09/10/2026
Loan, finance lease, operating lease or sale and leaseback: the label is not the decision.
The correct aircraft financing structure depends on what the client is trying to achieve.
A secured loan may suit a buyer or aircraft-owning SPV that wants title while using debt against agreed security. The critical questions concern leverage, tenor, amortisation, covenants and the aircraft’s residual-value profile.
A finance lease or hire-purchase structure is more closely aligned with long-term financing and a defined ownership or purchase perspective. Title, purchase options and the legal, accounting and tax treatment require careful review.
An operating lease provides time-limited use without necessarily transferring ownership. Return conditions, maintenance reserves, utilisation limits and residual-value allocation become central.
A sale and leaseback can release liquidity from an existing or newly acquired aircraft while preserving operational use. The economics depend on the sale value, lease terms, future flexibility and exit.
Refinancing or a bespoke structure may be appropriate when ownership, fleet strategy, utilisation or the remaining holding period changes.
No structure should be selected in isolation. Aircraft suitability, borrower profile, registry, jurisdiction, intended use, operating concept and exit plan must be considered together. Legal, tax and accounting consequences remain matters for the relevant professional advisers.
Lohn Aviation structures the aviation side of the enquiry and coordinates introductions to a potentially suitable financing partner. The partner alone determines financeability, terms and approval.
Compare the principal aircraft financing and leasing structures:
�https://lohn-aviation.com/aircraft-financing-leasing/
Aircraft financing and leasing from EUR 1 million to over EUR 100 million. Lohn Aviation introduces suitable banks and international aircraft financiers.