Leasing Giant May Buy More Boeing Jets

One of the country’s leading airplane rental companies is thinking about buying more Boeing jetliners for its already sizeable fleet, a company official said.

International Lease Finance Co. has already placed a $2.8 billion order for 18 Boeing 777s. But the new talks, which come 11 months after the 777 order, could lead to purchases across most of Boeing’s product line.

California-based ILFC has a fleet of 350 airplanes, roughly the same amount that Northwest Airlines operates. It has outstanding orders for 235 aircraft - two-thirds of them from Boeing.