Business Jet Financing and Leasing

Start with the mission and ownership plan

Describe typical trips, passenger needs, expected annual hours and where the aircraft will be based. An aviation adviser can assess aircraft suitability and operating alternatives. A financing review should use the selected aircraft and a realistic operating plan, not an assumed revenue figure.

Identify the buying entity and disclose proposed management, charter or third-party use. If the purchase depends on future charter revenue, show the assumptions and a lower-utilization scenario. Aircraft financing does not establish permission to operate a commercial air service.

Make aircraft condition part of the purchase decision

Obtain the make, model, serial number, year, airframe time and cycles, engine and APU records, maintenance tracking and repair history. Arrange a qualified independent inspection and make the treatment of discrepancies clear in the transaction documents.

Price scheduled inspections, component work and necessary upgrades before agreeing the financing amount. Where maintenance programs are advertised, verify their coverage, balances and transfer conditions directly. A low asking price can be offset by substantial work due soon after closing.

Compare loans and leases on the same basis

A loan proposal should be assessed for upfront cash, interest and fees, security requirements, final balance and early settlement provisions. For a lease, also examine ownership options, return conditions and usage restrictions.

Compare written terms over the intended holding period. Ask what happens if the aircraft is sold early, moved to another jurisdiction or operated under a management agreement. Obtain independent legal and tax advice for the proposed structure.

Account for closing and operating costs

Separate aircraft price, appraisal, inspection, delivery, import expenses and refurbishment. Retain cash for crew, hangar, insurance and maintenance reserves. A lender may exclude some transaction or operating costs from the funded amount.

For Canadian transactions, Transport Canada’s registration guidance and airworthiness resources are starting points for professional due diligence. Send the aircraft specification and acquisition plan to request a financing review.

Business Jet equipment financing market context

Quick answer: Business Jet financing is generally reviewed using the purchase price, exact configuration, age and time-in-service where relevant, maintenance and inspection status, seller, expected useful life, business cash flow, credit profile and requested term. New and used aviation assets may be considered, but final structure depends on the specific asset, transaction, lender and jurisdiction.

In ELFA’s 2025 Survey of Equipment Finance Activity, corporate aircraft represented 2.7% of 2024 annual new business volume by equipment type among respondents. That figure is a broad aviation-finance benchmark and does not imply every aircraft, engine or ground-support asset fits the same credit profile. See the ELFA Survey of Equipment Finance Activity for the underlying U.S. industry data.

ELFA’s July 2026 CapEx Finance Index reported $14.3 billion in seasonally adjusted new business volume among surveyed member companies, with year-to-date volume 16.8% above the same period in 2025. In Canada, Statistics Canada reported 2026 machinery and equipment capital-spending intentions of about C$127.2 billion. Review the July 2026 CapEx Finance Index and Statistics Canada’s 2026 capital expenditure release.

What can affect a Business Jet financing decision?

• Asset details: model, serial or registration information, year, hours/cycles where applicable, configuration, maintenance status, records and expected useful life.
• Transaction quality: seller verification, ownership and liens, itemized invoice, deposit, inspection, delivery and asset location.
• Business profile: operating history, revenue and cash flow, existing obligations, credit profile, intended commercial use and supporting contracts where relevant.

For related research, compare Bombardier Business Jet financing and Gulfstream Business Jet financing. You can also review how an equipment loan is structured before requesting a written proposal.