Sale and leaseback is a financial transaction in which the seller (Operating airline) of the aircraft sells the aircraft to the lessor (AAC). The aircraft will be leased back from the lessor to
the lessee (seller) and the aircraft will no longer be owned by the seller.
This structure is based on the airline selling the aircraft to the lessor leasing the aircraft back for a minimum of three years.
Although these type transactions are structured as operating leases, the prospective lessee’s purpose and benefit is often to raise capital by refinancing owned assets.