Air leasing mega-merger would rebuild ruined Irish empire

Combination would have about a fifth of the wrold's leased jets

Dublin-based AerCap has confirmed talks with GECAS to combine the leasing industry's two largest aircraft portfolios. Picture: reuters

A tie-up between leasing giants AerCap and General Electric unit GECAS would reshape global air finance and reunite entities torn apart in one of Ireland's most spectacular corporate collapses three decades ago.

Dublin-based AerCap has confirmed talks with GECAS to combine the leasing industry's two largest aircraft portfolios in Ireland's biggest ever corporate acquisition.