Global Jet Capital, one of the largest finance companies in business aviation, has issued research claiming that between now and 2025 there will be 146 mid to heavy private jets delivered to the UK, worth around £5.7bn. The estimate is said to be more than for any other European country; Germany is expected to take delivery of 111 jets.
The research also said that, of the 146 jets headed to the UK, 30 could be bought by British public companies, 68 by private companies, and 48 by individuals. Currently, the UK has 256 mid to heavy private jets, the most in Europe, with 202 in Germany and 131 in France. Across the continent between now and 2025, a total of 959 mid to heavy private jets will be delivered, with an estimated total worth of £47bn.
Dave Labrozzi, COO, Global Jet Capital, explained that most of the purchases will be based on leases and loans: “There is often a misperception that high net worth individuals and corporations mostly pay in cash for large private aircraft. Even if the cash resources are at hand, often the preferred approach is to lease or finance assets of this nature. If a new or pre-owned aircraft is acquired for cash – costing tens of millions of dollars – that’s a lot of capital tied up in an asset that typically depreciates.
“Funding the acquisition of a new or pre-owned jet with cash is 100% equity financing – equity capital that the individual or corporation could use to make other investments. Many conclude that the investment in their business is probably a better bet than buying into an asset that will likely lose value each year. The decision that most businesses reach is that it’s most efficient to use third-party capital to fully or partially fund the acquisition of the private aircraft they wish to use.”
