NOTE 11: LEASES
We enter into lease agreements for the use of real estate space, vehicles, IT equipment, and certain other equipment, including engines, under both operating and finance leases. The majority of our lease agreements are accounted for as operating leases. Operating lease expense was $495 million, $422 million, and $463 million for 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Finance leases are not considered significant to our Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Operations, or Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Leases under which we are the lessor are generally short-term leases that support our commercial aerospace customers during engine maintenance events. Our commercial aerospace customers have varying forms of aftermarket maintenance coverage that often provide a level of support for leased engines as part of the revenue arrangement. As such, leases where we are the lessor are not considered significant to our Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Operations, or Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
In 2025, 2024, and 2023, we entered into sale and leaseback transactions for the sale of new engines and related maintenance. We subsequently lease back the engines sold for a limited timeframe and account for them as operating leases. The proceeds
received as a result of sales of new engines are classified primarily in Other operating activities, net within our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The net gains as a result of these transactions were not material.
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases were as follows:
(dollars in millions)202520242023
Operating cash flows used in the measurement of operating lease liabilities$466 $417 $421 
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations429 707 373 
Future lease payments related to our operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2025 are as follows:
(dollars in millions)
2026$492 
2027419 
2028339 
2029228 
2030197 
Thereafter754 
Total undiscounted lease payments2,429 
Less imputed interest(377)
Total discounted lease payments$2,052 
Our lease liabilities recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheet were as follows as of December 31:
(dollars in millions)20252024
Operating lease liabilities, current (included in Other accrued liabilities)$450 $367 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current1,602 1,632 
Total operating lease liabilities$2,052 $1,999 
The weighted-average remaining lease term related to our operating leases was 9 years and 10 years as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The weighted-average discount rate related to our operating leases was 4.3% as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 6, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 3, 2025
2023Feb 5, 2024
2022Feb 7, 2023
2021Feb 11, 2022
2020Feb 8, 2021
2019Feb 6, 2020

About Leases Disclosures

Lease disclosures under ASC 842 provide a comprehensive view of a company's leased asset portfolio, including the split between operating and finance leases, discount rates used to present-value future payments, and the maturity schedule of lease obligations. This section reveals a significant source of off-balance-sheet commitments that were largely hidden before the current standard.

Key signals: the weighted-average discount rate affects the size of recorded lease liabilities — a higher rate reduces the reported obligation, so compare the chosen rate against the company's incremental borrowing rate. The operating versus finance lease mix affects both EBITDA and operating income presentation. Watch the maturity table for concentration risk: large payment cliffs in specific years may create cash flow pressure. Variable lease payments excluded from the liability measurement represent real obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet. Compare total lease costs against prior-year operating lease expense to assess the true economic burden.