Aviation Finance Arrangement

Aircraft Leasing And Private Jet Charter Finance Arrangement

Aircraft leasing companies, private jet charter operators, aviation asset managers, fleet sponsors, and aircraft acquisition vehicles operate in a capital-intensive market. Aircraft values are high, delivery timelines are tight, lease deposits are material, maintenance events can be expensive, and lenders expect clear collateral coverage before committing funds. Strong aviation demand helps the case, although funding still depends on aircraft value, cash equity, operator strength, legal control, contracted revenue, and exit options.

Financely arranges aviation finance workstreams for aircraft-backed loans, leasing facilities, acquisition finance, pre-delivery payment support, warehouse lines, bridge funding, receivables-backed facilities, mezzanine capital, preferred equity, and equity gap funding. We package the transaction, define the funding requirement, prepare the lender-facing file, and distribute the opportunity to suitable aviation finance providers.

The market is active, but lenders are selective. New aircraft deliveries require large amounts of financing, lessors continue to refinance existing debt, and aircraft scarcity has supported lease rates across several aircraft categories. That does not make every aviation proposal financeable. Transactions need a defined aircraft, a credible sponsor, a lawful operating structure, clear use of proceeds, acceptable jurisdiction, verified valuation, maintenance visibility, insurance, and a realistic contribution from the sponsor or equity partner.

Eligible Aviation Clients

  • Aircraft leasing companies seeking portfolio or single-aircraft finance
  • Private jet charter operators with verifiable utilization and revenue
  • Aircraft acquisition sponsors buying business jets or commercial aircraft
  • Aviation asset managers building managed aircraft portfolios
  • Fleet operators seeking working capital against contracted cash flow
  • Aircraft brokers and arrangers with a specific, documentable transaction

Financeable Use Cases

  • Aircraft acquisition deposits and closing payments
  • Operating lease security deposits and lease support
  • Portfolio acquisition finance for aircraft leasing platforms
  • Pre-delivery payment funding for committed aircraft deliveries
  • Maintenance reserves, inspections, engine events, and refurbishment
  • Bridge funding pending lease closing, aircraft sale, or refinancing

Working capital-only requests are difficult in aviation unless supported by contracted revenue, strong receivables, hard aircraft collateral, or a sponsor with a credible balance sheet. A letter of intent from a charter customer or a generic “demand is strong” claim will rarely be enough for serious aviation lenders.

Aircraft lenders usually start with the metal. They look at aircraft type, age, serial number, jurisdiction, title, registration, valuation, loan-to-value, maintenance status, engine condition, records, operator certificate, insurance, storage or operating location, and residual value. For charter-driven transactions, they also review the operator, management contract, utilization history, customer concentration, booking pipeline, receivables quality, and whether the aircraft is operated privately or commercially under the relevant regulatory regime.

Capital Structures

  • Senior secured aircraft debt
  • Aircraft-backed acquisition loans
  • Operating lease support and lease finance
  • Pre-delivery payment facilities
  • Warehouse facilities for leasing portfolios
  • Receivables-backed facilities for contracted charter revenue
  • Mezzanine capital and preferred equity
  • SPV-level capital for transaction-specific structures

Core Underwriting Focus

  • Aircraft value, liquidity, age, and market demand
  • Clear title, registration, jurisdiction, and ownership chain
  • Maintenance records, inspection status, engine condition, and reserves
  • Lease, charter, management, and operating documentation
  • Sponsor equity, balance sheet strength, and aviation track record
  • Debt service coverage, utilization assumptions, and exit route
Aviation Finance Tear Sheet
Eligible Clients Aircraft leasing companies, private jet charter operators, aviation asset managers, aircraft acquisition sponsors, fleet operators, and transaction-specific aviation SPVs.
Typical Transaction Size Generally USD 2 million to USD 100 million+, subject to aircraft type, aircraft value, collateral package, jurisdiction, sponsor contribution, and revenue visibility.
Funding Products Senior secured aircraft loans, lease finance, PDP facilities, warehouse lines, acquisition debt, bridge loans, mezzanine capital, preferred equity, receivables-backed facilities, and equity gap funding.
Best-Fit Aircraft Business jets, turboprops, regional aircraft, narrowbody aircraft, helicopters, and other aviation assets with verifiable title, valuation, operating use, and resale or leasing demand.
Key Documents Aircraft specification, serial number, valuation, purchase agreement or lease documents, title and registration documents, maintenance records, insurance, operator credentials, financial statements, revenue contracts, and sponsor funding evidence.
Equity Gap Funding Available where the transaction is credible but the sponsor needs additional capital to satisfy lender contribution requirements. This may be structured as preferred equity, mezzanine funding, co-sponsor capital, or SPV-level capital.
Common Weaknesses Unverified aircraft value, unclear ownership, weak sponsor equity, missing maintenance records, speculative charter demand, poor jurisdictional structure, unsupported revenue forecasts, or unrealistic loan-to-value expectations.
Process Submit the transaction, complete initial review, provide required documents, proceed through structuring and lender packaging, then move into capital provider distribution where the file is financeable.

Stronger aviation files usually include a specific aircraft, credible valuation, clean legal documentation, clear operating use, experienced aviation management, visible lease or charter revenue, realistic utilization assumptions, and a meaningful sponsor contribution. Smaller sponsors can still be reviewed, but the file must compensate with stronger collateral, better documentation, tighter controls, or additional equity.

Financely is best suited for sponsors with a defined aircraft transaction rather than an open-ended aviation concept. The ideal file includes the aircraft to be acquired or financed, the amount required, use of proceeds, closing timeline, current capital available, expected revenue, ownership or lease structure, and the relevant aviation documents. Where the capital stack is incomplete, we can package the senior debt request alongside mezzanine capital, preferred equity, co-sponsor capital, or SPV-level equity gap funding.

Submit Your Aircraft Leasing Or Private Jet Charter Funding Request

Send us the aircraft details, funding amount, use of proceeds, sponsor contribution, operating structure, revenue profile, and target closing date. Financely will review whether the transaction can be structured for aircraft-backed debt, lease finance, PDP funding, warehouse finance, mezzanine capital, preferred equity, or equity gap funding.

Submit Your Deal

Financely is a capital arranger and transaction-led finance desk. Financely does not act as a bank, aircraft lessor, securities broker, investment adviser, or direct lender. All funding outcomes remain subject to underwriting, KYC, AML and sanctions screening, aircraft documentation, lender approval, investor approval, legal review, valuation, insurance review, maintenance review, and final transaction documents.