Kourou / AFP Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket launcher successfully sent two telecoms satellites, one for a US-based communications service provider and one for an Indonesian bank, into space. They were launched from Kourou, in French Guiana, at 6:38 pm (2138 GMT), according to launch company Arianespace. It was the third launch of the year, placing into orbit the Echo …

  Los Angeles / Bloomberg The self-proclaimed godfather of the aircraft-leasing industry, Steven Udvar-Hazy, is stepping down as chief executive officer of Air Lease Corp. Udvar-Hazy, 70, will become executive chairman of the board on July 1, Air Lease said in a statement. John Plueger, 61, the chief operating officer of the commercial-aircraft leasing company, will take over as CEO. …

  New Delhi / Bloomberg Used Airbus Group SE A380 superjumbos are being offered at a 40 percent discount to the $2 million-plus monthly rental rate for a new plane as leasing firm Doric seeks to spur demand for the second-hand jets. Doric is in talks with a number of potential operators for a tranche of double-deckers that could be …