Appraisers with expertise in aviation provide evaluations that help establish fair market values. Apart from interest rates, ensure clarity on any hidden fees, such as origination, appraisal, or processing fees, which can affect the overall cost of borrowing. Market Trends Impacting Risk ManagementGlobal trends such as technological advancements, environmental concerns, and evolving consumer preferences continuously shape the landscape of aircraft financing.
How can geopolitical factors impact access to aircraft financing for commercial airlines? It's advisable to regularly check your credit report for accuracy and take steps to improve it if necessary, such as paying off outstanding debts or resolving any discrepancies.
What types of assets are typically considered in asset-based lending for aircraft? Investigating Customer Service and SupportThe process of securing an aircraft loan can be complex, requiring attentive customer service from your lender.
Risk Assessment and Interest RatesThe perception of risk by lenders significantly influences interest rates on aircraft loans. Consulting a tax advisor can help determine the most beneficial setup.
This includes understanding the interest rate, remaining balance, repayment period, and any penalties for early repayment. Assess your current financial situation, including interest rates on existing loans, any changes in credit score, and your long-term ownership plans. By providing attractive financing packages through ECAs like the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) or Bpifrance Assurance Export in France, these countries can support their aerospace industries by facilitating sales on a global scale.
What is the lender's reputation in customer service?
Non-compliance could result in severe penalties or grounding of aircrafts, leading to significant financial losses. Advantages in Aircraft FinancingIn aircraft financing, asset-based lending offers several advantages. Be prepared to discuss possible adjustments in response to fluctuating economic conditions over time-flexibility here can save significant costs long-term.
Treaties between countries may provide relief via credits or exemptions but require careful navigation through intricate legal frameworks. If global economic growth slows down significantly or during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, central banks might adjust their policies by lowering or raising key lending benchmarks-altering credit availability-and thus reshaping opportunities within aviation sectors reliant upon favorable loan structures.
Interest rate fluctuations also influence lease pricing. Clarify whether you're aiming for a lease or purchase agreement and decide on an optimal repayment period. Demonstrating strong cash flow projections and collateral can further enhance credibility.
Owners must consider depreciation as part of their investment strategy since it affects resale value over time. Traditional bank loans often provide competitive interest rates but may require significant documentation and higher credit scores.
Each entity brings its expertise and resources to ensure that transactions are completed smoothly. ECAs provide guarantees or insurance against default on loans taken by foreign buyers, thereby reducing lender risk exposure.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat are the key benefits of refinancing an aircraft loan? The Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio in aircraft financing is a financial metric that compares the amount of the loan used to purchase an aircraft to the appraised value of the aircraft.
In the context of aircraft financing, interest rates can affect everything from monthly payments to the overall cost of ownership. Many governments have established agencies or departments that focus on supporting the aviation sector by providing grants, low-interest loans, and tax incentives. Higher interest rates increase the cost of borrowing, leading to more expensive loans or leases for purchasing aircraft.
What key factors should be considered when evaluating the terms of an aircraft financing deal? Common methods include traditional loans, leasing agreements such as operating leases or finance leases, and asset-backed securities.
Different structures may offer various advantages like liability protection, differing taxation rates, or eligibility for certain deductions. This can result in better liquidity management but may lead to higher long-term costs compared to purchasing or using finance leases.
Leasing eliminates these concerns from the user's perspective as residual value risk typically falls upon the lessor rather than the lessee. The aviation industry is capital-intensive, requiring substantial investment for both fleet expansion and maintenance.
How does ownership impact tax implications when choosing between leasing and purchasing an aircraft? How to Choose the Right Lender for Aircraft LoansUnderstanding Your Financial NeedsBefore embarking on the journey to secure an aircraft loan, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of your financial needs. It avoids asset depreciation risks and often includes maintenance options which can be advantageous for companies with fluctuating operational demands.
Risk Management ConsiderationsRisk management is a crucial aspect of used aircraft financing due to factors like fluctuating asset values, maintenance requirements, and residual value risks. A fixed-rate loan could offer predictability in budgeting, whereas variable rates might be more advantageous if market conditions are favorable.
What are the primary financial implications for airlines using operating leases? How is technology impacting aviation asset-backed securities?
Strategies include preparing a strong business case demonstrating financial stability, having multiple financing offers to compare and leverage against each other, building relationships with lenders who understand your industry needs, and consulting with aviation finance experts for insights.4. The Role of Export Credit Agencies in Aircraft FinancingUnderstanding Export Credit AgenciesExport Credit Agencies (ECAs) play a pivotal role in the financing of aircraft, serving as governmental or semi-governmental financial institutions that provide loans, guarantees, and insurance to domestic companies seeking to conduct business abroad.
Aircraft finance refers to financing for the purchase and operation of aircraft. Complex aircraft finance (such as those schemes employed by airlines) shares many characteristics with maritime finance, and to a lesser extent with project finance.[citation needed]
Financing for the purchase of private aircraft is similar to a mortgage or automobile loan.[citation needed] A basic transaction for a small personal or corporate aircraft may proceed as follows:
Aircraft are expensive and owning one requires hefty Capital Expenditure. A Boeing 737-700, the type Southwest uses, is priced in the range of $58.5–69.5 million.[1] Airlines also typically have low margins so very few airlines can afford to pay cash for all their fleet.[citation needed]
Commercial aircraft, such as those operated by airlines, use more sophisticated leases and debt financing schemes. The three most common schemes for financing commercial aircraft are[citation needed]
However, other ways to pay for the aircraft & flying equipment are:[2]
These schemes are primarily distinguished by tax and accounting considerations, particularly tax-deductible depreciation, interest, operating costs which can reduce tax liability for the operator, lessor and financier.[citation needed]
In May 2016, lessors had a 42% share of the market.[citation needed] It was increasing until 2008 but has since stagnated, and should continue[why?] so if not for a rise an interest rates, a slowing of airlines' profits, an increase in lessors' share of new airliner deliveries, and market liberalization. Lessors could also increase their market share by including more start-up airlines, more older aircraft recycling, a change in views on residual values, and lower returns acceptance.[3]
As described above for private aircraft, an airline may simply take out a secured or unsecured loan to buy a commercial aircraft. In such large transactions, a syndicate of banks may collectively provide a loan to the borrower.[citation needed]
Because the cost of a commercial aircraft may be hundreds of millions of dollars, most direct lending for aircraft purchases is accompanied by a security interest in the aircraft, so that the aircraft may be repossessed in event of non-payment. It is generally very difficult for borrowers to obtain affordable private unsecured financing of an aircraft purchase, unless the borrower is deemed particularly creditworthy (e.g. an established carrier with high equity and a steady cash flow). However, certain governments finance the export of domestically produced aircraft through the Large Aircraft Sector Understanding (LASU). This interstate agreement provides for financing of aircraft purchases at 120 to 175 points over prime rate for terms of 10 to 12 years, and the option to "lock in" an interest rate up to three months prior to taking out the loan. These terms are often less attractive for larger operators, which can obtain aircraft less expensively through other financing methods.[4]
By directly owning their aircraft, airlines may deduct depreciation costs for tax purposes, or spread out depreciation costs to improve their bottom line. For instance, in 1992, Lufthansa adjusted its accounting to depreciate aircraft over 12 years instead of 10 years; the resulting drop in depreciation "expenses" caused the company's reported profits to rise by DM392 million. JAL made a similar adjustment in 1993, causing the company's profits to rise by ¥29.6 million.[5]
On the other hand, prior to the advent of commercial aircraft leasing in the 1980s, privately owned airlines were highly vulnerable to market fluctuations due to their need to assume high levels of debt in order to purchase new equipment; leases offer additional flexibility in this area, and have made airlines increasingly less sensitive to cost and revenue fluctuations, although some sensitivity still exists.[6]
Commercial aircraft are often leased through a Commercial Aircraft Sales and Leasing (CASL) company, the two largest of which are International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS).
Operating leases are generally short-term (less than 10 years in duration), making them attractive when aircraft are needed for a start-up venture, or for the tentative expansion of an established carrier. The short duration of an operating lease also protects against aircraft obsolescence, an important consideration in many countries due to changing noise and environmental laws. In some countries where airlines may be deemed less creditworthy (e.g. the former Soviet Union), operating leases may be the only way for an airline to acquire aircraft.[7] Moreover, it provides the flexibility to the airlines so that they can manage fleet size and composition as closely as possible, expanding and contracting to match demand.
Conversely, the aircraft's residual value at the end of the lease is an important consideration for the owner.[8] The owner may require that the aircraft be returned in the same maintenance condition (e.g. post-C check) as it was delivered, so as to expedite turnaround to the next operator. Like leases in other fields, a security deposit is often required.[9]
One particular type of operating lease is the wet lease, in which the aircraft is leased together with its crew. Such leases are generally on a short-term basis to cover bursts in demand, such as the Hajj pilgrimage. Unlike a charter flight, a wet-leased aircraft operates as part of the leasing carrier's fleet and with that carrier's airline code, although it often retains the livery of its owner.[10]
US and UK accounting rules differ regarding operating leases. In the UK, some operating lease expenses can be capitalized on the company's balance sheet; in the US, operating lease expenses are generally reported as operating expenses, similarly to fuel or wages.[11]
A related concept to the operating lease is the leaseback, in which the operator sells its own aircraft for cash, and then leases the same aircraft back from the purchaser for a periodic payment. The operating lease can afford the airlines flexibility to change their fleet size, and create a burden to the leasing companies.[citation needed]
Finance leasing, also known as "capital leasing", is a longer-term arrangement in which the operator comes closer to effectively "owning" the aircraft. It involves a more complicated transaction in which a lessor, often a special purpose company (SPC) or partnership, purchases the aircraft through a combination of debt and equity financing, and then leases it to the operator. The operator may have the option to purchase the aircraft at the expiration of the lease, or may automatically receive the aircraft at the expiration of the lease.
Under American and British accounting rules, a finance lease is generally defined as one in which the lessor receives substantially all rights of ownership, or in which the present value of the minimum lease payments for the duration of the lease exceeds 90% of the fair market value of the aircraft. If a lease is defined as a finance lease, it must be counted as an asset of the company, in contrast to an operating lease which only affects the company's cash flow.[12]
Finance leasing is attractive to the lessee because the lessee may claim depreciation deductions over the aircraft's useful life, which offset the profits from the lease for tax purposes, and deduct interest paid to those creditors who financed the purchase. This has made aircraft a popular form of tax shelter for investors, and has also made finance leasing a cheaper alternative to operating leases or secured purchasing.
The various forms of finance leasing include:
Some U.S. banks hold an aircraft "in trust" to protect the privacy of the true "owners" of the aircraft or to "secure U.S. registration of aircraft for non-U.S. citizen corporations and individuals".[17][18][19][20]