Aircraft lessors are actively looking to sue airlines for unpaid rent, repossess planes and end power-by-hour leases as aviation recovers from COVID-19, which will be bad news for Qantas, Virgin Australia and Regional Express.

Investor research firm Third Bridge and senior associate Anthony De Ruijter said the leniency lessors exhibited at the start of the crisis had waned after 18 months of pain following their interviews with senior industry executives.