Airplane leasing world shrinks with $7.4 billion takeover of Air Lease

An Airbus A321 is being assembled in the final assembly line hangar at the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama.Aircraft leasing firm Air Lease, founded by industry mogul Steven Udvar-Házy, agreed to sell itself in deal that would take it private to a group of investors for $7.4 billion, ushering in more consolidation in the airplane-renting business.The planned acquisition, announced Tuesday, was led by Japan's Sumitomo and SMBC Aviation Capital, and also includes asset managers Apollo and ...