SMFL Helicopters Becomes Industry’s Latest Lessor

SMFL Helicopters (SMFLH) has officially become the rotary-wing industry’s latest global lessor, following the merger of existing leasing companies LCI and Macquarie Rotorcraft. The integrated fleet size of some 290 aircraft is currently supporting 52 operators, and SMFLH intends to scale operations with the intent to become the market leader.

The merger was orchestrated by the Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company (SMFL), following regulatory approval in November by the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Integration of both companies is currently ongoing, with SMFLH’s headquarters based in Dublin. Other regional offices are based in London and Singapore.

SMFLH builds upon a helicopter leasing joint venture initiated between SMFL and LCI in 2020. This was followed by SMFL’s acquisition of LCI and Macquarie Rotorcraft last year. “SMFL is proud to be present at scale in this dynamic sector,” said Shinichiro Watanabe, senior managing executive officer at SMFL.

The lessor’s fleet is currently operational across six continents, supporting a wide variety of missions including emergency medical services, search-and-rescue, offshore support, and utility missions. In 2024, SMFLH placed an order for up to 21 helicopters from Airbus, complementing a fleet that also includes models from Bell Textron, Leonardo, and Sikorsky.