April 12, 2016, Shanghai
New research1 from Global Jet Capital, a provider of financing solutions for large-cabin, long-range private jets, reveals there are around 972 mid to large private jets in Asia Pacific, and 30% (294) of these are in China, which is more than any other country in the region.
Overall, 37% of the region’s fleet of business aircraft are mid to heavy, and the corresponding figure for the global fleet is 32%.
Nearly all (93%) of Hong Kong’s 129 business aircraft are mid to heavy in size. This is followed by Singapore where 73% of its fleet of business aircraft are mid to heavy, and China where the corresponding figure is 69%.
| Country | Mid and heavy jet fleet size | % of overall fleet that is mid to heavy |
| China | 294 | 69% |
| India | 121 | 45% |
| Hong Kong | 120 | 93% |
| Australia | 106 | 14% |
| Japan | 56 | 21% |
| Malaysia | 41 | 49% |
| Singapore | 41 | 73% |
| Indonesia | 38 | 25% |
| Philippines | 38 | 34% |
| Thailand | 27 | 33% |
| New Zealand | 8 | 12% |
| All Asia Pacific | 972 | 37% |
Global Jet Capital’s newly appointed Managing Director of Asia Sales, David Henderson, said: “Our analysis reveals that a higher percentage of Asia Pacific’s fleet of business aircraft is mid to heavy in size than the global average. Given we focus on financing these types of jets, this market is particularly attractive for us.”
Mid to heavy private jets typically cost between $25 million and $75 million each, and up to 80% of the funding used to purchase these is sourced through external financing. Global Jet Capital is one of, if not the only, dedicated aviation finance specialist to operate on a global basis. With an extensive team which has a wealth of experience funding a wide variety of aircraft types, the company recently completed the purchase of the aircraft lease and loan portfolio of GE Capital Corporate Aircraft in the Americas. This represented approximately $2.5 billion of net assets, and the company has a further $1 billion to lend to clients to purchase relevant business aircraft in Asia Pacific and elsewhere around the world.
Global Jet Capital, which was launched in 2014, is capitalized by three global investment firms – GSO Capital Partners, a Blackstone company in partnership with Franklin Square Capital Partners*; The Carlyle Group; and AE Industrial Partners.
The company’s current management team and executive committee is composed of leaders from business jet manufacturers, maintenance and service providers and leading financial institutions who have served the private aircraft industry for a combined 200-plus years and have completed over 3,500 aircraft transactions.
Notes to editors
1Global Jet Capital analysis of JetNet data, March 2016
*Investment to be made by funds advised or sub-advised by GSO Capital Partners and Franklin Square Capital Partners or their respective affiliates, as applicable.