aircraft. Buyers of the aircraft may include leasing companies, fi nancial 
institutions and airlines. We also buy and sell aircraft on an opportunistic basis for trading profi ts. Additionally, we may 
provide management services of the aircraft asset to the buyer for a fee.

AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

We supplement our core business model by providing fl eet management services to third party investors and owners 
of  aircraft  portfolios  for  a  management  fee.  This  allows  us  to  better  serve  our  airline  customers  and  expand  our 
existing airline customer base by providing additional leasing opportunities beyond our own aircraft portfolio, new 
order pipeline and customer or regional concentration limits.

FINANCING STRATEGY

We  fi nance  the  purchase  of  aircraft  and  our  business  with  available  cash  balances,  internally  generated  funds, 
including aircraft sales and trading activity, and debt fi nancings. We have structured the Company to have investment 
grade credit metrics and our debt fi nancing strategy has focused on funding our business on an unsecured basis. 
Unsecured fi nancing provides us with operational fl exibility when selling or transitioning aircraft from one airline to 
another. We may, to a limited extent, utilize export credit fi nancing in support of our new aircraft deliveries.

INSURANCE

We require our lessees to carry those types of insurance that are customary in the air transportation industry, including 
comprehensive liability insurance, aircraft all-risk hull insurance and war risk insurance covering risks such as hijacking, 
terrorism (but excluding coverage for weapons of mass destruction and nuclear events), confi scation, expropriation, 
seizure and nationalization. We generally require a certifi cate of insurance from the lessee’s insurance broker prior to 
delivery of an aircraft. Generally, all certifi cates of insurance contain a breach of warranty endorsement so that our 
interests are not prejudiced by any act or omission of the lessee. Lease agreements generally require hull and liability 
limits to be in U.S. dollars, which are shown on the certifi cate of insurance.

Insurance premiums are to be paid by the lessee, with coverage acknowledged by the broker or carrier. The territorial 
coverage, in each case, should be suitable for the lessee’s area of operations. We generally require that the certifi cates 
of insurance contain, among other provisions, a provision prohibiting cancellation or material change without at least 
30 days’ advance written notice to the insurance broker (who would be obligated to give us prompt notice), except 
in  the  case  of  hull  war  insurance  policies,  which  customarily  only  provide  seven  days’  advance  written  notice  for 
cancellation  and  may  be  subject  to  shorter  notice  under  certain  market  conditions.  Furthermore,  the  insurance  is 
primary  and  not  contributory,  and  we  require  that  all  insurance  carriers  be  required  to  waive  rights  of  subrogation 
against us.

The stipulated loss value schedule under aircraft hull insurance policies is on an agreed-value basis acceptable to us 
and usually exceeds the book value of the aircraft. In cases where we believe that the agreed value stated in the lease 
is  not  suffi cient,  we  make  arrangements  to  cover  such  defi ciency,  which  would  include  the  purchase  of  additional 
“Total Loss Only” coverage for the defi ciency.

Aircraft  hull  policies  generally  contain  standard  clauses  covering  aircraft  engines.  The  lessee  is  required  to  pay  all 
deductibles. Furthermore, the hull war policies generally contain full war risk endorsements, including, but not limited 
to, confi scation (where available), seizure, hijacking and similar forms of retention or terrorist acts.

27

The comprehensive liability insurance listed on certifi cates of insurance generally includes provisions for bodily injury, 
property damage, passenger liability, cargo liability and such other provisions reasonably necessary in commercial 
passenger and cargo airline operations. We expect that such certifi cates of insurance list combined comprehensive 
single liability limits of not less than $500.0 million for Airbus and Boeing aircraft and $200.0 million for Embraer S.A. 
(“Embraer”) and ATR aircraft. As a standard in the industry, airline operator’s policies contain a sublimit for third party 
war risk liability in the amount of $50.0 million. We require each lessee to purchase higher limits of third party war risk 
liability or obtain an indemnity from its respective government.

In  late  2005,  the  international  aviation  insurance  market  unilaterally  introduced  exclusions  for  physical  damage  to 
aircraft hulls caused by dirty bombs, bio-hazardous materials and electromagnetic pulsing. Exclusions for the same 
type of perils could be introduced into liability policies.

Separately,  we  purchase  contingent  liability  insurance  and  contingent  hull  insurance  on  all  aircraft  in  our  fl eet  and 
maintain other insurance covering the specifi c needs of our business operations. We believe our insurance is adequate 
both as to coverages and amounts.

We cannot assure investors that our lessees will be adequately insured against all risks, that lessees will at all times 
comply with their obligations to maintain insurance, that any particular claim will be paid, or that lessees will be able 
to obtain adequate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates in the future.

COMPETITION

The leasing, remarketing and sale of aircraft is highly competitive. We face competition from aircraft manufacturers, 
banks,  fi nancial  institutions,  other  leasing  companies,  aircraft  brokers  and  airlines.  Some  of  our  competitors  may 
have  greater  operating  and  fi nancial  resources  and  access  to  lower  capital  costs  than  we  have.  Competition  for 
leasing transactions is based on a number of factors, including delivery dates, lease rates, lease terms, other lease 
provisions, aircraft condition and the availability in the marketplace of the types of aircraft required to meet the needs 
of airline customers. Competition in the purchase and sale of used aircraft is based principally on the availability of 
used aircraft, price, the terms of the lease to which an aircraft is subject and the creditworthiness of the lessee, if any.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

The air transportation industry is highly regulated. We do not operate commercial aircraft, and thus may not be directly 
subject to many industry laws and regulations, such as regulations of the U.S. Department of State (the “DOS”), the 
U.S.  Department  of  Transportation,  or  their  counterpart  organizations  in  foreign  countries  regarding  the  operation 
of  aircraft  for  public  transportation  of  passengers  and  property.  As  discussed  below,  however,  we  are  subject  to 
government  regulation  in  a  number  of  respects.  In  addition,  our  lessees  are  subject  to  extensive  regulation  under 
the  laws  of  the  jurisdictions  in  which  they  are  registered  or  operate.  These  laws  govern,  among  other  things,  the 
registration, operation, maintenance and condition of the aircraft.

We are required to register our aircraft with an aviation authority mutually agreed upon with our lessee. Each aircraft 
registered to fl y must have a Certifi cate of Airworthiness, which is a certifi cate demonstrating the aircraft’s compliance 
with applicable government rules and regulations and that the aircraft is considered airworthy. Each airline we lease 
to must have a valid operation certifi cate to operate our aircraft. Our lessees are obligated to maintain the Certifi cates 
of Airworthiness for the aircraft they lease.

Our involvement with the civil aviation authorities of foreign jurisdictions consists largely of requests to register and 
deregister our aircraft on those countries’ registries.

28

We are also subject to the regulatory authority of the DOS and the U.S. Department of Commerce (the “DOC”) to the 
extent such authority relates to the export of aircraft for lease and sale to foreign entities and the export of parts to be 
installed on our aircraft. We may be required to obtain export licenses for parts installed in aircraft exported to foreign 
countries. The DOC and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (through its Offi ce of Foreign Assets Control) impose 
restrictions on the operation of U.S.-made goods, such as aircraft and engines, in sanctioned countries, as well as 
on the ability of U.S. companies to conduct business with entities in those countries. The U.S. Patriot Act of 2001 
(the “Patriot Act”) prohibits fi nancial transactions by U.S. persons, including U.S. individuals, entities and charitable 
organizations, with individuals and organizations designated as terrorists and terrorist supporters by the U.S. Secretary 
of State or the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a law enforcement agency of 
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, enforces regulations related to the import of aircraft into the United States 
for maintenance or lease and the importation of parts into the U.S. for installation.

Jurisdictions in which aircraft are registered as well as jurisdictions in which they operate may impose regulations 
relating to noise and emission standards. In addition, most countries’ aviation laws require aircraft to be maintained 
under  an  approved  maintenance  program  with  defi ned  procedures  and  intervals  for  inspection,  maintenance  and 
repair. To the extent that aircraft are not subject to a lease or a lessee is not in compliance, we are required to comply 
with such requirements, possibly at our own expense.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2014, we had 65 full-time employees. On average, our senior management team has approximately 
24  years  of  experience  in  the  commercial  aviation  industry.  None  of  our  employees  are  represented  by  a  union  or 
collective bargaining agreements.

ACCESS TO OUR INFORMATION

We  fi le  annual,  quarterly,  current  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with  the  Securities  and 
Exchange  Commission  (the  “SEC”).  We  make  our  public  SEC  fi lings  available,  at  no  cost,  through  our  website  at 
www.airleasecorp.com as soon as reasonably practicable after the report is electronically fi led with, or furnished to, 
the SEC. The information contained on or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual 
Report on Form 10-K and should not be considered part of this or any other report fi led with the SEC. We will also 
provide these reports in electronic or paper format free of charge upon written request made to Investor Relations 
at 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1000N, Los Angeles, California 90067. Our SEC fi lings are also available free of 
charge  on  the  SEC’s  website  at  www.sec.gov.  The  public  may  also  read  and  copy  any  document  we  fi le  with  the 
SEC at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room.

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Air Lease Corporation incorporated in Delaware and launched in February 2010. Our website is www.airleasecorp.com. 
We may post information that is important to investors on our website. Information included or referred to on, or otherwise 
accessible through, our website is not intended to form a part of or be incorporated by reference into this report.

29

Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder 
Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

MARKET INFORMATION

Our Class A common stock has been quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “AL” 
since April 19, 2011. Prior to that time, there was no public market for our stock. As of December 31, 2014, there were 
102,392,208 shares of Class A common stock outstanding held by approximately 196 holders of record.

On February 25, 2015 the closing price of our Class A common stock was $38.76 per share as reported by the NYSE. 
The table below sets forth for the indicated periods the high and low sales prices for our Class A common stock as 
reported on the NYSE.

Fiscal Year 2014 Quarters Ended: 

March 31, 2014 
June 30, 2014 
September 30, 2014 
December 31, 2014 

Fiscal Year 2013 Quarters Ended: 

March 31, 2013 
June 30, 2013 
September 30, 2013 
December 31, 2013 

High 

$37.69 
$42.44 
$38.88 
$38.74 

High 

$29.36 
$30.58 
$28.67 
$33.29 

Low

$30.27
$34.68
$32.50
$31.06

Low

$21.89
$26.18
$25.80
$27.73

DIVIDENDS

In  February  2013,  our  Board  of  Directors  adopted  a  cash  dividend  policy  pursuant  to  which  we  intended  to  pay 
quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share on our outstanding common stock. In November 2013, we raised our 
quarterly cash dividend by 20% to $0.03 per share on our outstanding common stock. In November 2014, we raised 
our quarterly cash dividend by 33% to $0.04 per share on our outstanding common stock. There were no dividends 
declared or paid during 2012 or 2011.

While  the  Board  of  Directors  paid  a  quarterly  cash  dividend  in  2014  and  currently  expects  to  continue  paying  a 
quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share for the foreseeable future, the cash dividend policy can be changed at any 
time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

STOCK AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

Set forth below is certain information about the Class A common stock authorized for issuance under the Company’s 
equity compensation plan.

Plan Category

options, warrants and rights

options, warrants and rights

securities refl ected in column (a))

Number of securities to be issued 

Weighted-average exercise 

available for future issuance under 

upon exercise of outstanding 

price of outstanding 

equity compensation plans (excluding 

Number of securities remaining 

Equity compensation plans 
  approved by security holders 
Equity compensation plans not 
  approved by security holders 
  Total 

(a) 

3,580,283 

— 
3,580,283 

(b) 

$20.34 

— 
$20.34 

(c)

6,648,524

—
6,648,524

30

 
 
 
PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The  graph  below  compares  the  cumulative  return  since  April  19,  2011  of  the  Company’s  Class  A  common  stock, 
the S&P Midcap 400 Index, the Russell 2000 Index and a customized peer group. The peer group consists of three 
companies: Aircastle Limited (NYSE: AYR), AerCap Holdings NV (NYSE: AER) and FLY Leasing Limited (NYSE: FLY). 
The  peer  group  investment  is  weighted  by  market  capitalization  as  of  April  19,  2011,  and  is  adjusted  monthly.  An 
investment of $100, with reinvestment of all dividends, is assumed to have been made in our Class A common stock, 
in the peer group and in the S&P Midcap 400 Index and in the Russell 2000 Index on April 19, 2011, and the relative 
performance of each is tracked through December 31, 2014. The stock price performance shown in the graph is not 
necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Comparison of 44 Month Cumulative Total Return
Assumes Initial Investment of $100
December 31, 2014

260

240

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

4/19/2011

6/30/2011

9/30/2011

12/31/2011

3/31/2012

6/30/2012

9/30/2012

12/31/2012

3/31/2013

6/30/2013

9/30/2013

12/31/2013

3/31/2014

6/30/2014

9/30/2014

12/31/2014

Air Lease

S&P Midcap 
400 Index

Russel 2000 
Index

Peer Group

COMPANY PURCHASES OF STOCK

The Company did not purchase any shares of its Class A common stock during 2014.

31

Management’s Discussion and Analysis 
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

OVERVIEW

Air  Lease  Corporation  is  a  leading  aircraft  leasing  company  that  was  founded  by  aircraft  leasing  industry  pioneer, 
Steven F. Udvar-Házy. We are principally engaged in purchasing new commercial jet transport aircraft directly from 
aircraft  manufacturers,  such  as  Boeing  and  Airbus,  and  leasing  those  aircraft  to  airlines  throughout  the  world.  In 
addition  to  our  leasing  activities,  we  sell  aircraft  from  our  operating  lease  portfolio  to  third  parties,  including  other 
leasing companies, fi nancial services companies and airlines. We also provide fl eet management services to investors 
and owners of aircraft portfolios for a management fee. Our operating performance is driven by the growth of our fl eet, 
the terms of our leases, the interest rates on our indebtedness and the terms of our aircraft sales and trading activities.

We ended 2014 with 213 aircraft in our operating lease portfolio and an additional 364 aircraft on order with Boeing, 
Airbus and ATR. Our operating lease portfolio of 213 aircraft as of December 31, 2014, is comprised of 163 single-aisle 
narrowbody jet aircraft, 32 twin-aisle widebody jet aircraft and 18 turboprop aircraft, with a weighted-average age of 
3.5 years. We ended 2013 with 193 aircraft, comprised of 146 single-aisle jet aircraft, 31 twin-aisle widebody aircraft 
and 16 turboprop aircraft, with a weighted-average age of 3.7 years. Our fl eet grew by 17.6% based on net book value 
to $9.0 billion as of December 31, 2014 compared to $7.6 billion as of December 31, 2013.

We increased our rental revenue by 18.5% or $154.7 million to $991.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, 
compared to $836.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in rental revenue was primarily due 
to the delivery of 36 additional aircraft, all of which were leased at the time of delivery, partially offset by the sale of 
16 aircraft from our operating lease portfolio. Due to the timing of aircraft deliveries and sales, the impact on rental 
revenue will be refl ected in subsequent periods.

We  recorded  earnings  before  income  taxes  of  $394.8  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014  compared 
to  $293.4  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013,  an  increase  of  $101.3  million  or  34.5%.  Our  profi tability 
increased  year  over  year  as  our  pretax  profi t  margin  increased  to  37.6%  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014, 
compared to 34.2% for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our earnings per share also increased, as we recorded 
diluted earnings per share of $2.38 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $1.80 for the year ended 
December 31, 2013, an increase of 32.2%.

As of December 31, 2014, all of our 213 aircraft were leased. Our airline customers were obligated to pay us $7.5 
billion  in  minimum  future  rental  payments  over  the  non-cancellable  lease  term.  In  addition,  we  have  signed  lease 
agreements  for  99  aircraft  that  we  ordered  from  the  manufacturers  for  delivery  through  2023.  Under  these  lease 
agreements our airline customers are contractually obligated to pay us $9.0 billion in minimum future rental payments 
over the non-cancellable lease term. In the aggregate, between aircraft we own in our operating lease portfolio and 
those that we have leased from our orderbook, our customers are contractually obligated to pay us $16.5 billion in 
minimum future rental payments.

During 2014, the Company entered into defi nitive agreements with Airbus, Boeing and ATR to purchase 97 additional 
aircraft. From Airbus, we agreed to purchase 60 A321neo aircraft, two A321-200 aircraft and one A320-200 aircraft. 
From Boeing, we agreed to purchase six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, one 737-800 aircraft and confi rmed the purchase 
of 20 737-8/9 MAX aircraft which were previously subject to reconfi rmation. From ATR, we agreed to purchase seven 
ATR 72-600 aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to commence in 2015 and continue through 2023.

We were the fi rst launch customer for the Airbus A330neo aircraft and the A321LR aircraft. In July 2014, we entered 
into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Airbus to purchase 25 A330neo aircraft. In January 2015, we 
entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Airbus to purchase 30 A321LR aircraft. Deliveries of 
the aircraft are scheduled to commence in 2018 and continue through 2023.

32

On November 4, 2014, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a joint venture with a co-investment 
vehicle arranged by Napier Park Global Capital (US) LP (“Napier Park”) for the purpose of investing in commercial 
aircraft and leasing them to airlines around the globe. The Company’s non-controlling interest in the joint venture is 
9.5%. The joint venture is expected to acquire total aircraft assets of approximately $2.0 billion by year-end 2016, 
fi nanced with up to $500 million in equity and the remainder fi nanced by a committed warehouse credit facility and 
other forms of debt fi nancing. We expect to sell aircraft from our portfolio to the joint venture with an aggregate value 
of approximately $500.0 million by year-end 2016. We will also provide management services to the joint venture for 
a fee based upon aircraft assets under management.

Our fi nancing plans remain focused on raising unsecured debt in the global bank and capital markets, reinvesting 
cash fl ow from operations and, to a limited extent, export credit fi nancing. In March 2014, we issued $500 million 
in  aggregate  principle  amount  of  senior  unsecured  notes  due  2021  that  bear  interest  at  a  rate  of  3.875%.  In  May 
2014, we amended our unsecured revolving credit facility increasing the capacity by $100.0 million to $2.1 billion and 
extended the availability period to May 2018. In July 2014, we amended our 2010 Warehouse Facility reducing the 
capacity by $250.0 million to $750.0 million, extending the availability to June 2016 and reducing the interest rate 
by 0.25% to LIBOR plus 2.00%. In September 2014, we issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior 
unsecured notes comprised of $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2018 that 
bear interest at a rate of 2.125% and $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2024 
that bear interest at a rate of 4.25%. We ended 2014 with total debt outstanding of $6.7 billion, of which 75.2% was 
at a fi xed rate and 82.3% was unsecured, with a composite cost of funds of 3.64%. Since the end of 2014, we issued 
$600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2022 that bear interest at a rate of 3.75%.

OUR FLEET

We have continued to build one of the world’s youngest operating lease portfolios, comprised of the currently most 
fuel  effi cient  commercial  jet  transport  aircraft.  During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014,  we  took  delivery  of  36 
aircraft from our new order pipeline and sold 16 aircraft, ending the year with a total of 213 aircraft. Our weighted-
average fl eet age and weighted-average remaining lease term as of December 31, 2014 were 3.5 years and 7.3 years, 
respectively. We also managed 17 aircraft as of December 31, 2014.

Portfolio metrics of our fl eet as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:

(dollars in thousands)
Fleet size 
Weighted-average fl eet age (1) 
Weighted-average remaining lease term (1) 
Aggregate net book value 

(1) Weighted-average fl eet age and remaining lease term calculated based on net book value.

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

213 
3.5 years 
7.3 years 
$8,953,804 

193
3.7 years
7.1 years
$7,613,135

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  net  book  value  and  percentage  of  the  net  book  value  of  our  aircraft  portfolio 
operating in the indicated regions as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:

Region 

(dollars in thousands)
Asia  
Europe 
Central America, South America and Mexico  
The Middle East and Africa 
Pacifi c, Australia, New Zealand 
U.S. and Canada 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

Net Book 

Value 

$3,838,523 
2,953,232 
778,991 
498,896 
471,630 
412,532 

% of 

Total 

42.9% 
33.0% 
8.7% 
5.6% 
5.2% 
4.6% 

Net Book 

Value 

$3,165,367 
2,656,816 
829,930 
372,618 
151,751 
436,653 

% of

Total

41.6%
34.9%
10.9%
4.9%
2.0%
5.7%

  Total 

$8,953,804 

100.0% 

$7,613,135 

100.0%

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table sets forth the number of aircraft we leased by aircraft type as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

Aircraft Type 

Airbus A319-100 
Airbus A320-200 
Airbus A321-200 
Airbus A330-200 
Airbus A330-300 
Boeing 737-700 
Boeing 737-800 
Boeing 767-300ER 
Boeing 777-200ER 
Boeing 777-300ER 
Embraer E175 
Embraer E190 
ATR 72-600 

  Total 

Number of 

Aircraft 

5 
39 
20 
16 
5 
8 
61 
1 
1 
9 
7 
23 
18 

% of  

 Total 

2.3% 
18.3% 
9.4% 
7.5% 
2.3% 
3.8% 
28.6% 
0.5% 
0.5% 
4.2% 
3.3% 
10.8% 
8.5% 

Number of 

Aircraft 

6 
42 
7 
16 
5 
10 
50 
3 
1 
6 
8 
23 
16 

% of

Total

3.1%
21.8%
3.6%
8.3%
2.6%
5.2%
25.9%
1.6%
0.5%
3.1%
4.1%
11.9%
8.3%

213 

100.0% 

193 

100.0%

As of December 31, 2014, we had contracted to buy 364 new aircraft for delivery through 2023, with an estimated 
aggregate purchase price (including adjustments for infl ation) of $28.8 billion, for delivery as follows:

Aircraft Type  

Airbus A320/321-200 (1) 
Airbus A320/321neo 
Airbus A350-900/1000 
Boeing 737-800 
Boeing 737-8/9 MAX 
Boeing 777-300ER 
Boeing 787-9/10 
ATR 72-600 
  Total 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Thereafter 

9 
— 
— 
21 
— 
8 
— 
2 
40 

— 
3 
— 
15 
— 
6 
3 
5 
32 

— 
12 
— 
11 
— 
2 
1 
1 
27 

— 
17 
1 
— 
8 
— 
7 
— 
33 

— 
21 
2 
— 
18 
— 
8 
— 
49 

— 
57 
22 
— 
78 
— 
26 
— 
183 

Total

9
110
25
47
104
16
45
8
364

(1) All of our Airbus A321-200 aircraft will be equipped with sharklets.

Our  lease  placements  are  progressing  in  line  with  expectations.  As  of  December  31,  2014,  we  have  entered  into 
contracts for the lease of new aircraft scheduled to be delivered as follows:

Delivery Year  

2015 
2016 
2017 
2018 
2019 
Thereafter 

  Total 

Number of 

Aircraft 

Number 

Leased 

40 
32 
27 
33 
49 
183 

364 

40 
25 
15 
12 
5 
2 

99

%  

Leased

100.0%
78.1%
55.6%
36.4%
10.2%
1.1%

34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY AND SOURCES OF REVENUES

Our revenues are principally derived from operating leases with scheduled and charter airlines. In the last three years, 
we derived more than 95% of our revenues from airlines domiciled outside of the U.S., and we anticipate that most of 
our revenues in the future will be generated from foreign customers.

Demand for air travel has consistently grown in terms of both the passenger traffi c and number of aircraft in service. 
According to the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”), global passenger traffi c demand grew 5.9% in 2014 
over the prior year. In 2013, global passenger traffi c demand grew 5.2% compared to 2012, which was aligned with 
the annual growth rate over the past 30 years. The number of aircraft in service also has grown steadily. Additionally, 
the  number  of  leased  aircraft  in  the  global  fl eet  has  increased.  The  long-term  outlook  for  aircraft  demand  remains 
robust due to increased passenger traffi c and the need to replace aging aircraft.

The success of the commercial airline industry is linked to the strength of global economic development, which may 
be  negatively  impacted  by  macroeconomic  conditions,  geopolitical  and  policy  risks.  While  the  airline  industry  is 
cyclical, the leasing industry has remained resilient over time. Despite airline business cycle downturns, demand for 
aircraft has trended upward consistently, and many aircraft are delivered during downturns.

From time to time, our airlines customers face fi nancial diffi culties. In January 2015, Skymark Airlines fi led for civil 
rehabilitation proceedings in Japan (similar to U.S. Bankruptcy reorganization). Skymark Airlines operates two of our 
Boeing 737-800 aircraft and we expect the airline to continue to make payments to us during these proceedings.

Despite industry cyclicality and economic stresses, we remain optimistic about the long-term growth prospects for 
air transportation. We see a growing demand for aircraft leasing in the broader industry and a role for us in helping 
airlines modernize their fl eets to support the growth of the airline industry.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

OVERVIEW

We  fi nance  the  purchase  of  aircraft  and  our  business  with  available  cash  balances,  internally  generated  funds, 
including aircraft sales and trading activity, and debt fi nancings. From our inception in 2010, we have structured the 
Company to be an investment grade company and our debt fi nancing strategy has focused on funding our business 
on  an  unsecured  basis.  Unsecured  fi nancing  provides  us  with  operational  fl exibility  when  selling  or  transitioning 
aircraft from one airline to another. We may, to a limited extent, utilize export credit fi nancing in support of our new 
aircraft deliveries.

In 2013, we received a corporate credit rating of A− from Kroll Bond Ratings, followed by a second investment grade 
corporate credit rating of BBB− from S&P. Our credit rating from Kroll Bond Ratings was reconfi rmed in 2014. Our 
investment  grade  credit  ratings  further  lowered  our  cost  of  funds  and  broadened  our  access  to  attractively  priced 
capital. Our long-term debt fi nancing strategy will be focused on continuing to raise unsecured debt in the global bank 
and capital markets.

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014,  we  incurred  additional  debt  fi nancing  and  capacity  aggregating  $1.8 
billion, which included $1.5 billion in senior unsecured notes, the addition of $100 million in capacity to our unsecured 
revolving credit facility which now totals $2.1 billion, the reduction of $250 million in capacity to our 2010 Warehouse 
Facility and additional debt facilities aggregating $175.0 million. We ended 2014 with total debt outstanding of $6.7 
billion compared to $5.9 billion in 2013. We ended 2014 with total unsecured debt outstanding of $5.5 billion compared 
to $4.3 billion in 2013, increasing our unsecured debt as a percentage of total debt to 82.3% as of December 31, 2014 
compared to 73.4% as of December 31, 2013. Our fi xed rate debt as a percentage of total debt increased to 75.2% 
as of December 31, 2014 from 61.9% as of December 31, 2013.

35

We increased our cash fl ows from operations by 17.5% or $114.8 million to $769.0 million in 2014 as compared to 
$654.2 million in 2013. Our cash fl ows from operations increased primarily because of the lease of additional aircraft. 
Our cash used in investing activities decreased by 17.4% or $380.2 million to $1.8 billion in 2014 as compared to $2.2 
billion in 2013. Our cash used in investing activities decreased primarily because of the increase in our cash fl ows 
from aircraft sales, trading and other activities which increased by 517.8% or $506.1 million to $603.8 million in 2014 
as compared to $97.7 million in 2013. Our cash fl ows from fi nancing activities decreased by 33.2% or $522.5 million 
to $1.0 billion in 2014 as compared to $1.6 billion in 2013 primarily because of the increase in cash fl ows from aircraft 
sales,  trading  and  other  activities.  Our  cash  fl ows  from  operations  and  aircraft  sales,  trading  and  other  activities 
contributed signifi cantly to our liquidity position.

We ended 2014 with available liquidity of $2.1 billion which is comprised of unrestricted cash of $282.8 million and 
undrawn balances under our warehouse facilities and unsecured revolving credit facilities of $1.8 billion. We believe 
that we have suffi cient liquidity to satisfy the operating requirements of our business through the next twelve months.

Our  fi nancing  plan  for  2015  is  focused  on  funding  the  purchase  of  aircraft  and  our  business  with  available  cash 
balances,  internally  generated  funds,  including  aircraft  sales  and  trading  activity,  and  debt  fi nancings.  Our  debt 
fi nancing plan will remain focused on continuing to raise unsecured debt in the global bank and capital markets. In 
addition, we may utilize, to a limited extent, export credit fi nancing in support of our new aircraft deliveries.

Our  liquidity  plans  are  subject  to  a  number  of  risks  and  uncertainties,  including  those  described  in  “Item  1A.  Risk 
Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

DEBT

Our debt fi nancing was comprised of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

(dollars in thousands)

UNSECURED 
  Senior notes 
  Revolving credit facilities 
  Term fi nancings 
  Convertible senior notes 

SECURED 
  Warehouse facilities 
  Term fi nancings 
  Export credit fi nancing 

  Total secured and unsecured debt fi nancing 

  Less: Debt discount 

  Total debt 

SELECTED INTEREST RATES AND RATIOS 
  Composite interest rate (1) 
  Composite interest rate on fi xed rate debt (1) 
  Percentage of total debt at fi xed rate 

(1) This rate does not include the effect of upfront fees, undrawn fees or issuance cost amortization.

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

$4,579,194 
569,000 
196,146 
200,000 
5,544,340 

484,513 
636,411 
64,884 
1,185,808 
6,730,148 
(15,786) 

$3,055,620
808,000
247,722
200,000
4,311,342

828,418
654,369
71,539
1,554,326
5,865,668
(12,351)

$6,714,362 

$5,853,317

3.64% 
4.22% 
75.20% 

3.60%
4.56%
61.90%

36

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior unsecured notes
During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company issued $1.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior 
unsecured notes.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $4.6 billion in senior unsecured notes outstanding with remaining terms 
ranging from one to 10 years and bearing interest at fi xed rates ranging from 2.125% to 7.375%. As of December 
31,  2013,  the  Company  had  $3.1  billion  in  senior  unsecured  notes  outstanding  with  remaining  terms  ranging  from 
two to six years and bearing interest at fi xed rates ranging from 3.375% to 7.375%. Since the end of 2014, we issued 
$600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2022 that bear interest at a rate of 3.75%.

Registered senior unsecured notes issued prior to November 2013
Our  5.625%  unsecured  notes  due  2017,  of  which  $1.1  billion  in  aggregate  principal  amount  was  outstanding  as 
of  December  31,  2014  and  which  are  governed  by  an  indenture,  dated  as  of  March  16,  2012,  as  amended  and 
supplemented, between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “5.625% indenture”), our 
4.500%  unsecured  notes  due  2016,  of  which  $500.0  million  in  aggregate  principal  amount  was  outstanding  as  of 
December  31,  2014  and  which  are  governed  by  an  indenture,  dated  as  of  September  26,  2012,  as  amended  and 
supplemented, between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “4.500% indenture”) and 
our 4.750% unsecured notes due 2020, of which $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount was outstanding as 
of  December  31,  2014  and  which  are  governed  by  an  indenture,  dated  as  of  October  11,  2012,  as  amended  and 
supplemented, between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “4.750% indenture” and, 
together with the 5.625% indenture and the 4.500% indenture, the “2012 indentures”), are registered with the SEC. 
All of these notes may be redeemed in part or in full at any time and from time to time prior to maturity at specifi ed 
redemption prices. All of these notes also require us to purchase all or a portion of the notes at a purchase price equal 
to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest if a change of control repurchase event 
(as defi ned in the applicable indenture) occurs.

The 2012 indentures contain fi nancial maintenance covenants relating to our consolidated net worth, consolidated 
unencumbered assets and interest coverage. In addition, the indenture as it relates to these notes contains covenants 
that, among other things, (i) limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends on or purchase certain 
equity  interests,  prepay  subordinated  obligations,  alter  their  lines  of  business  and  engage  in  affi liate  transactions; 
(ii) limit the ability of our subsidiaries to incur unsecured indebtedness; and (iii) limit our ability and the ability of each 
note guarantor subsidiary, if any, to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets. As of December 
31, 2014, management believes that we were in compliance with all covenants contained in the 2012 indentures in all 
material respects. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifi cations set forth in the 
applicable indenture, including the limitation on the payment of dividends on or purchases of certain equity interests 
and prepayments of subordinated indebtedness at such time as the notes are rated investment grade (as defi ned in 
the applicable indenture).

These notes were not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries on the date the notes were issued or as of December 
31, 2014 or as of the date of this report. However, the notes will be required to be guaranteed on a senior unsecured 
basis by any of our existing and future direct and indirect subsidiaries that guarantee certain of our indebtedness. 
The note guarantees, if any, would be the senior unsecured obligations of our subsidiaries that guarantee the notes.

The  2012  indentures  also  provide  for  customary  events  of  default  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  failure  to  pay 
scheduled principal and interest payments on the notes, the failure to comply with covenants and agreements specifi ed 
in the indenture, the acceleration of certain other indebtedness resulting from non-payment of that indebtedness and 
certain events of insolvency. If any event of default occurs, any amount then outstanding under the relevant indentures 
may immediately become due and payable. These events of default are subject to a number of important exceptions 
and qualifi cations set forth in the 2012 indentures.

37

Registered senior unsecured notes issued during or subsequent to November 2013
All  of  our  unsecured  notes  that  were  issued  during  or  subsequent  to  November  2013,  of  which  $2.2  billion  in 
aggregate  principal  amount  was  outstanding  as  of  December  31,  2014,  have  been  registered  with  the  SEC.  Such 
notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of October 11, 2012, as amended and supplemented, between us and 
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “shelf registration statement indenture”). All such notes may 
be redeemed in part or in full at any time and from time to time prior to maturity at specifi ed redemption prices. All 
such notes also require us to purchase all or a portion of the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal 
amount  of  the  notes,  plus  accrued  and  unpaid  interest  if  a  change  of  control  repurchase  event  (as  defi ned  in  the 
applicable supplemental indenture) occurs. None of our subsidiaries will guarantee or otherwise be obligated to pay 
any of our obligations under these notes.

The shelf registration statement indenture requires us to comply with certain covenants, including restrictions on our 
ability to (i) incur liens on assets and (ii) merge, consolidate or transfer substantially all of our assets. As of December 
31,  2014,  management  believes  that  we  were  in  compliance  with  all  covenants  contained  in  the  shelf  registration 
statement indenture in all material respects. The shelf registration statement indenture also provides for customary 
events  of  default  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  failure  to  pay  scheduled  principal  and  interest  payments  on  the 
notes,  the  failure  to  comply  with  covenants  and  agreements  specifi ed  in  the  indenture,  the  acceleration  of  certain 
other indebtedness resulting from non-payment of that indebtedness and certain events of insolvency. If any event 
of  default  occurs,  any  amount  then  outstanding  under  the  relevant  indentures  may  immediately  become  due  and 
payable. These covenants and events of default are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifi cations 
set forth in the shelf registration statement indenture.

Unregistered senior unsecured notes
Our 5.000% unsecured notes due 2016, 7.375% unsecured notes due 2019, 3.64% unsecured notes due 2016 and 
4.49% unsecured notes due 2019 of which, in the aggregate, $325.0 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2014, 
are governed by various purchase agreements. These notes are not registered with the SEC. All such notes may be 
redeemed in part or in full at any time and from time to time prior to maturity at specifi ed redemption prices. All such 
notes also require us to purchase all of the notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 
notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest if a change of control (as defi ned in the applicable purchase agreement) occurs.

These  purchase  agreements  contain  fi nancial  maintenance  covenants  relating  to  our  consolidated  net  worth, 
consolidated  unencumbered  assets,  interest  coverage  and  consolidated  leverage  ratio.  In  addition,  the  purchase 
agreements as they relate to these notes contain covenants that, among other things, (i) limit our ability and the ability 
of our subsidiaries to pay dividends on or purchase certain equity interests, prepay subordinated obligations, alter 
their lines of business and engage in affi liate transactions; (ii) limit the ability of our subsidiaries to incur unsecured 
indebtedness; and (iii) limit our ability and the ability of each note guarantor subsidiary, if any, to consolidate, merge or 
sell all or substantially all of its assets. As of December 31, 2014, management believes that we were in compliance 
with all covenants contained in these note purchase agreements in all material respects. These covenants are subject 
to a number of important exceptions and qualifi cations set forth in the applicable purchase agreement, including the 
limitation on the payment of dividends on, or purchases of, certain equity interests and prepayments of subordinated 
indebtedness at such time as the notes are rated investment grade (as defi ned in the applicable purchase agreement).

These notes were not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries on the date the notes were issued or as of December 
31, 2014 or as of the date of this report. The note guarantees, if any, would be the senior unsecured obligations of our 
subsidiaries that guarantee the notes.

The  purchase  agreements  also  provide  for  customary  events  of  default  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  failure  to 
pay scheduled principal and interest payments on the notes, the failure to comply with covenants and agreements 
specifi ed in the purchase agreements, the acceleration of certain other indebtedness resulting from non-payment of 
that indebtedness and certain events of insolvency. If any event of default occurs, any amount then outstanding under 
the relevant purchase agreement may immediately become due and payable. These events of default are subject to a 
number of important exceptions and qualifi cations set forth in the purchase agreements.

38

Unsecured revolving credit facilities
We have a senior unsecured revolving credit facility governed by a second amended and restated credit agreement, 
dated May 5, 2014, with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time 
party thereto. The unsecured revolving credit facility currently provides us with fi nancing capacity of up to $2.1 billion 
subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. The unsecured revolving credit facility replaced our $2.0 billion 
amended and restated credit agreement dated May 7, 2013 with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent 
and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The unsecured revolving credit facility will mature on May 5, 2018 
(subject to our ability to extend the maturity date for two one-year extension periods on the terms and conditions 
set forth in the unsecured revolving credit facility) and contains an uncommitted accordion feature under which its 
aggregate principal amount can be increased by up to $500.0 million under certain circumstances. The unsecured 
revolving credit facility contains sub-limits of $150.0 million for the issuance of letters of credit and $150.0 million for 
swingline loans.

Borrowings under the unsecured revolving credit facility will generally (and as of December 31, 2014 did) bear interest 
at either (a) LIBOR plus a margin of 125 basis points per year or (b) an alternative base rate plus a margin of 25 basis 
points per year, subject to reductions based on improvements in the credit ratings for our debt or increases based on 
declines in the credit ratings for our debt. We are required to pay a facility fee of 25 basis points per year (also subject 
to reductions based on improvements in the credit ratings for our debt or increases based on declines in the credit 
ratings for our debt) in respect of total commitments under the unsecured revolving credit facility. Borrowings under 
the unsecured revolving credit facility are used to fi nance our working capital needs in the ordinary course of business 
and for other general corporate purposes.

The total amount outstanding under our unsecured revolving credit facilities was $569.0 million and $808.0 million as 
of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The unsecured revolving credit facility provides for certain affi rmative and negative covenants, including covenants 
that limit our subsidiaries’ ability to incur, create or assume certain unsecured indebtedness, and our subsidiaries’ 
ability  to  declare  or  make  certain  dividends  and  distributions  and  to  engage  in  certain  mergers,  consolidations 
and asset sales. The unsecured revolving credit facility also requires us to comply with certain fi nancial covenants 
(measured at the end of each fi scal quarter) including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, minimum consolidated 
shareholders’ equity and minimum consolidated unencumbered assets, as well as an interest coverage test that will 
be suspended when the unsecured revolving credit facility or certain of our other indebtedness is rated investment 
grade  (as  defi ned  in  the  unsecured  revolving  credit  facility).  As  of  December  31,  2014,  management  believes  that 
we were in compliance with all covenants contained in the unsecured revolving credit facility in all material respects. 
In  addition,  the  unsecured  revolving  credit  facility  contains  customary  events  of  default.  In  the  case  of  an  event 
of  default,  the  lenders  may  terminate  the  commitments  under  the  unsecured  revolving  credit  facility  and  require 
immediate repayment of all outstanding borrowings and the cash collateralization of all outstanding letters of credit. 
Such termination and acceleration will occur automatically in the event of certain bankruptcy events. These provisions 
are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifi cations set forth in the credit agreement governing the 
unsecured revolving credit facility.

The unsecured revolving credit facility is not currently guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. However, the unsecured 
revolving credit facility will be required to be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries that guarantee certain of our other 
indebtedness.

Unsecured term fi nancings
From time to time, we enter into unsecured term facilities. During 2014, we entered into four additional unsecured 
term facilities aggregating $65.0 million with terms ranging from four to fi ve years and bearing interest at fi xed rates 
ranging from 2.85% to 3.125% per annum. The outstanding balance on our unsecured term facilities as of December 
31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $196.1 million and $247.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, the 
remaining maturities of all unsecured term facilities ranged from approximately 0.1 years to approximately 5.0 years.

39

Convertible senior notes
In November 2011, we issued $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.875% convertible senior notes due 
2018  in  an  offering  exempt  from  registration  under  the  Securities  Act.  The  convertible  notes  are  senior  unsecured 
obligations  of  the  Company  and  bear  interest  at  a  rate  of  3.875%  per  annum,  payable  in  arrears  on  June  1  and 
December 1 of each year, commencing on June 1, 2012. The convertible notes are convertible at the option of the 
holder into shares of our Class A common stock at a price of $30.01 per share.

Warehouse facilities
On March 27, 2014, we refi nanced a portfolio of secured debt facilities including one of our wholly-owned subsidiary’s 
(“2012  Warehouse  Borrower”)  $192.8  million  senior  secured  warehouse  facility  through  an  amended  and  restated 
credit agreement dated as of March 27, 2014 (as amended, the “2012 Warehouse Facility”). We reduced the aggregate 
principal amount outstanding under the portfolio of loans from $178.5 million to $101.0 million, reduced the interest 
rate on the fl oating rate debt facilities from LIBOR plus 2.25% to LIBOR plus 1.55% while the interest rate on the 
fi xed rate debt facilities remained at 4.58% and modifi ed the amortization schedule of the loans, which now have fi nal 
maturities in March 2019. The outstanding balance on our 2012 Warehouse Facility as of December 31, 2014 and 
December 31, 2013 was $88.1 million and $171.6 million, respectively.

The 2012 Warehouse Facility contains customary affi rmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit 
2012 Warehouse Borrower’s and certain of its subsidiaries’ ability to incur, create or assume certain indebtedness, to 
incur or assume certain liens, to purchase, hold or acquire certain investments, to declare or make certain dividends 
and distributions and to engage in certain mergers, consolidations and asset sales. In addition, the 2012 Warehouse 
Facility  contains  customary  events  of  default.  In  the  case  of  an  event  of  default,  the  lenders  may  terminate  the 
availability period under the 2012 Warehouse Facility and require immediate repayment of all outstanding loans. Such 
termination  and  acceleration  will  occur  automatically  in  the  event  of  certain  bankruptcy  events.  These  provisions 
are  subject  to  a  number  of  important  exceptions  and  qualifi cations  set  forth  in  the  loan  agreement  governing  the 
2012 Warehouse Facility. As of December 31, 2014 the 2012 Warehouse Borrower was in compliance in all material 
respects with all covenants contained in the 2012 Warehouse Facility.

We  provide  a  guaranty  of  the  obligations  of  2012  Warehouse  Borrower  and  certain  of  its  subsidiaries  under  the 
2012  Warehouse  Facility.  The  obligations  under  the  2012  Warehouse  Facility  are  secured  by  a  pledge  of  the  2012 
Warehouse  Borrower’s  equity  interests  by  the  Company,  by  certain  cash  collateral  and  by  substantially  all  of  the 
personal property, including aircraft, of the 2012 Warehouse Borrower and certain subsidiaries of the 2012 Warehouse 
Borrower, subject to certain exceptions.

On July 23, 2014, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries (“2010 Warehouse Borrower”) entered into an amendment to 
its amended and restated warehouse loan agreement dated as of June 21, 2013 (as amended, the “2010 Warehouse 
Facility”)  with  Credit  Suisse  AG,  New  York  Branch,  as  agent,  and  the  lenders  party  thereto.  The  2010  Warehouse 
Facility, as amended, provides the 2010 Warehouse Borrower with fi nancing of up to $750 million, modifi ed from the 
previous facility size of $1.0 billion. The 2010 Warehouse Facility contains an uncommitted accordion feature under 
which its aggregate principal amount can be increased to $2.0 billion under certain circumstances. The interest rate 
on the 2010 Warehouse Facility, as amended, was reduced from LIBOR plus 2.25% to LIBOR plus 2.00% on drawn 
balances and continues to bear interest at a rate of 0.50% on undrawn balances. The 2010 Warehouse Borrower is 
able to draw on the 2010 Warehouse Facility, as amended, during an availability period that was extended from June 
2015 to June 2016 and the maturity date of the 2010 Warehouse Facility was extended from June 2019 to June 2020. 
Borrowings under the 2010 Warehouse Facility are generally used by the 2010 Warehouse Borrower and certain of its 
subsidiaries to fi nance directly or indirectly the purchase of aircraft, leases related thereto and improvements thereof.

40

The 2010 Warehouse Facility contains customary affi rmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit 
the 2010 Warehouse Borrower’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to incur, create or assume certain indebtedness, to incur 
or assume certain liens, to purchase, hold or acquire certain investments, to declare or make certain dividends and 
distributions  and  to  engage  in  certain  mergers,  consolidations  and  asset  sales.  The  2010  Warehouse  Facility  also 
contains limitations on our ability to guarantee the obligations of the 2010 Warehouse Borrower and its subsidiaries. 
In addition, the 2010 Warehouse Facility contains customary events of default. In the case of an event of default, the 
lenders may terminate the availability period under the 2010 Warehouse Facility and require immediate repayment of 
all outstanding loans. Such termination and acceleration will occur automatically in the event of certain bankruptcy 
events.  These  provisions  are  subject  to  a  number  of  important  exceptions  and  qualifi cations  set  forth  in  the  loan 
agreement governing the 2010 Warehouse Facility. As of December 31, 2014 the 2010 Warehouse Borrower was in 
compliance in all material respects with all covenants contained in the 2010 Warehouse Facility.

We provide a limited guaranty of the obligations of 2010 Warehouse Borrower and its subsidiaries under the 2010 
Warehouse Facility. The obligations under the 2010 Warehouse Facility are secured by a pledge of the 2010 Warehouse 
Borrower’s equity interests by the Company, by certain cash collateral and by substantially all of the personal property, 
including  aircrafts,  of  2010  Warehouse  Borrower  and  certain  subsidiaries  of  2010  Warehouse  Borrower,  subject  to 
certain exceptions.

As of December 31, 2014, the 2010 Warehouse Borrower had borrowed $484.5 million under the 2010 Warehouse 
Facility and pledged 18 aircraft as collateral with a net book value of $729.5 million. As of December 31, 2013, the 
Warehouse  Borrower  and  2012  Warehouse  Borrower  had  borrowed  $828.4  million  under  their  warehouse  facilities 
and  pledged  32  aircraft  as  collateral  with  a  net  book  value  of  $1.2  billion.  During  2014,  we  substituted  letters  of 
credit for cash collateral and lessee deposits pledged under the 2010 Warehouse Facility, reducing the total amount 
of restricted cash pledged to secure the 2010 Warehouse Facility from $87.3 million at December 31, 2013 to $7.5 
million at December 31, 2014.

Secured term fi nancing
We fund some aircraft purchases through secured term fi nancings. Our various consolidated entities will borrow through 
secured bank facilities to purchase an aircraft. The aircraft are then leased by our entities to airlines. We may guarantee 
the obligations of the entities under the loan agreements. The loans may be secured by a pledge of the shares of the 
entities, the aircraft, the lease receivables, security deposits, maintenance reserves or a combination thereof.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we entered into an additional secured term facility of $110.0 million with 
a three year term bearing interest at a fl oating rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 1.15% per annum.

The  secured  term  facilities  contain  customary  affi rmative  and  negative  covenants  for  fi nancings  of  these  types, 
including covenants that limit the borrowers’ actions to those of special purpose entities engaged in the ownership 
and leasing of a particular aircraft and restrict their ability to incur, create or assume certain indebtedness, to incur 
or  assume  certain  liens,  to  purchase,  hold  or  acquire  certain  investments,  to  declare  or  make  certain  dividends 
and distributions and to engage in certain mergers, consolidations and asset sales. The secured term facilities also 
contain limitations on the Company’s ability to transfer the equity interests of such subsidiaries or to incur, create or 
assume liens on such equity interests or the collateral securing such secured term facilities. Certain of the facilities 
require us to comply with certain fi nancial covenants. In addition, the secured term facilities contain customary events 
of default for such fi nancings. In the case of an event of default, the lenders may require immediate repayment of 
all outstanding loans. Such termination and acceleration will occur automatically in the event of certain bankruptcy 
events.  These  provisions  are  subject  to  a  number  of  important  exceptions  and  qualifi cations  set  forth  in  the  loan 
agreements  governing  the  secured  term  facilities.  As  of  December  31,  2014  we  were  in  compliance  in  all  material 
respects with all covenants contained in our secured term facilities.

41

As  of  December  31,  2014,  the  outstanding  balance  on  our  secured  term  facilities  (including  the  2012  Warehouse 
Facility)  was  $636.4  million  and  we  had  pledged  18  aircraft  as  collateral  with  a  net  book  value  of  $1.1  billion.  The 
outstanding  balance  under  our  secured  term  facilities  (including  the  2012  Warehouse  Facility)  as  of  December  31, 
2014 was comprised of $104.7 million fi xed rate debt and $531.7 million fl oating rate debt, with interest rates ranging 
from  4.28%  to  5.36%  and  LIBOR  plus  1.15%  to  LIBOR  plus  3.0%,  respectively.  As  of  December  31,  2014,  the 
remaining maturities of all secured term facilities (including the 2012 Warehouse Facility) ranged from approximately 
1.0 years to approximately 8.5 years.

As  of  December  31,  2013,  the  outstanding  balance  on  our  secured  term  facilities  was  $654.4  million  and  we  had 
pledged 18 aircraft as collateral with a net book value of $1.14 billion. The outstanding balance under our secured 
term facilities as of December 31, 2013 was comprised of $153.9 million fi xed rate debt and $505.5 million fl oating 
rate debt, with interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 5.36% and LIBOR plus 1.5% to LIBOR plus 3.0%, respectively.

Export credit fi nancings
In March 2013, we issued $76.5 million in secured notes due 2024 guaranteed by the Bank. The notes mature on 
August 15, 2024 and bear interest at a rate of 1.617% per annum. We used the proceeds of the offering to refi nance 
a portion of the purchase price of two Boeing aircraft and the related premium charged by Bank for its guarantee of 
the notes.

As of December 31, 2014, we had $64.9 million in export credit fi nancing outstanding.

Credit ratings
The following table summarizes our current credit ratings:

Rating Agency 

S&P  
Kroll Bond Ratings 

Long-term 

Corporate 

Debt 

BBB− 
A− 

Rating  

BBB− 
A− 

Outlook 

Date of Last

Ratings Action

Stable Outlook 
Stable Outlook 

August 26, 2013
October 16, 2014

While a ratings downgrade would not result in a default under any of our debt agreements, it could adversely affect 
our ability to issue debt and obtain new fi nancings, or renew existing fi nancings, and it would increase the cost of our 
fi nancings.

Results of Operations

(in thousands)

REVENUES 
  Rental of fl ight equipment 
  Aircraft sales, trading and other 

  Total revenues 

EXPENSES 
Interest 

  Amortization of discounts and deferred debt issuance 

  costs 

Interest expense 

  Depreciation of fl ight equipment 
  Selling, general and administrative 
  Stock-based compensation 

  Total expenses 
Income before taxes 
Income tax expense 

  Net income 

Year Ended  

Year Ended  

Year Ended

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

December 31, 2012

$   991,241 
59,252 
1,050,493 

$ 836,516 
22,159 
858,675 

$645,853
9,893
655,746

192,818 

168,743 

130,419

27,772 
220,590 
336,657 
82,422 
16,048 
655,717 
394,776 
(138,778) 

23,627 
192,370 
280,037 
71,212 
21,614 
565,233 
293,442 
(103,031) 

16,994
147,413
216,219
56,453
31,688
451,773
203,973
(72,054)

$   255,998 

$ 190,411 

$131,919

42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 COMPARED TO 2013

Rental revenue
As of December 31, 2014, we owned 213 aircraft at a total cost of $9.8 billion and recorded $991.2 million in rental 
revenue for the year then ended, which included overhaul revenue of $25.2 million. In the prior year, as of December 
31, 2013, we owned 193 aircraft at a total cost of $8.2 billion and recorded $836.5 million in rental revenue for the 
year ended December 31, 2013, which included overhaul revenue of $34.4 million. The increase in rental revenue was 
primarily due to the delivery of 36 additional aircraft, all of which were leased at the time of delivery, partially offset by 
the sale of 16 aircraft from our operating lease portfolio. Due to the timing of aircraft deliveries and sales, the impact 
on rental revenue will be refl ected in subsequent periods.

All of the aircraft in our fl eet were leased as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Aircraft sales, trading and other revenue
Aircraft sales, trading and other revenue totaled $59.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 
$22.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we sold 16 aircraft 
from our operating lease portfolio and a corporate aircraft, received insurance proceeds in excess of the book value 
relating to the loss of an aircraft in 2013 and traded six Boeing 737-300 aircraft, recording gains on aircraft sales and 
trading activity of $55.8 million. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold one aircraft from our operating 
lease portfolio and traded 11 737-300 aircraft, two spare engines and a corporate aircraft recording gains on aircraft 
sales and trading activity of $18.9 million.

Interest expense
Interest expense totaled $220.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $192.4 million for the 
year  ended  December  31,  2013.  The  change  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  our  average  outstanding  debt 
balances and our composite cost of funds, resulting in a $24.1 million increase in interest and a $4.1 million increase 
in amortization of our discounts and deferred debt issue costs. We expect that our interest expense will increase as 
our average debt balance outstanding continues to increase. Interest expense will also be impacted by changes in 
our composite cost of funds.

Depreciation expense
We  recorded  $336.7  million  in  depreciation  expense  of  fl ight  equipment  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014 
compared to $280.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in depreciation expense for 2014, 
compared to 2013, was primarily attributable to the acquisition of 36 additional aircraft aggregating $2.2 billion. The 
full impact on depreciation expense for aircraft added during the year will be refl ected in subsequent periods.

Selling, general and administrative expenses
We  recorded  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  of  $82.4  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014 
compared  to  $71.2  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013.  Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  as 
a percentage of revenue decreased to 7.8% for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 8.3% for the year 
ended December 31, 2013.

Stock-based compensation expense
Stock-based compensation expense totaled $16.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $21.6 
million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013.  This  decrease  is  primarily  a  result  of  the  effects  of  the  expense 
recognition  pattern  related  to  our  book  value  RSUs,  which  is  calculated  based  on  a  tranche  by  tranche  vesting 
schedule. Additionally, as of June 30, 2013, all of our outstanding employee stock options had fully vested, further 
contributing to the decrease in stock-based compensation expense. 

43

Taxes
The  effective  tax  rate  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014  was  35.2%  compared  to  35.1%  for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2013.  The  change  in  effective  tax  rate  for  the  respective  periods  is  due  to  the  effect  of  changes  in 
permanent differences.

Net income
For the year ended December 31, 2014, we reported consolidated net income of $256.0 million, or $2.38 per diluted 
share,  compared  to  a  consolidated  net  income  of  $190.4  million,  or  $1.80  per  diluted  share,  for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2013.  The  increase  in  net  income  for  2014,  compared  to  2013,  was  primarily  attributable  to  the 
acquisition and lease of additional aircraft and an increase in aircraft sales, trading and other revenue.

2013 COMPARED TO 2012

Rental revenue
As of December 31, 2013, we owned 193 aircraft at a total cost of $8.2 billion and recorded $836.5 million in rental 
revenue for the year then ended, which included overhaul revenue of $34.4 million. In the prior year, as of December 
31, 2012, we owned 155 aircraft at a total cost of $6.6 billion and recorded $645.9 million in rental revenue for the 
year ended December 31, 2012, which included overhaul revenue of $25.0 million. The increase in rental revenue was 
primarily due to the delivery of 40 additional aircraft, all of which were leased at the time of delivery, partially offset by 
the sale of one aircraft from our operating lease portfolio. Due to the timing of aircraft deliveries and sales, the impact 
on rental revenue will be refl ected in subsequent periods.

All of the aircraft in our fl eet were leased as of December 31, 2013. All of the aircraft in our fl eet were leased as of 
December 31, 2012, except for one aircraft with respect to which we had entered into a non-binding lease commitment 
but for which delivery had not yet occurred.

Aircraft sales, trading and other revenue
Aircraft sales, trading and other revenue totaled $22.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $9.9 
million for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold one aircraft from 
our operating lease portfolio and traded 11 737- 300 aircraft, two spare engines and a corporate aircraft, recording 
gains on aircraft sales and trading activity of $18.9 million. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we sold one 
aircraft from our operating lease portfolio and traded two 737-300 aircraft and one spare engine recording gains on 
aircraft sales and trading activity of $3.9 million.

Interest expense
Interest expense totaled $192.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $147.4 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2012. The change was primarily due to an increase in our average outstanding debt balances, 
partially offset by a decrease in our composite cost of funds, resulting in a $38.3 million increase in interest and a $6.6 
million increase in amortization of our discounts and deferred debt issue costs.

Depreciation expense
We  recorded  $280.0  million  in  depreciation  expense  of  fl ight  equipment  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013 
compared to $216.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in depreciation expense for 2013, 
compared to 2012, was primarily attributable to the acquisition of 40 additional aircraft for a total cost of $1.7 billion. 
The full impact on depreciation expense for aircraft added during the year will be refl ected in subsequent periods.

Selling, general and administrative expenses
We  recorded  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  of  $71.2  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013 
compared  to  $56.5  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2012.  Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  as 
a percentage of revenue decreased to 8.3% for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to 8.6% for the year 
ended December 31, 2012.

44

Stock-based compensation expense
Stock-based compensation expense totaled $21.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $31.7 
million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2012.  This  decrease  is  primarily  a  result  of  the  effects  of  the  expense 
recognition  pattern  related  to  our  book  value  RSUs,  which  is  calculated  based  on  a  tranche  by  tranche  vesting 
schedule. Additionally, as of June 30, 2013, all of our outstanding employee stock options had fully vested, further 
contributing to the decrease in stock-based compensation expense. 

Taxes
The  effective  tax  rate  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013  was  35.1%  compared  to  35.3%  for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2012.  The  change  in  effective  tax  rate  for  the  respective  periods  is  due  to  the  effect  of  changes  in 
permanent differences.

Net income
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we reported consolidated net income of $190.4 million, or $1.80 per diluted 
share,  compared  to  a  consolidated  net  income  of  $131.9  million,  or  $1.28  per  diluted  share,  for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2012.  The  increase  in  net  income  for  2013,  compared  to  2012,  was  primarily  attributable  to  the 
acquisition and lease of additional aircraft, an increase in aircraft sales, trading and other revenue and lower interest 
rates on our indebtedness.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Thereafter 

Total

(dollars in thousands)
Long-term debt 
  obligations (1) (2) 
Interest payments on 
  debt outstanding (3) 
Purchase commitments 
Operating leases 

$   171,558 

$   870,682 

$1,415,419 

$1,542,706 

$1,173,489  $  1,556,294  $  6,730,148

249,400 
2,381,857 
2,467 

234,782 
2,315,276 
2,541 

177,831 
1,907,137 
2,617 

124,611 
2,919,369 
2,696 

87,476 
3,998,600 
2,777 

153,842 
15,297,344 
12,610 

1,027,942
28,819,583
25,708

  Total 

$2,805,282 

$3,423,281 

$3,503,004 

$4,589,382 

$5,262,342  $17,020,090  $36,603,381

(1)  As of December 31, 2014, we had $484.5 million of debt outstanding under the 2010 Warehouse Facility, as amended. We are able to draw on the facility during an availability 
period that ends in June 2016 with a subsequent term out option, through the maturity date of the facility, which is the maturity refl ected in the contractual obligations schedule 

above.

(2)  As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $569.0 million of debt outstanding under our revolving unsecured credit facilities. The outstanding drawn balances may be rolled 

until the maturity date of each respective facility and have been presented as such in the contractual obligation schedule above.

(3)  Future interest payments on fl oating rate debt are estimated using fl oating rates in effect at December 31, 2014.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We have not established any unconsolidated entities for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or 
for other contractually narrow or limited purposes. We have, however, from time to time established subsidiaries and 
created partnership arrangements or trusts for the purpose of leasing aircraft or facilitating borrowing arrangements 
all of which are consolidated. We have a 9.5% non-controlling interest in a joint venture that we do not control and are 
not the primary benefi ciary of but have signifi cant infl uence over, therefore we account for our investment in the joint 
venture under the equity method of accounting.

45

 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We believe the following critical accounting policies can have a signifi cant impact on our results of operations, fi nancial 
position and fi nancial statement disclosures, and may require subjective and complex estimates and judgments.

Lease revenue
We lease fl ight equipment principally under operating leases and report rental income ratably over the life of each 
lease.  Rentals  received,  but  unearned,  under  the  lease  agreements  are  recorded  in  “Rentals  received  in  advance” 
on our Consolidated Balance Sheet until earned. The difference between the rental income recorded and the cash 
received under the provisions of the lease is included in “Lease receivables,” as a component of “Other assets” on 
our Consolidated Balance Sheet. An allowance for doubtful accounts will be recognized for past due rentals based on 
management’s assessment of collectability. Our management team monitors all lessees with past due lease payments 
(if any) and discusses relevant operational and fi nancial issues facing those lessees with our marketing executives in 
order to determine an appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts. In addition, if collection is not reasonably assured, 
we will not recognize rental income for amounts due under our lease contracts and will recognize revenue for such 
lessees on a cash basis. Should a lessee’s credit quality deteriorate, we may be required to record an allowance for 
doubtful accounts and/or stop recognizing revenue until cash is received, both of which could have a material impact 
on our results of operations and fi nancial condition.

Our  aircraft  lease  agreements  typically  contain  provisions  which  require  the  lessee  to  make  additional  contingent 
rental payments based on either the usage of the aircraft, measured on the basis of hours or cycles fl own per month 
(a cycle is one take-off and landing), or calendar-based time (“Maintenance Reserves”). These payments represent 
contributions to the cost of major future maintenance events (“Qualifying Events”) associated with the aircraft and 
typically  cover  major  airframe  structural  checks,  engine  overhauls,  the  replacement  of  life-limited  parts  contained 
in each engine, landing gear overhauls and overhauls of the auxiliary power unit. These Maintenance Reserves are 
generally collected monthly based on reports of usage by the lessee or collected as fi xed monthly rates.

In accordance with our lease agreements, Maintenance Reserves are subject to reimbursement to the lessee upon 
the occurrence of a Qualifying Event. The reimbursable amount is capped by the amount of Maintenance Reserves 
received by the Company, net of previous reimbursements. The Company is only required to reimburse for Qualifying 
Events  during  the  lease  term.  The  Company  is  not  required  to  reimburse  for  routine  maintenance  or  additional 
maintenance costs incurred during a Qualifying Event. All amounts of Maintenance Reserves unclaimed by the lessee 
at the end of the lease term are retained by the Company.

We record as rental revenue the portion of Maintenance Reserves that we are virtually certain we will not reimburse to the 
lessee as a component of “Rental of fl ight equipment” in our Consolidated Statement of Income. Maintenance Reserves 
which we may be required to reimburse to the lessee are refl ected in our overhaul reserve liability, as a component of 
“Security deposits and maintenance reserves on fl ight equipment leases” in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Estimating  when  we  are  virtually  certain  that  Maintenance  Reserves  payments  will  not  be  reimbursed  requires 
judgments to be made as to the timing and cost of future maintenance events. In order to determine virtual certainty 
with  respect  to  this  contingency,  our  Technical  Asset  Management  department  analyzes  the  terms  of  the  lease, 
utilizes  available  cost  estimates  published  by  the  equipment  manufacturers,  and  thoroughly  evaluates  an  airline’s 
Maintenance Planning Document (“MPD”). The MPD describes the required inspections and the frequency of those 
inspections. Our Technical Asset Management department utilizes this information, combined with their cumulative 
industry experience, to determine when major Qualifying Events are expected to occur for each relevant component 
of  the  aircraft,  and  translates  this  information  into  a  determination  of  how  much  we  will  ultimately  be  required  to 
reimburse to the lessee. We record Maintenance Reserves revenue as the aircraft is operated when we determine that 
a Qualifying Event will occur outside the non-cancellable lease term or after we have collected Maintenance Reserves 
equal to the amount that we expect to reimburse to the lessee as the aircraft is operated.

46

Should such estimates be inaccurate, we may be required to reverse revenue previously recognized. In addition, if we 
can no longer make accurate estimates with respect to a particular lease, we will stop recognizing any Maintenance 
Reserves revenue until the end of such lease.

All of our lease agreements are triple net leases whereby the lessee is responsible for all taxes, insurance, and aircraft 
maintenance. In the future, we may incur repair and maintenance expenses for off-lease aircraft. We recognize repair 
and maintenance in our Consolidated Statements of Income for all such expenditures.

Lessee-specifi c modifi cations such as those related to modifi cations of the aircraft cabin are expected to be capitalized 
as initial direct costs and amortized over the term of the lease into rental revenue in our Consolidated Statements 
of Income.

Flight equipment
Flight equipment under operating lease is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Purchases, major additions 
and modifi cations, and interest on deposits during the construction phase are capitalized. We generally depreciate 
passenger aircraft on a straight line basis over a 25 year life from the date of manufacture to a 15% residual value. 
Changes  in  the  assumption  of  useful  lives  or  residual  values  for  aircraft  could  have  a  signifi cant  impact  on  our 
results of operations and fi nancial condition. At the time fl ight equipment is retired or sold, the cost and accumulated 
depreciation are removed from the related accounts and the difference, net of proceeds, is recorded as a gain or loss.

Our  management  team  evaluates  on  a  quarterly  basis  the  need  to  perform  an  impairment  test  whenever  facts  or 
circumstances  indicate  a  potential  impairment  has  occurred.  An  assessment  is  performed  whenever  events  or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an aircraft may not be recoverable. Recoverability of 
an aircraft’s carrying amount is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the aircraft to future undiscounted net 
cash fl ows expected to be generated by the aircraft. The undiscounted cash fl ows consist of cash fl ows from currently 
contracted leases, future projected lease rates and estimated residual or scrap values for each aircraft. We develop 
assumptions used in the recoverability analysis based on our knowledge of active lease contracts, current and future 
expectations of the global demand for a particular aircraft type, and historical experience in the aircraft leasing market 
and  aviation  industry,  as  well  as  information  received  from  third  party  industry  sources.  The  factors  considered  in 
estimating the undiscounted cash fl ows are affected by changes in future periods due to changes in contracted lease 
rates, economic conditions, technology and airline demand for a particular aircraft type. In the event that an aircraft 
does not meet the recoverability test, the aircraft will be recorded at fair value in accordance with our Fair Value Policy, 
resulting in an impairment charge. Deterioration of future lease rates and the residual values of our aircraft could result 
in impairment charges which could have a signifi cant impact on our results of operations and fi nancial condition. To 
date, we have not recorded any impairment charges.

We record fl ight equipment at fair value if we determine the carrying value may not be recoverable. We principally use 
the income approach to measure the fair value of aircraft. The income approach is based on the present value of cash 
fl ows from contractual lease agreements and projected future lease payments, including contingent rentals and net of 
expenses, which extend to the end of the aircraft’s economic life in its highest and best use confi guration, as well as 
a disposition value based on expectations of market participants. These valuations are considered Level 3 valuations, 
as the valuations contain signifi cant non-observable inputs.

47

Stock-based compensation
To compensate and incentivize our employees and directors, we grant stock-based compensation awards. To date, 
we have granted stock options (“Stock Options”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). All share-based payment awards 
granted have been equity classifi ed awards. We account for Stock Options by estimating the grant date fair value of 
the award as calculated by the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option pricing model and amortizing that value on a 
straight line basis over the requisite service period less any anticipated forfeitures. The fair value of book value RSUs 
is determined based on the closing market price of the Company’s Class A common stock on the date of grant, while 
the fair value of Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) RSUs is determined at the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation 
model. Included in the Monte Carlo simulation model are certain assumptions regarding a number of highly complex 
and subjective variables, such as expected volatility, risk free interest rate and expected dividends. To appropriately 
value the award, the risk free interest rate is estimated for the time period from the valuation date until the vesting 
date and the historical volatilities are estimated based on a historical timeframe equal to the time from the valuation 
date until the end date of the performance period. Due to our limited stock history since the completion of our initial 
public offering on April 25, 2011, historical volatility was estimated based on all available information including peer 
group volatility.

The estimation of the fair value of share-based awards requires considerable judgment. For future awards, we will be 
required to continue to make such judgments, and while we intend to continue to use the approach discussed above 
to make key estimates, there can be no assurance that changes in such estimates will not have a signifi cant impact 
to our results of operations in the future.

Income taxes
We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred 
income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of “temporary differences” by applying enacted statutory tax 
rates applicable to future years to differences between the fi nancial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of 
existing assets and liabilities. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in the tax rates is recognized in income in the 
period that includes the enactment date. We record a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when the probability 
of realization of the full value of the asset is less than 50%. Based on the timing of reversal of deferred tax liabilities, 
future anticipated taxable income based on lease and debt arrangements in place at the balance sheet date and tax 
planning  strategies  available  to  us,  our  management  considers  the  deferred  tax  asset  recoverable.  Should  events 
occur in the future that make the likelihood of recovery of deferred tax assets less than 50%, a deferred tax valuation 
allowance will be required that could have a signifi cant impact on our results of operations and fi nancial condition.

We  recognize  the  impact  of  a  tax  position,  if  that  position  has  a  probability  of  greater  than  50%  that  it  would  be 
sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. Recognized income tax positions are measured at 
the largest amount that has a probability of more than 50% of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement 
are  refl ected  in  the  period  in  which  the  change  in  judgment  occurs.  As  our  business  develops,  we  may  take  tax 
positions  that  have  a  probability  of  less  than  50%  of  being  sustained  on  audit  which  will  require  us  to  reserve  for 
such positions. If these tax positions are audited by a taxing authority, there can be no assurance that the ultimate 
resolution of such tax positions will not result in further losses. Such losses could have a signifi cant impact on our 
results of operations and fi nancial condition.

48

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of changes in value of a fi nancial instrument, caused by fl uctuations in interest rates 
and foreign exchange rates. Changes in these factors could cause fl uctuations in our results of operations and cash 
fl ows. We are exposed to the market risks described below.

INTEREST RATE RISK

The nature of our business exposes us to market risk arising from changes in interest rates. Changes, both increases 
and decreases, in our cost of borrowing, as refl ected in our composite interest rate, directly impact our net income. 
Our lease rental stream is generally fi xed over the life of our leases, whereas we have used fl oating rate debt to fi nance 
a signifi cant portion of our aircraft acquisitions. As of December 31, 2014, we had $1.7 billion in fl oating rate debt. As 
of December 31, 2013, we had $2.2 billion in fl oating rate debt. If interest rates increase, we would be obligated to 
make higher interest payments to our lenders. If we incur signifi cant fi xed rate debt in the future, increased interest 
rates prevailing in the market at the time of the incurrence of such debt would also increase our interest expense. If 
our composite rate were to increase by 1.0%, we would expect to incur additional interest expense on our existing 
indebtedness as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 of approximately $16.7 million and $22.3 million, each 
on an annualized basis, which would put downward pressure on our operating margins. The decrease in additional 
interest expense the Company would incur is primarily due to a decrease in the fl oating rate debt outstanding as of 
December 31, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013.

We also have interest rate risk on our forward lease placements. This is caused by us setting a fi xed lease rate in 
advance  of  the  delivery  date  of  an  aircraft.  The  delivery  date  is  when  a  majority  of  the  fi nancing  for  an  aircraft  is 
arranged. We partially mitigate the risk of an increasing interest rate environment between the lease signing date and 
the delivery date of the aircraft, by having interest rate adjusters in a majority of our forward lease contracts which 
would adjust the fi nal lease rate upward if certain benchmark interest rates are higher at the time of delivery of the 
aircraft than at the lease signing date.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE RISK

The Company attempts to minimize currency and exchange risks by entering into aircraft purchase agreements and a 
majority of lease agreements and debt agreements with U.S. dollars as the designated payment currency. Thus, most 
of our revenue and expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 
0.8% and 1.6%, respectively, of our lease revenues were denominated in Euros. As our principal currency is the U.S. 
dollar, fl uctuations in the U.S. dollar as compared to other major currencies should not have a signifi cant impact on 
our future operating results.

49

Selected Financial Data

You should read the following selected consolidated fi nancial data in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated fi nancial statements and the related 
notes appearingels ewhere in this Annual Report.

Year Ended 

Year Ended 

Year Ended 

Year Ended 

from Inception to

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

December 31, 2012 

December 31, 2011  December 31, 2010

For the Period

(in thousands, except share data)

OPERATING DATA 
  Rentals of fl ight equipment 
  Aircraft sales, trading and other 

  Total revenues 
  Expenses 

Income (loss) before taxes 
Income tax (expense) benefi t 

$       991,241 
59,252 
1,050,493 
655,717 
394,776 
(138,778) 

$       836,516 
22,159 
858,675 
565,233 
293,442 
(103,031) 

$       645,853 
9,893 
655,746 
451,773 
203,973 
(72,054) 

$     332,719 
4,022 
336,741 
253,900 
82,841 
(29,609) 

$       57,075
1,291
58,366
119,281
(60,915)
8,875

  Net income (loss) 

$       255,998 

$       190,411 

$       131,919 

$       53,232 

$      (52,040)

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE 
  Basic 
  Diluted 
Cash dividends declared 
  per share 

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES 

OUTSTANDING 
  Basic 
  Diluted 

CASH FLOW DATA 
Net cash fl ows provided by 

(used in): 
  Operating activities 
Investing activities 
  Financing activities 

(in thousands, except share and aircraft data)

BALANCE SHEET DATA 
Flight equipment subject to 
  operating leases 

(net of accumulated depreciation) 

Total assets 
Total debt 
Total liabilities 
Shareholders’ equity 

OTHER OPERATING DATA 
Aircraft lease portfolio at period end: 
  Owned 
  Managed 

$             2.51 
$             2.38 

$             1.88 
$             1.80 

$              1.31 
$              1.28 

$            0.59 
$            0.59 

$           (1.32)
$           (1.32)

$             0.13 

$             0.11 

$                 — 

$                — 

$                 —

102,142,828 
110,192,771 

101,529,137 
108,963,550 

100,991,871 
107,656,463 

89,592,945 
90,416,346 

39,511,045
39,511,045

$       769,018 
(1,805,657) 
1,049,285 

$       654,213 
(2,185,894) 
1,571,765 

$       491,029 
(2,344,924) 
1,802,179 

$     267,166 
(2,977,156) 
2,662,974 

$       41,934
(1,851,520)
2,138,407

2014 

2013 

2012 

2011 

2010

As of December 31,

$  8,953,804 
10,774,784 
6,714,362 
8,002,722 
2,772,062 

$7,613,135 
9,332,604 
5,853,317 
6,809,170 
2,523,434 

$6,251,863 
7,353,624 
4,384,732 
5,021,003 
2,332,621 

$4,237,416 
5,164,593 
2,602,799 
2,988,310 
2,176,283 

$1,629,809
2,276,282
911,981
1,051,347
1,224,935

213 
17 

193 
4 

155 
4 

102 
2 

40
—

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered 
Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Air Lease Corporation:

We  have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Air  Lease  Corporation  and  subsidiaries  as  of 
December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash fl ows 
for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2014. These consolidated fi nancial statements are 
the responsibility of Air Lease Corporation and subsidiaries’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion 
on these consolidated fi nancial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the  fi nancial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement.  An  audit  includes  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the fi nancial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting 
principles used and signifi cant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall fi nancial statement 
presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  fi nancial  statements  referred  to  above  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the 
fi nancial position of Air Lease Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their 
operations and their cash fl ows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity 
with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board 
(United  States),  Air  Lease  Corporation  and  subsidiaries’  internal  control  over  fi nancial  reporting  as  of  December 
31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 26, 2015 expressed 
an unqualifi ed opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over fi nancial reporting.

San Francisco, California
February 26, 2015

51

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)

ASSETS 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Restricted cash 
Flight equipment subject to operating leases 
  Less accumulated depreciation 

Deposits on fl ight equipment purchases 
Deferred debt issuance costs—less accumulated amortization of $72,783 
  and $51,578 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively 
Other assets 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

$     282,819 
7,469 
9,832,421 
(878,617) 
8,953,804 
1,144,603 

83,604 
302,485 

$   270,173
87,308
8,234,315
(621,180)
7,613,135
1,075,023

90,249
196,716

  Total assets 

$10,774,784 

$9,332,604

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
Accrued interest and other payables 
Debt fi nancing, net of discounts 
Security deposits and maintenance reserves on fl ight equipment leases 
Rentals received in advance 
Deferred tax liability 

$190,952 
6,714,362 
698,172 
75,877 
323,359 

$131,223
5,853,317
569,847
61,520
193,263

  Total liabilities 

$  8,002,722 

$6,809,170

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 
  no shares issued or outstanding 
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 500,000,000 shares; 

issued and outstanding 102,392,208 and 101,822,676 shares at 

  December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively 
Class B Non-Voting common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 10,000,000 
  shares; no shares issued or outstanding 
Paid-in capital 
Retained earnings 
  Total shareholders’ equity 

  Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

— 

—

1,010 

1,009

— 
2,215,479 
555,573 
$  2,772,062 

$10,774,784 

—
2,209,566
312,859
$2,523,434

$9,332,604

52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Income

Year Ended 

Year Ended 

Year Ended

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

December 31, 2012

(in thousands, except share data)

REVENUES 
  Rental of fl ight equipment 
  Aircraft sales, trading and other 

  Total revenues 

EXPENSES 
Interest 

  Amortization of discounts and deferred debt issuance costs 

Interest expense 

  Depreciation of fl ight equipment 
  Selling, general and administrative 
  Stock-based compensation 

  Total expenses 
Income before taxes 

Income tax expense 

  Net income 

$   991,241 
59,252 
1,050,493 

192,818 
27,772 
220,590 
336,657 
82,422 
16,048 
655,717 
394,776 
(138,778) 

$ 836,516 
22,159 
858,675 

168,743 
23,627 
192,370 
280,037 
71,212 
21,614 
565,233 
293,442 
(103,031) 

$645,853
9,893
655,746

130,419
16,994
147,413
216,219
56,453
31,688
451,773
203,973
(72,054)

$   255,998 

$ 190,411 

$131,919

Net income per share of Class A and Class B common stock: 
  Basic 
  Diluted 
Weighted-average shares outstanding 
  Basic 
  Diluted 

$         2.51 
$         2.38 

102,142,828 
110,192,771 

$       1.88 
$       1.80 

$      1.31
$      1.28

101,529,137 
108,963,550 

100,991,871
107,656,463

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock 

Shares  Amount 

Common Stock 

Common Stock 

Shares  Amount 

Shares  Amount 

Paid-in 

Capital 

Retained 

Earnings 

Total

Class A  

Class B Non-Voting 

(in thousands, except share data)

— 

98,885,131  $   984  1,829,339 

$18 

$2,174,089  $    1,192  $2,176,283

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(97) 

— 

(97)

— 

Balance at December 31, 2011  — 
Class A common 
  stock issuance 
Issuance of common 
  stock upon exercise of 
  options and vesting 
  of restricted stock units 
Tax withholdings on stock 
  based compensation 
Stock-based compensation 
Net income 

— 
— 
— 

— 

Balance at December 31, 2012  — 

Issuance of common stock 
  upon exercise of options and 
  warrants and vesting of 
restricted stock units 
Common stock exchanged 
Cash dividends declared 
($0.105 per share) 
Tax benefi ts from stock 
  based compensation 
  arrangements 
Tax withholdings on stock
  based compensation 
Stock-based compensation 
Net income 

— 
— 

— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

(448,182) 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

Balance at December 31, 2013  — 

—  101,822,676  $1,009 

Issuance of common stock upon 
  exercise of options and vesting 
  of restricted stock units 
Stock-based 
  compensation expense 
Cash dividends 

— 

— 

— 

(declared $0.13 per share) 
Tax benefi ts from stock-based 
  compensation arrangements  — 
Tax withholdings on stock 
  based compensation 
Net income 

— 
— 

— 

1,028,654 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

(459,122) 
— 

1 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

Balance at December 31, 2014  — 

—  102,392,208  $1,010 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

54

897,110 

(364,243) 
— 
— 

7 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

133 

— 

140

(7,312) 
31,688 
— 

— 
— 
131,919 

(7,312)
31,688
131,919

99,417,998  $   991  1,829,339 

$18 

$2,198,501  $133,111  $2,332,621

1,023,521 
1,829,339 

— 
18 

— 
(1,829,339) 

— 
(18) 

— 
— 

— 
— 

—
—

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(10,663) 

(10,663)

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

2,115 

— 

2,115

(12,664) 
21,614 
— 

— 
— 
190,411 

(12,664)
21,614
190,411

$2,209,566  $312,859  $2,523,434

943 

16,048 

— 

— 

944

16,048

— 

(13,284) 

(13,284)

7,011 

— 

7,011

(18,089) 
— 

— 
255,998 

(18,089)
255,998

$2,215,479  $555,573  $2,772,062

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(dollars in thousands)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
Net income 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided 
  by operating activities: 
Depreciation of fl ight equipment 
Stock-based compensation 
Deferred taxes 
Tax benefi ts from stock-based compensation arrangements 
Amortization of discounts and deferred debt issuance costs 
Gain on aircraft sales, trading and other activity 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: 
  Other assets 
  Accrued interest and other payables 
  Rentals received in advance 
Net cash provided by operating activities 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
  Acquisition of fl ight equipment under operating lease 
  Payments for deposits on fl ight equipment purchases 
  Proceeds from aircraft sales, trading and other activity 
  Acquisition of furnishings, equipment and other assets 
Net cash used in investing activities 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options 

  Cash dividends paid 
  Tax withholdings on stock-based compensation 
  Tax benefi ts from stock-based compensation arrangements 
  Net change in unsecured revolving facilities 
  Proceeds from debt fi nancings 
  Payments in reduction of debt fi nancings 
  Net change in restricted cash 
  Debt issuance costs 
  Security deposits and maintenance reserve receipts 
  Security deposits and maintenance reserve disbursements 
Net cash provided by fi nancing activities 
Net increase (decrease) in cash 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 

Year Ended 

Year Ended 

Year Ended

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

December 31, 2012

$    255,998 

$   190,411 

$   131,919

336,657 
16,048 
137,107 
(7,011) 
27,772 
(56,457) 

(1,191) 
45,738 
14,357 
769,018 

(1,568,748) 
(601,307) 
603,849 
(239,451) 
(1,805,657) 

944 
(12,243) 
(18,089) 
7,011 
(239,000) 
1,663,120 
(577,212) 
79,839 
(7,975) 
185,639 
(32,749) 
1,049,285 
12,646 
270,173 

280,037 
21,614 
102,636 
(2,115) 
23,627 
(19,234) 

(2,653) 
39,507 
20,383 
654,213 

(1,329,619) 
(828,839) 
97,748 
(125,184) 
(2,185,894) 

— 
(7,608) 
(12,664) 
2,115 
388,000 
1,608,854 
(531,831) 
18,999 
(37,535) 
172,662 
(29,227) 
1,571,765 
40,084 
230,089 

216,219
31,688
72,050
—
16,994
(3,884)

(14,874)
25,797
15,120
491,029

(1,899,231)
(418,278)
47,490
(74,905)
(2,344,924)

43
—
(7,312)
—
62,000
2,115,607
(432,129)
(10,150)
(42,149)
142,541
(26,272)
1,802,179
(51,716)
281,805

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 

$    282,819 

$   270,173 

$   230,089

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION 
Cash paid during the period for interest, 

including capitalized interest of $42,775, $32,659 and 

  $19,388 at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively 

$    211,345 

$   188,464 

$   124,731

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH ACTIVITIES 
Buyer furnished equipment, capitalized interest, deposits on 
  fl ight equipment purchases and seller fi nancing applied to 
  acquisition of fl ight equipment and other assets applied to 
  payments for deposits on fl ight equipment purchases 
Cash dividends declared, not yet paid 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

$    756,286 
$        4,096 

$   459,432 
$       3,055 

$   377,892
$            —

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Summary of Signifi cant Accounting Policies

Organization
Air  Lease  Corporation  is  a  leading  aircraft  leasing  company  that  was  founded  by  aircraft  leasing  industry  pioneer, 
Steven F. Udvar-Házy. We are principally engaged in purchasing new commercial jet transport aircraft from Boeing and 
Airbus. We lease these aircraft to airlines throughout the world to generate attractive returns on equity. As of December 
31,  2014  we  owned  a  fl eet  of  213  aircraft  and  had  364  aircraft  on  order  with  the  manufacturers.  In  addition  to  our 
leasing activities, we sell aircraft from our fl eet to other leasing companies, fi nancial services companies and airlines. 
We also provide fl eet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios for a management fee.

Principles of consolidation
The Company consolidates fi nancial statements of all entities in which we have a controlling fi nancial interest, including 
the account of any Variable Interest Entity in which we have a controlling fi nancial interest and for which we are the 
primary benefi ciary. All material intercompany balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Investments
Our investment in the Blackbird joint venture, where we own 9.5% of the equity of the venture, is accounted for using 
the equity method of accounting due to our level of infl uence and involvement in the joint venture. This investment is 
recorded at the amount invested plus or minus our 9.5% share of net income or loss less any distributions or return 
of capital received from the entity.

Rental of fl ight equipment
The Company leases fl ight equipment principally under operating leases and reports rental income ratably over the 
life of each lease. Rentals received, but unearned, under the lease agreements are recorded in Rentals received in 
advance  on  the  Company’s  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet  until  earned.  The  difference  between  the  rental  income 
recorded and the cash received under the provisions of the lease is included in Lease receivables, as a component of 
Other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. An allowance for doubtful accounts will be recognized 
for past due rentals based on management’s assessment of collectability. Management monitors all lessees with past 
due lease payments and discuss relevant operational and fi nancial issues facing those lessees in order to determine 
an  appropriate  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts.  In  addition,  if  collection  is  not  reasonably  assured,  the  Company 
will not recognize rental income for amounts due under the Company’s lease contracts and will recognize revenue 
for such lessees on a cash basis. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had no such allowance, and no 
leases were on a cash basis.

All of the Company’s lease agreements are triple net leases whereby the lessee is responsible for all taxes, insurance, 
and  aircraft  maintenance.  In  the  future,  we  may  incur  repair  and  maintenance  expenses  for  off-lease  aircraft.  We 
recognize  repair  and  maintenance  expense  in  our  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income  for  all  such  expenditures. 
In  many  operating  lease  contracts,  the  lessee  is  obligated  to  make  periodic  payments,  which  are  calculated  with 
reference to the utilization of the airframe, engines and other major life-limited components during the lease. In these 
leases, we will make a payment to the lessee to compensate the lessee for the cost of the Qualifying Event incurred, 
up to the maximum of the amount of Maintenance Reserves made by the lessee during the lease term, net of previous 
reimbursements.  These  payments  are  made  upon  the  lessee’s  presentation  of  invoices  evidencing  the  completion 
of such Qualifying Event. The Company records as “Rental of fl ight equipment” revenue, the portion of Maintenance 
Reserves  that  is  virtually  certain  will  not  be  reimbursed  to  the  lessee.  Maintenance  Reserves  payments  which  we 
may be required to reimburse to the lessee are refl ected in our overhaul reserve liability, as a component of “Security 
deposits and overhaul reserves on fl ight equipment leases” in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

56

Lessee-specifi c modifi cations are capitalized as initial direct costs and amortized over the term of the lease into rental 
revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Initial direct costs
The Company records as period costs those internal and other costs incurred in connection with identifying, negotiating 
and delivering aircraft to the Company’s lessees. Amounts paid by us to lessees, or other parties, in connection with 
the lease transactions are capitalized and amortized as a reduction to lease revenue over the lease term.

Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers cash and cash equivalents to be cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original 
maturity dates of 90 days or less.

Restricted cash
Restricted cash consists of pledged security deposits, maintenance reserves, and rental payments related to secured 
aircraft fi nancing arrangements.

Flight equipment
Flight equipment under operating lease is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Purchases, major additions 
and modifi cations, and interest on deposits during the construction phase are capitalized. The Company generally 
depreciates  passenger  aircraft  on  a  straight  line  basis  over  a  25  year  life  from  the  date  of  manufacture  to  a  15% 
residual value. Changes in the assumption of useful lives or residual values for aircraft could have a signifi cant impact 
on the Company’s results of operations and fi nancial condition.

At the time fl ight equipment is retired or sold, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the related 
accounts and the difference, net of proceeds, is recorded as a gain or loss in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Management evaluates on a quarterly basis the need to perform an impairment test whenever facts or circumstances 
indicate  a  potential  impairment  has  occurred.  An  assessment  is  performed  whenever  events  or  changes  in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an aircraft may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an aircraft’s 
carrying amount is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the aircraft to future undiscounted net cash fl ows 
expected to be generated by the aircraft. The undiscounted cash fl ows consist of cash fl ows from currently contracted 
leases, future projected lease rates and estimated residual or scrap values for each aircraft. We develop assumptions 
used in the recoverability analysis based on our knowledge of active lease contracts, current and future expectations 
of the global demand for a particular aircraft type, and historical experience in the aircraft leasing market and aviation 
industry,  as  well  as  information  received  from  third  party  industry  sources.  The  factors  considered  in  estimating 
the  undiscounted  cash  fl ows  are  affected  by  changes  in  future  periods  due  to  changes  in  contracted  lease  rates, 
economic conditions, technology and airline demand for a particular aircraft type. In the event that an aircraft does 
not meet the recoverability test, the aircraft will be recorded at fair value in accordance with the Company’s Fair Value 
Policy, resulting in an impairment charge. Our Fair Value Policy is described below under “Fair Value Measurements”. 
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, no impairment charges have been incurred to date.

Capitalized interest
The Company may borrow funds to fi nance deposits on new fl ight equipment purchases. The Company capitalizes 
interest expense on such borrowings. The capitalized amount is calculated using our composite borrowing rate and 
is recorded as an increase to the cost of the fl ight equipment on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Fair value measurements
Fair value is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction 
between market participants at the measurement date. The Company measures the fair value of certain assets on 
a  non-recurring  basis,  principally  our  fl ight  equipment,  when  Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Principles  (“GAAP”) 
requires  the  application  of  fair  value,  including  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  that  indicate  that  the  carrying 
amounts of assets may not be recoverable.

57

The Company records fl ight equipment at fair value when we determine the carrying value may not be recoverable. The 
Company principally uses the income approach to measure the fair value of fl ight equipment. The income approach 
is based on the present value of cash fl ows from contractual lease agreements and projected future lease payments, 
including contingent rentals, net of expenses, which extend to the end of the aircraft’s economic life in its highest and 
best use confi guration, as well as a disposition value based on expectations of market participants. These valuations 
are considered Level 3 valuations, as the valuations contain signifi cant non-observable inputs.

Income taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, 
deferred  income  taxes  are  recognized  for  the  tax  consequences  of  “temporary  differences”  by  applying  enacted 
statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the fi nancial statement carrying amounts and the 
tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in the tax rates is recognized in 
income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance for deferred tax 
assets when the probability of realization of the full value of the asset is less than 50%. The Company recognizes the 
impact of a tax position, if that position is more than 50% likely to be sustained on audit, based on the technical merits 
of the position. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to 
be realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are refl ected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties for uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

Deferred costs
The Company incurs debt issue costs in connection with debt fi nancings. Those costs are deferred and amortized 
over the life of the specifi c loan using the effective interest method and charged to interest expense. The Company 
also incurs costs in connection with equity offerings. Such costs are deferred until the equity offering is completed 
and either netted against the equity raised, or expensed if the equity offering is abandoned.

Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. Stock-based 
compensation expense includes an estimate for forfeitures and is recognized over the requisite service periods of the 
awards on a straight line basis.

Use of estimates
The  preparation  of  fi nancial  statements  in  conformity  with  GAAP  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and 
assumptions  that  affect  the  amounts  reported  in  the  fi nancial  statements  and  accompanying  notes.  Actual  results 
could differ from those estimates.

Recent accounting pronouncements
In  May  2014,  the  FASB  issued  Accounting  Standards  Update  (“ASU”)  No.  2014-09,  Revenue  from  Contracts  with 
Customers, which supersedes most of the current revenue recognition requirements. The guidance requires entities 
to  recognize  revenue  when  it  transfers  promised  goods  or  services  to  customers  in  an  amount  that  refl ects  the 
consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 
is  effective  for  annual  reporting  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2016,  including  interim  periods  within  that 
reporting  period.  Early  adoption  is  not  permitted.  We  are  currently  in  the  process  of  evaluating  the  impact  of  the 
adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated fi nancial statements.

58

Note 2. Debt Financing

The Company’s consolidated debt as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 is summarized below:

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

(dollars in thousands)

UNSECURED 
  Senior notes 
  Revolving credit facilities 
  Term fi nancings 
  Convertible senior notes 

SECURED 
  Warehouse facilities 
  Term fi nancings 
  Export credit fi nancing 

  Total secured and unsecured debt fi nancing 

  Less: Debt discount 

  Total debt 

$4,579,194 
569,000 
196,146 
200,000 

5,544,340 

484,513 
636,411 
64,884 
1,185,808 
6,730,148 
(15,786) 

$3,055,620
808,000
247,722
200,000

4,311,342

828,418
654,369
71,539
1,554,326
5,865,668
(12,351)

$6,714,362 

$5,853,317

At December 31, 2014, we were in compliance in all material respects with the covenants in our debt agreements, 
including our fi nancial covenants concerning debt-to-equity, tangible net equity and interest coverage ratios.

The Company’s secured obligations as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized below:

(dollars in thousands)
Nonrecourse 
Recourse 

  Total 
Number of aircraft pledged as collateral 
Net book value of aircraft pledged as collateral 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

$   484,513 
701,295 

$1,185,808 
38 
$1,935,711 

$   847,684
706,642

$1,554,326
52
$2,454,350

Senior unsecured notes
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $4.6 billion in senior unsecured notes outstanding with remaining terms 
ranging from one to 10 years and bearing interest at fi xed rates ranging from 2.125% to 7.375%. As of December 31, 
2013, the Company had $3.1 billion in senior unsecured notes outstanding with remaining terms ranging from two to 
six years and bearing interest at fi xed rates ranging from 3.375% to 7.375%. Since the end of 2014, we issued $600.0 
million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2022 that bear interest at a rate of 3.75%.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company issued $1.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior 
unsecured notes.

On January 22, 2014, the Company issued $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 
2024 that bear interest at a rate of 4.85%.

On March 11, 2014, the Company issued $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 
2021 that bear interest at a rate of 3.875%.

On September 16, 2014, the Company issued $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes 
due 2018 that bear interest at a rate of 2.125%.

On September 16, 2014, the Company issued $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes 
due 2024 that bear interest at a rate of 4.25%.

59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured revolving credit facilities
The total amount outstanding under our unsecured revolving credit facilities was $569.0 million and $808.0 million as 
of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The Company has in place a senior unsecured revolving credit facility governed by a second amended and restated 
credit agreement, dated May 5, 2014, which provides us with fi nancing of up to $2.1 billion. The unsecured revolving 
credit facility accrues interest at a rate of either LIBOR plus 1.25% or an alternative base rate plus 0.25% on drawn 
balances and includes a 0.25% facility fee. The facility will mature in May 2018.

Unsecured term fi nancings
From time to time, the Company enters into unsecured term facilities. During 2014, the Company entered into four 
additional unsecured term facilities aggregating $65.0 million with terms ranging from four to fi ve years and bearing 
interest at fi xed rates ranging from 2.85% to 3.125% per annum. The outstanding balance on our unsecured term 
facilities as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $196.1 million and $247.7 million, respectively.

Convertible senior notes
In November 2011, the Company issued $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.875% convertible senior 
notes  due  2018  (the  “Convertible  Notes”)  in  an  offering  exempt  from  registration  under  the  Securities  Act.  The 
Convertible  Notes  were  sold  to  Qualifi ed  Institutional  Buyers  in  reliance  upon  Rule  144A  under  the  Securities  Act. 
The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and bear interest at a rate of 3.875% per 
annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing on June 1, 2012. The 
Convertible Notes are convertible at the option of the holder into shares of our Class A common stock at a price of 
$30.01 per share.

Warehouse facilities
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had borrowed $484.5 million under the 2010 Warehouse Facility and pledged 
18 aircraft as collateral with a net book value of $729.5 million. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had borrowed 
$656.8 million under the 2010 Warehouse Facility and pledged 24 aircraft as collateral with a net book value of $985.2 
million. During 2014, the Company substituted letters of credit for cash collateral and lessee deposits pledged under 
the 2010 Warehouse Facility, reducing the total amount of restricted cash from $87.3 million at December 31, 2013 to 
$7.5 million at December 31, 2014.

On  March  27,  2014,  the  Company  refi nanced  a  portfolio  of  secured  debt  facilities  including  the  2012  Warehouse 
Facility. We reduced the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the portfolio of loans from $178.5 million to 
$101.0 million, reduced the interest rate on the fl oating rate debt facilities from LIBOR plus 2.25% to LIBOR plus 1.55% 
while the interest rate on the fi xed rate debt facilities remained at 4.58% and modifi ed the amortization schedule of the 
loans, which now have fi nal maturities in March 2019. The outstanding balance on our 2012 Warehouse Facility as of 
December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $88.1 million and $171.6 million, respectively.

On July 23, 2014, the 2010 Warehouse Borrower entered into an amendment to the 2010 Warehouse Facility. The 
2010 Warehouse Facility, as amended, provides the 2010 Warehouse Borrower with fi nancing of up to $750 million, 
modifi ed from the previous facility size of $1.0 billion. The interest rate on the 2010 Warehouse Facility, as amended, 
was reduced from LIBOR plus 2.25% to LIBOR plus 2.00% on drawn balances and continues to bear interest at a rate 
of 0.50% on undrawn balances. The 2010 Warehouse Borrower is able to draw on the 2010 Warehouse Facility, as 
amended, during an availability period that was extended from June 2015 to June 2016 and the maturity date of the 
2010 Warehouse Facility was extended from June 2019 to June 2020.

60

Secured term fi nancing
We  fund  some  aircraft  purchases  through  secured  term  fi nancings.  Our  various  consolidated  entities  will  borrow 
through secured bank facilities to purchase an aircraft. The aircraft are then leased by our entities to airlines. We may 
guarantee the obligations of the entities under the loan agreements. The loans may be secured by a pledge of the 
shares of the entities, the aircraft, the lease receivables, security deposits, maintenance reserves or a combination 
thereof.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we entered into an additional secured term facility of $110.0 million with 
a three year term bearing interest at a fl oating rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 1.15% per annum.

As  of  December  31,  2014,  the  outstanding  balance  on  our  secured  term  facilities  (including  the  2012  Warehouse 
Facility) was $636.4 million and we had pledged 18 aircraft as collateral with a net book value of $1.1 billion. The 
outstanding  balance  under  our  secured  term  facilities  (including  the  2012  Warehouse  Facility)  as  of  December 
31,  2014  was  comprised  of  $104.7  million  fi xed  rate  debt  and  $531.7  million  fl oating  rate  debt,  with  interest  rates 
ranging from 4.28% to 5.36% and LIBOR plus 1.15% to LIBOR plus 3.0%, respectively.

As  of  December  31,  2013,  the  outstanding  balance  on  our  secured  term  facilities  was  $654.4  million  and  we  had 
pledged 18 aircraft as collateral with a net book value of $1.14 billion. The outstanding balance under our secured 
term facilities as of December 31, 2013 was comprised of $153.9 million fi xed rate debt and $505.5 million fl oating 
rate debt, with interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 5.36% and LIBOR plus 1.5% to LIBOR plus 3.0%, respectively.

Export credit fi nancings
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $64.9 million in export credit fi nancing outstanding. As of December 
31, 2013, the Company had $71.5 million in export credit fi nancing outstanding.

In March 2013, the Company issued $76.5 million in secured notes due 2024 guaranteed by the Ex-Im Bank. The 
notes will mature on August 15, 2024 and will bear interest at a rate of 1.617% per annum. The Company used the 
proceeds of the offering to refi nance a portion of the purchase price of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft and the related 
premium charged by Ex-Im Bank for its guarantee of the notes.

Maturities
Maturities of debt outstanding as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Years ending December 31, 
2015 
2016 
2017 
2018 
2019 
Thereafter 

  Total (1) (2) 

(dollars in thousands)

$171,558
870,682
1,415,419
1,542,706
1,173,489
1,556,294

$6,730,148

(1)  As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $484.5 million of debt outstanding under the 2010 Warehouse Facility. The Company is able to draw on the facility during an 

availability period that ends in June 2016 with a subsequent term out option, through the maturity date of the facility, which is the maturity in the schedule above.

(2)  As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $569.0 million of debt outstanding under our revolving credit facilities. The outstanding drawn balances may be rolled until the 

maturity date of each respective facility and have been presented as such in the maturity schedule above.

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 3. Interest Expense

The following table shows the components of interest for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

(dollars in thousands)
Interest on borrowings 
Less capitalized interest 

Interest 

Amortization of discounts and deferred debt issue costs 

Interest expense 

Note 4. Shareholders’ Equity

Year ended 

Year ended 

Year ended

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

December 31, 2012

$235,593 
(42,775) 
192,818 
27,772 

$220,590 

$201,402 
(32,659) 
168,743 
23,627 

$192,370 

$149,807
(19,388)
130,419
16,994

$147,413

In 2010, the Company authorized 500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 
102,392,208 and 101,822,676 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. 
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had authorized 10,000,000 shares of Class B Non-Voting common 
stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which no shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Each share of Class B Non-Voting common stock is convertible into one share of Class A common stock at the option 
of the holder, and is automatically converted at the time it is transferred to a third party unaffi liated with such initial 
holder, subject to the transfer restrictions.

On  October  15,  2013,  the  Company  entered  into  an  exchange  agreement  with  an  existing  security  holder  of  the 
Company, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue 1,829,339 shares of its Class A common stock to such 
security holder in exchange for an equal number of shares of the Company’s Class B Non-Voting common stock in 
a transaction (the “Exchange”) exempt from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended.  Following  the  satisfaction  of  certain  closing  conditions,  the  Exchange  closed  on  October  17,  2013.  No 
commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for solicitation of the Exchange, and no cash 
consideration was paid for the shares of Class A common stock issued in the Exchange. As a result of the Exchange, 
the total number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock increased by 1,829,339 shares, and no shares of 
Class B Non-Voting common stock are issued or outstanding. The Exchange did not increase the total number of 
outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock used to compute basic and diluted net income per share.

On June 4, 2010, the Company issued 482,625 warrants for the purchase of up to 482,625 shares of Class A common 
stock to two institutional investors (the “Committed Investors”). The warrants have a seven-year term and an exercise 
price of $20 per share. The Company used the BSM option pricing model to determine the fair value of warrants. The 
fair value of warrants was calculated on the date of grant by an option-pricing model using a number of complex and 
subjective variables. These variables include expected stock price volatility over the term of the warrant, projected 
exercise behavior, a risk free interest rate and expected dividends. The warrants had a fair value at the grant date 
of $5.6 million. The warrants are classifi ed as an equity instrument and the proceeds from the issuance of common 
stock to the Committed Investors was split between the warrants and the stock-based on fair value of the warrants 
and  recorded  as  an  increase  to  Paid-in  capital  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet.  On  October  21,  2013,  one  of 
the  Committed  Investors  performed  a  cashless  exercise  of  all  of  its  214,500  warrants,  resulting  in  the  issuance  of 
63,481 shares of Class A Common Stock. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had 268,125 warrants remaining 
outstanding.

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013 the Company had authorized 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par 
value per share, of which no shares were issued or outstanding.

62

 
 
 
 
Note 5. Rental Income

At December 31, 2014 minimum future rentals on non-cancellable operating leases of fl ight equipment in our fl eet, 
which have been delivered as of December 31, 2014, are as follows:

Years ending December 31, 
2015 
2016 
2017 
2018 
2019 
Thereafter 

  Total 

(dollars in thousands)

$1,032,375
998,466
938,087
901,378
844,122
2,770,506

$7,484,934

The  Company  earned  $25.2  million,  $34.4  million  and  $25.0  million  in  maintenance  reserve  revenue  based  on  our 
lessees’ usage of the aircraft for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The following table shows the scheduled lease terminations (for the minimum non-cancellable period which does not 
include contracted unexercised lease extension options) of our operating lease portfolio as of December 31, 2014, 
updated through February 26, 2015:

Aircraft Type  

Airbus A319-100 
Airbus A320-200 
Airbus A321-200 
Airbus A330-200 
Airbus A330-300 
Boeing 737-700 
Boeing 737-800 
Boring 767-300ER 
Boeing 777-200ER 
Boeing 777-300ER 
Embraer E175 
Embraer E190 
ATR 72-600 

  Total 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Thereafter 

Total

1 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
4 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

5 

— 
2 
1 
— 
— 
3 
5 
1 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

12 

3 
2 
— 
1 
— 
— 
7 
— 
— 
1 
— 
1 
— 

15 

1 
1 
1 
— 
— 
2 
2 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

7 

— 
4 
1 
4 
— 
3 
10 
— 
— 
— 
— 
6 
4 

32 

— 
30 
17 
11 
5 
— 
33 
— 
1 
8 
7 
16 
14 

5
39
20
16
5
8
61
1
1
9
7
23
18

142 

213

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 6. Concentration of Risk

Geographical and credit risks
As of December 31, 2014, all of the Company’s rental of fl ight equipment revenues were generated by leasing fl ight 
equipment to foreign and domestic airlines, and the Company leased aircraft to 77 lessees whose principal places of 
business are located in 46 countries as of December 31, 2014 compared to 79 lessees in 47 countries as of December 
31, 2013.

Over 95% of our aircraft are operated internationally. The following table sets forth the regional concentration of our 
aircraft portfolio based on net book value as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:

Region  

(dollars in thousands)
Asia  
Europe 
Central America, South America and Mexico  
The Middle East and Africa 
Pacifi c, Australia, New Zealand 
U.S. and Canada 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

Net Book 

Value 

$3,838,523 
2,953,232 
778,991 
498,896 
471,630 
412,532 

% of 

Total 

42.9% 
33.0% 
8.7% 
5.6% 
5.2% 
4.6% 

Net Book 

Value 

$3,165,367 
2,656,816 
829,930 
372,618 
151,751 
436,653 

% of

Total

41.6%
34.9%
10.9%
4.9%
2.0%
5.7%

  Total 

$8,953,804 

100.0% 

$7,613,135 

100.0%

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we owned and managed leased aircraft to customers in the following regions:

Region  
Asia  
Europe 
Central America, South America and Mexico  
The Middle East and Africa 
Pacifi c, Australia, New Zealand 
U.S. and Canada 

  Total 

(1) A customer is an airline with its own operating certifi cate.

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

Number of 

Customers (1) 
29 
24 
10 
7 
2 
8 

% of  

Total 
36.3% 
30.0% 
12.5% 
8.8% 
2.4% 
10.0% 

Number of 

Customers (1) 
29 
21 
12 
7 
2 
8 

% of 

Total
36.7%
26.6%
15.2%
8.9%
2.5%
10.1%

80 

100.0% 

79 

100.0%

The following table sets forth the dollar amount and percentage of our rental of fl ight equipment revenues attributable 
to the indicated regions based on each airline’s principal place of business:

Year Ended 

December 31, 2014 

Year Ended 

December 31, 2013 

Year Ended

December 31, 2012

Region  

(dollars in thousands)
Asia  
Europe 
Central America, 
South America and Mexico 
The Middle East and Africa 
Pacifi c, Australia, 
  New Zealand 
U.S. and Canada 

Amount of  

Rental Revenue 

% of  

Total 

Amount of  

Rental Revenue 

% of 

Total 

Amount of  

Rental Revenue 

$409,014 
337,349 

111,583 
47,958 

30,330 
55,007 

41.3% 
34.0% 

11.3% 
4.9% 

3.1% 
5.4% 

$299,472 
300,761 

107,857 
55,624 

15,436 
57,366 

35.8% 
36.0% 

12.9% 
6.6% 

1.8% 
6.9% 

$204,675 
253,376 

84,341 
39,398 

10,862 
53,201 

% of 

Total

31.7%
39.2%

13.1%
6.1%

1.7%
8.2%

  Total 

$991,241 

100.0% 

$836,516 

100.0% 

$645,853 

100.0%

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Based on our lease placements of future new aircraft deliveries, we anticipate that a growing percentage of our aircraft 
will be located in the Asia, the Central America, South America and Mexico, and the Middle East and Africa regions.

In 2014, rental of fl ight equipment revenue attributable to China was $218.6 million or 22.1%, and represented our 
only country concentration in excess of 10%. In 2013, rental of fl ight equipment revenue attributable to China was 
$129.8 million or 15.5%, and represented our only country concentration in excess of 10%. In 2012, three countries 
represented at least 10% of our rental revenue. Rental of fl ight equipment revenue attributable to China, Italy and 
France was $75.5 million or 11.7%, $71.0 million or 11.0% and $67.4 million or 10.4%, respectively.

In 2014 and 2013, no individual airline represented at least 10% of our rental of fl ight equipment revenue. In 2012, 
one airline represented at least 10% of our rental of fl ight equipment revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2012, 
Alitalia attributed for $71.0 million or 11.0% of our rental fl ight equipment revenue.

Currency risk
The Company attempts to minimize currency and exchange risks by entering into aircraft purchase agreements and a 
majority of lease agreements and debt agreements with U.S. dollars as the designated payment currency.

Note 7. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

(dollars in thousands)
Current: 
  Federal 
  State 
  Foreign 
Deferred: 
  Federal 
  State 
  Foreign 

Income tax expense 

Year Ended 

Year Ended 

Year Ended

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

December 31, 2012

$    8,092 
39 
551 

129,943 
153 
— 

$138,778 

$          — 
— 
71 

102,887 
147 
— 

$103,105 

$        —
—
4

71,932
118
—

$72,054

Differences between the provision for income taxes and income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate are as 
follows:

Year Ended 

December 31, 2014 

Year Ended 

December 31, 2013 

Year Ended

December 31, 2012

Amount 

Percent 

Amount 

Percent 

Amount 

Percent

(dollars in thousands)
Income taxes at 
statutory federal rate 
State income taxes, 
  net of federal income tax 
  effect and other 

$138,172 

35.0% 

$102,705 

35.0% 

$71,390 

35.0%

606 

$138,778 

0.2% 

35.2% 

400 

$103,105 

0.2% 

35.2% 

664 

$72,054 

0.3%

35.3%

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company’s net deferred tax assets (liabilities) are as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

ASSETS (LIABILITIES) 
  Equity compensation 
  Net operating losses 
  Rents received in advance 
  Accrued bonus 
  Straight line rents 
  Other 
  Aircraft depreciation 

  Total (liabilities) assets 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013

$   19,020 
10,197 
26,605 
4,577 
10,423 
6,571 
(400,752) 

$(323,359) 

$20,808
36,786
21,575
3,578
7,024
4,662
(287,696)

$(193,263)

While we have a current obligation for alternative minimum tax, the Company has net operating loss carry forwards 
(NOLs)  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  of  $29.1  million  and  $108.7  million  as  of  December  31,  2014  and  2013, 
respectively, which are available to offset future taxable income in future periods and begin to expire in 2032. The 
Company does not have NOLs for state income tax purposes as of December 31, 2014 and has $52.6 million of state 
NOLs as of December 31, 2013. The Company utilized $79.6 million and $19.5 million of NOLs for federal income tax 
purposes for the year ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The Company recognizes tax 
benefi ts associated with stock-based compensation directly to stockholders’ equity only when realized. Accordingly, 
deferred  tax  assets  are  not  recognized  for  net  operating  loss  carry  forwards  resulting  from  windfall  tax  benefi ts.  A 
windfall tax benefi t occurs when the actual tax benefi t realized upon an employee’s disposition of a share-based award 
exceeds the tax effect of the cumulative book compensation charge associated with the award. The Company does 
not have any suspended windfall tax benefi ts as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has 
windfall tax benefi ts of $3.7 million, included in its U.S. net operating loss carry forward, but not refl ected in deferred 
tax  assets.  The  Company  uses  a  tax  law  ordering  approach  to  determine  if  the  excess  tax  deductions  associated 
compensation costs have reduced income taxes payable.

The Company has not recorded a deferred tax valuation allowance as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 as realization 
of the deferred tax asset is considered more likely than not. In assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets 
management considered whether future taxable income will be suffi cient during the periods in which those temporary 
differences are deductible before NOLs expire. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, 
projected taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Management anticipates the timing 
differences on aircraft depreciation will reverse and be available for offsetting the reversal of deferred tax assets. As of 
December 31, 2014 and 2013 the Company has not recorded any liability for unrecognized tax benefi ts.

The Company fi les income tax returns in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is subject 
to examinations by the major tax jurisdictions for the 2011 tax year and forward.

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies

Aircraft acquisition
As of December 31, 2014, we had commitments to acquire a total of 364 new aircraft for delivery through 2023 as 
follows:

Aircraft Type  

Airbus A320/321-200(1) 
Airbus A320/321neo 
Airbus A350-900/1000 
Boeing 737-800 
Boeing 737-8/9 MAX 
Boeing 777-300ER 
Boeing 787-9/10 
ATR 72-600 

  Total 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Thereafter 

9 
— 
— 
21 
— 
8 
— 
2 

40 

— 
3 
— 
15 
— 
6 
3 
5 

32 

— 
12 
— 
11 
— 
2 
1 
1 

27 

— 
17 
1 
— 
8 
— 
7 
— 

33 

— 
21 
2 
— 
18 
— 
8 
— 

49 

— 
57 
22 
— 
78 
— 
26 
— 

183 

Total

9
110
25
47
104
16
45
8

364

Commitments  for  the  acquisition  of  these  aircraft  and  other  equipment  at  an  estimated  aggregate  purchase  price 
(including adjustments for infl ation) of approximately $28.8 billion as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Years ending December 31, 
2015 
2016 
2017 
2018 
2019 
Thereafter 

  Total 

(dollars in thousands)

$  2,381,857
2,315,276
1,907,137
2,919,369
3,998,600
15,297,344

$28,819,583

We have made non-refundable deposits on the aircraft for which we have commitments to purchase of $1.1 billion as 
of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which are subject to manufacturer performance commitments. If we are 
unable to satisfy our purchase commitments, we may be forced to forfeit our deposits. Further, we would be exposed 
to breach of contract claims by our lessees and manufacturers.

Offi ce lease
The Company’s lease for offi ce space provides for step rentals over the term of the lease. Those rentals are considered 
in the evaluation of recording rent expense on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. Tenant improvement 
allowances received from the lessor are deferred and amortized in selling, general and administrative expenses against 
rent expense. The Company recorded offi ce lease expense (net of sublease income) of $1.8 million, $2.1 million and 
$2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Commitments for minimum rentals under the non-cancellable lease term at December 31, 2014, are as follows:

Years ending December 31, 
2015 
2016 
2017 
2018 
2019 
Thereafter 

  Total 

(dollars in thousands)

$  2,467
2,541
2,617
2,696
2,777
12,610

$25,708

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 9. Net Earnings Per Share

Basic net earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares 
outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share refl ects the potential dilution that would occur if securities or 
other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock; however, potential common 
equivalent  shares  are  excluded  if  the  effect  of  including  these  shares  would  be  anti-dilutive.  The  Company’s  two 
classes of common stock, Class A and Class B Non-Voting, have equal rights to dividends and income, and therefore, 
basic and diluted earnings per share are the same for each class of common stock.

Diluted net earnings per share takes into account the potential conversion of stock options, restricted stock units, 
and  warrants  using  the  treasury  stock  method  and  convertible  notes  using  the  if-converted  method.  For  the  year 
ended December 31, 2014, the Company did not exclude shares related to stock options which are potentially dilutive 
securities  from  the  computation  of  diluted  earnings  per  share  because  including  these  shares  would  be  dilutive. 
For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company excluded 150,000 shares related to stock options which are 
potentially dilutive securities from the computation of diluted earnings per share because including these shares would 
be anti-dilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company excluded 3,358,408 shares related to stock 
options which are potentially dilutive securities from the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were 
anti-dilutive. In addition, the Company excluded 969,225, 1,569,005 and 2,117,510 shares related to restricted stock 
units for which the performance metric had yet to be achieved as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share:

(in thousands, except share data)

BASIC NET INCOME PER SHARE 
  Numerator 

  Net income 
  Denominator 

  Weighted-average common

  shares outstanding 
Basic net income per share 

DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE 
  Numerator 

  Net income 
  Assumed conversion of 

  convertible senior notes 
  Net income plus assumed 

  conversions 

  Denominator 

  Number of shares used 
in basic computation 

  Weighted-average effect 
  of dilutive securities 
  Number of shares used 

Year Ended 

December 31, 2014 

Year Ended 

December 31, 2013 

Year Ended

  December 31, 2012

$255,998 

$190,411 

$131,919

  102,142,828 
$2.51 

  101,529,137 
$1.88 

100,991,871
$1.31

$255,998 

5,811 

$261,809 

$190,411 

5,783 

$196,194 

$131,919

5,627

$137,546

  102,142,828 

  101,529,137 

100,991,871

8,049,943 

7,434,413 

6,664,592

107,656,463
$1.28

in per share computation 

Diluted net income per share 

  110,192,771 
$2.38 

  108,963,550 
$1.80 

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 10. Fair Value Measurements

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis
The Company had no assets or liabilities which were measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis as 
of December 31, 2014 or 2013.

Financial instruments not measured at fair values
The fair value of debt fi nancing is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues, or on 
the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities, which would be categorized as a 
Level 2 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. The estimated fair value of debt fi nancing as of December 31, 2014 
was $7.0 billion compared to a book value of $6.7 billion. The estimated fair value of debt fi nancing as of December 
31, 2013 was $6.1 billion compared to a book value of $5.9 billion.

The  following  fi nancial  instruments  are  not  measured  at  fair  value  on  the  Company’s  consolidated  balance  sheet 
at  December  31,  2014,  but  require  disclosure  of  their  fair  values:  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  restricted  cash. 
The estimated fair value of such instruments at December 31, 2014 and 2013 approximates their carrying value as 
reported on the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of all these instruments would be categorized as Level 1 
of the fair value hierarchy.

Note 11. Stock-based Compensation

On May 7, 2014, the stockholders of the Company approved the Air Lease Corporation 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the 
“2014 Plan”). Upon approval of the 2014 Plan, no new awards may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2010 
Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). As of December 31, 2014, the number of stock options (“Stock Options”) and 
restricted stock units (“RSUs”) authorized under the 2014 Plan is approximately 6,648,524, which includes 1,648,524 
shares which were previously reserved for issuance under the 2010 Plan. Options are generally granted for a term 
of 10 years and generally vest over a three year period. The Company has issued RSUs with two different vesting 
criteria: those RSUs that vest based on the attainment of book value goals and those RSUs that vest based on the 
attainment of Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) goals. The book value RSUs generally vest ratably over three to four 
years, if the performance condition has been met. Book value RSUs for which the performance metric has not been 
met are forfeited. The TSR RSUs vest at the end of a three year period. The number of TSR RSUs that will ultimately 
vest is based upon the percentile ranking of the Company’s TSR among a peer group. The number of shares that will 
ultimately vest will range from 0% to 200% of the RSUs initially granted depending on the extent to which the TSR 
metric  is  achieved.  For  disclosure  purposes,  we  have  assumed  the  TSR  RSUs  will  ultimately  vest  at  100%.  As  of 
December 31, 2014, the Company had 969,225 unvested RSUs outstanding of which 389,203 are TSR RSUs.

The Company recorded $16.0 million, $21.6 million and $31.7 million of stock-based compensation expense for the 
years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Stock options
The Company uses the BSM option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The fair value of stock-
based payment awards on the date of grant is determined by an option-pricing model using a number of complex and 
subjective variables. These variables include expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, a risk free 
interest rate and expected dividends.

69

Estimated volatility of the Company’s common stock for new grants is determined by using historical volatility of the 
Company’s peer group. Due to our limited operating history at the time of grant, there was no historical exercise data 
to provide a reasonable basis which the Company could use to estimate expected terms. Accordingly, the Company 
used the “simplifi ed method” as permitted under Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110. The risk free interest rate used 
in  the  option  valuation  model  was  derived  from  U.S.  Treasury  zero-coupon  issues  with  remaining  terms  similar  to 
the  expected  term  on  the  options.  In  accordance  with  ASC  Topic  718,  Compensation—Stock  Compensation,  the 
Company  estimated  forfeitures  at  the  time  of  grant  and  revises  those  estimates  in  subsequent  periods  if  actual 
forfeitures differ from those estimates. During the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company did 
not grant any Stock Options.

A summary of stock option activity in accordance with the Company’s stock option plan for the year ended December 
31, 2014 follows:

Balance at December 31, 2011 
  Granted 
  Exercised 
  Forfeited/canceled 
Balance at December 31, 2012 
  Granted 
  Exercised 
  Forfeited/canceled 
Balance at December 31, 2013 
  Granted 
  Exercised 
  Forfeited/canceled 
Balance at December 31, 2014 
Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2014 

Shares 

3,375,908 
— 
(7,000) 
(10,500) 
3,358,408 
— 
(500) 
(250) 
3,357,658 
— 
(45,500) 
— 
3,312,158 
3,312,158 

Exercise 

Price 

$20.39 
— 
$20.00 
$20.00 
$20.39 
— 
$20.00 
$20.00 
$20.39 
— 
$20.00 
— 
$20.40 
$20.40 

Remaining 

Aggregate

Contractual 

Intrinsic Value

Term (in years) 

(in thousands) (1)

8.50 
— 
7.50 
— 
7.49 
— 
6.54 
— 
6.49 
— 
— 
— 
5.49 
5.49 

11,968
—
18
—
4,813
—
5
3
35,883
—
814
—
46,077
46,077

(1)  The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the closing stock price of our Class A common stock as 

of the respective date.

As  of  December  31,  2014,  all  of  the  Company’s  outstanding  employee  stock  options  had  fully  vested  and  there 
were no unrecognized compensation costs related to outstanding employee stock options. As a result, there was no 
stock-based compensation expense related to Stock Options for the year ended December 31, 2014. Stock-based 
compensation expense related to employee stock options for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, totaled 
$5.4 million and $11.8 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes additional information regarding outstanding, exercisable and vested stock options 
at December 31, 2014:

Options 

Outstanding 

Weighted- 

Average 

Options Exercisable

and Vested

Weighted-

Average

Remaining

Number of 

Remaining 

Number of 

Range of exercise prices 

$20.00  
$28.80  

$20.00 – $28.80 

Shares 

Life (in years) 

Shares  

Life (in years)

3,162,158 
150,000 

3,312,158 

5.46 
6.32 

5.49 

3,162,158 
150,000 

3,312,158 

5.46
6.32

5.49

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted stock units
Compensation  cost  for  stock  awards  is  measured  at  the  grant  date  based  on  fair  value  and  recognized  over  the 
vesting period. The fair value of book value RSUs is determined based on the closing market price of the Company’s 
Class A common stock on the date of grant, while the fair value of TSR RSUs is determined at the grant date using 
a Monte Carlo simulation model. Included in the Monte Carlo simulation model were certain assumptions regarding 
a number of highly complex and subjective variables, such as expected volatility, risk free interest rate and expected 
dividends.  To  appropriately  value  the  award,  the  risk  free  interest  rate  is  estimated  for  the  time  period  from  the 
valuation date until the vesting date and the historical volatilities were estimated based on a historical timeframe equal 
to the time from the valuation date until the end date of the performance period. Due to our limited stock history since 
the completion of our initial public offering on April 25, 2011, historical volatility was estimated based on all available 
stock history information.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company granted 384,225 RSUs of which 182,476 are TSR RSUs. The 
following table summarizes the activities for our unvested RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2014:

Unvested at December 31, 2013 
  Granted 
  Vested 
  Forfeited/canceled 
Unvested at December 31, 2014 
Expected to vest after December 31, 2014 (1)  

(1) RSUs expected to vest refl ect an estimated forfeiture rate.

Unvested Restricted Stock Units

  Weighted-Average

Number of  

Shares  

1,569,005 
384,225 
(981,835) 
(2,170) 
969,225 
958,238 

Grant-Date

Fair Value

$24.50
$39.70
$21.53
$35.07
$33.51
33.51

At December 31, 2014, the outstanding RSUs are expected to vest as follows: 2015—396,888; 2016—321,014; and 
2017—240,336. The Company recorded $16.0 million, $16.2 million and $19.9 million of stock-based compensation 
expense related to RSUs for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

As  of  December  31,  2014  there  was  $12.4  million  of  unrecognized  compensation  cost,  adjusted  for  estimated 
forfeitures, related to unvested stock-based payments granted to employees. Total unrecognized compensation cost 
will be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average 
remaining period of 1.7 years.

Note 12. Investments

On November 4, 2014, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company entered into an agreement with a co-investment 
vehicle arranged by Napier Park to participate in a joint venture formed as a Delaware LLC—Blackbird Capital I, LLC 
(“Blackbird”) for the purpose of investing in commercial aircraft and leasing them to airlines around the globe. We will 
also provide management services to the joint venture for a fee based upon aircraft assets under management. The 
Company’s non-controlling interest in Blackbird is 9.5% and it is accounted for as an investment under the equity 
method of accounting.

In November and December 2014, Blackbird completed the purchase of fi ve aircraft with an aggregate purchase price 
of $280.0 million from the Company. As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s investment in Blackbird was $10.1 
million which is included in other assets.

71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 13. Litigation

On  April  24,  2012,  the  Company  was  named  as  a  defendant  in  a  complaint  fi led  in  Superior  Court  of  the  State  of 
California for the County of Los Angeles by American International Group, Inc. and ILFC (the “AIG/ILFC Complaint”). 
The  complaint  also  names  as  defendants  certain  executive  offi cers  and  employees  of  the  Company.  American 
International Group withdrew as a plaintiff on all but one cause of action that is not asserted against the Company.

Among other things, the complaint, as amended, alleges breach of fi duciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets, 
the wrongful recruitment of ILFC employees, and the wrongful diversion of potential ILFC leasing opportunities. The 
complaint seeks an unspecifi ed amount of damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that it has meritorious 
defenses  to  these  claims  and  intends  to  defend  this  matter  vigorously.  The  amount  or  range  of  loss,  if  any,  is  not 
estimable at this time.

On August 15, 2013, the Company fi led a cross-complaint against ILFC and AIG. The cross-complaint, as amended, 
alleges breach of contract for the sale of goods in connection with an agreement entered into by AIG, acting on behalf 
of ILFC, in January 2010 to sell 25 aircraft to the entity that became Air Lease Corporation. The cross-complaint seeks 
compensatory damages in excess of $500 million.

Note 14. Related Party Transactions

The  Company  has  a  Master  Servicing  Agreement  dated  October  25,  2013  (“Master  Servicing  Agreement”)  with 
Commonwealth  Bank  of  Australia  and/or  its  subsidiaries  (collectively  “Commonwealth  Bank”).  Under  the  Master 
Servicing  Agreement  we  consolidated  all  of  our  prior  aircraft  servicing  agreements  for  the  aircraft  we  manage  for 
Commonwealth Bank. Commonwealth Bank benefi cially owns more than 5% of our Class A common stock.

Under the Master Servicing Agreement, we manage on behalf of Commonwealth Bank or its subsidiaries the leasing 
and  remarketing  of  aircraft  for  subsequent  leases  or  for  sale.  For  these  services  Commonwealth  Bank  pays  us  a 
percentage  of  the  rent  for  the  aircraft  and  will  pay  us  a  percentage  of  the  proceeds  if  the  aircraft  is  sold.  Prior 
to  entering  into  the  Master  Servicing  Agreement,  we  had  several  aircraft  servicing  agreements  for  the  aircraft  we 
managed for Commonwealth Bank. As of March 17, 2014, all of the aircraft we manage for Commonwealth Bank are 
pursuant to the Master Servicing Agreement.

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2014,  2013  and  2012  Commonwealth  Bank  paid  us  fees  of  $0.9  million,  $0.5 
million and $1.8 million, respectively, for our services which is recorded in aircraft sales, trading and other revenue.

Additionally, Commonwealth Bank is a lender under our unsecured revolving credit facility and our 2010 Warehouse 
Facility. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

In September 2013, the Company, through a limited liability company of which it is the sole member, entered into a 
purchase agreement to acquire a corporate aircraft. The right to purchase the corporate aircraft was formerly held 
by an entity controlled by Mr. Udvar-Házy, our Chairman and CEO, and not affi liated with the Company. The parties 
conducted this transaction on an arm’s length basis. The Company believes, based on independent expert advice, 
that at the time the Company entered into the purchase agreement, the purchase price of the aircraft was signifi cantly 
below the then-current fair market value for such aircraft. The Company reimbursed Mr. Udvar-Házy $6.8 million for 
deposits he paid to the manufacturer plus interest at a rate of 3.90% per annum.

In November 2013, the Company completed a marketed secondary public offering of up to 10,138,888 shares of its 
Class A common stock held by affi liates of Ares Management LLC, Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. and WL Ross & 
Co. LLC. The shares of Class A common stock were offered to the public at $31.50 per share. The Company did not 
issue any additional shares of Class A common stock and did not receive any proceeds in this transaction. The total 
number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock outstanding did not change as a result of this offering.

72

Note 15. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

The  following  table  presents  our  unaudited  quarterly  results  of  operations  for  the  two-year  period  ended 
December 31, 2014.

Mar 31, 2013 

Jun 30, 2013  Sep 30, 2013  Dec 31, 2013  Mar 31, 2014 

Jun 30, 2014   Sep 30, 2014  Dec 31, 2014

Quarter Ended

(in thousands, except share data)
Revenues 
Income before taxes 
Net income 
Net income per share: 
  Basic 
  Diluted 

$191,997 
61,672 
39,996 

$207,872 
66,311 
42,990 

$215,905 
74,888 
48,578 

$242,901 
90,571 
58,847 

$246,285 
94,709 
61,397 

$256,325 
95,680 
62,037 

$261,939 
96,277 
62,433 

$285,944
108,110
70,131

$      0.39 
$      0.38 

$      0.42 
$      0.41 

$      0.48 
$      0.46 

$      0.58 
$      0.55 

$      0.60 
$      0.57 

$      0.61 
$      0.58 

$      0.61 
$      0.58 

$      0.68
$      0.65

The sum of quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the annual amount reported since per share amounts 
are computed independently for each period presented.

Note 16. Subsequent Events

On January 14, 2015, the Company issued $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes 
due 2022 that bear interest at a rate of 3.75%.

On February 26, 2015, our board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share on our outstanding 
common stock. The dividend will be paid on April 7, 2015 to holders of record of our common stock as of March 
20, 2015.

73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leadership Team

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

TECHNICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

Steven F. Udvar-Házy
Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer

John L. Plueger
President and Chief Operating Offi cer

Pierce Chang 
Vice President

Eric Hoogenkamp 
Assistant Vice President

MARKETING AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS

AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT AND SPECIFICATION

Grant Levy
Executive Vice President 

Alex A. Khatibi
Executive Vice President

Marc Baer
Executive Vice President

Jie Chen
Executive Vice President

Kishore Korde
Senior Vice President

Michael Bai
Vice President

Chi Yan
Vice President

LEGAL

Carol Forsyte
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, 
Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Offi cer

Robert C. McNitt, Jr.
Senior Vice President and Corporate Counsel

Toby MacCary
Senior Vice President and Corporate Counsel

Jenny Van Le
Vice President and Corporate Counsel

Czar Vigil
Vice President and Corporate Counsel

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING

Gregory B. Willis
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Offi cer

Ardy Ghanbar
Vice President and Controller

Sabrina Lemmens
Assistant Vice President and Assistant Controller

John Poerschke
Senior Vice President

Ozzie Chraibi 
Vice President

Lance Pekala 
Assistant Vice President

COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS

Sara Evans  
Vice President

Stephanie Brimmer 
Assistant Vice President

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Ryan McKenna
Vice President

HUMAN RESOURCES AND OFFICE MANAGEMENT

Courtney McKeown
Assistant Vice President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steven F. Udvar-Házy
Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer

John L. Plueger
President and Chief Operating Offi cer

Robert A. Milton
Lead Independent Director; Chairman, Governance 
Committee; Audit Committee; Compensation Committee

Matthew J. Hart
Chairman, Audit Committee; Governance Committee

Ronald D. Sugar
Chairman, Compensation Committee; 
Governance Committee

Cheryl Gordon Krongard
Compensation Committee

Ian M. Saines
Audit Committee

Marshall O. Larsen 
Governance Committee

74

 
 
Corporate Information

TRANSFER AGENT

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
877.833.6643
www.amstock.com

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

Air Lease Corporation 
2000 Avenue of the Stars 
Suite 1000N 
Los Angeles, California 90067 
310.553.0555

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC 

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING

ACCOUNTING FIRM

KPMG LLP
55 Second Street, Suite 1400
San Francisco, California 94105
415.963.5100
www.kpmg.com

ANNUAL MEETING

May 6, 2015
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM Pacific Time
Century Plaza Towers
2029 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California 90067
Concourse Level, Conference Room A

Please visit www.airleasecorp.com to view  
or download a PDF of this annual report.

New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: AL)

FORM 10-K AND OTHER REPORTS

Stockholders may receive a copy of the 2014 Form 
10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, without charge by writing to:

Air Lease Corporation 
2000 Avenue of the Stars 
Suite 1000N 
Los Angeles, California 90067 
Or by E-mail to: investors@airleasecorp.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation 
Reform Act of 1995, including statement about the future of our business. Such statements are based on current 
expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future 
performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may 
differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, 
including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2000 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1000N
Los Angeles, CA 90067 USA
www.airleasecorp.com