Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) and Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI) have agreed to launch Equator, a long-term global investment program targeting annual deployments of approximately $1.6 billion in commercial aircraft leased to airlines worldwide.
The platform will develop a diversified portfolio of aircraft leased to leading carriers. DAE will source assets from third parties, with its Aircraft Investor Services division handling management of Equator-owned assets. BXCI will supply a range of capital options to support the program across market cycles, including contributions from funds managed by ITE Management, a BXCI strategic partner.
DAE operates a fleet of about 700 aircraft and manages over $4 billion in assets, including more than 100 aircraft, as of December 31, 2025. The company also services seventeen agreements for institutional investors, leveraging its aviation expertise. The announcement came on April 9, 2026.