Jaba and S320,
My point was that it doesn't have to be ILFC.
IIRC (can't be a'ed going back over the posts), the article mentioned the possibility of 'protected' slots and being able to get some 'frames from a lessor "such as" ILFC. Jaba then said that ILFC don't have any unallocated in that time frame, but GE do. So I simply pointed out that the article said "such as" ILFC.
I'm not point-scoring, just saying that it could be any lessor. I do agree 100% that it would've been clearer if GECAS had got the mention and I do wonder if the ILFC mention was therefore deliberate. And I agree that GECAS would want appropriate coin to supply the airframes but maybe that's what Boeing has to do by way of compensation, to stop QF going for A350s.
Also, though, I suspect that Boeing would move H&E to get QF into the Tripler and would find some slots, eg. by upping production by a touch or finding some cash-strapped carrier(s) willing to defer deliveries. None come straight to mind but I'm sure there are some out there.