Lombard Aircraft Finance - Business Jet Lending at Scale
Lombard (NatWest Group) positions its aviation finance offering squarely at the business jet segment - primarily aircraft above £1 million in value - where the group's institutional scale and multi-currency capability give it a credible advantage over specialist-only lenders.
The cases where Lombard is most competitive are straightforward to identify: an existing NatWest private banking client looking to purchase their first or upgraded business jet; an AOC-holding charter operator with demonstrable commercial revenue seeking a finance lease structure; or a UK-based buyer of a US-manufactured aircraft for whom USD-denominated finance removes a meaningful currency risk.
For AOC operators specifically, Lombard's ability to underwrite against charter income - treating the aircraft as a commercial revenue-generating asset rather than a personal liability - is a significant structural advantage. Most personal lending assessments would simply not accommodate a commercial aviation operation of any scale.
Lombard is less suited to complex ownership structures, offshore-registered aircraft, or transactions below £1 million - where Close Brothers Aviation Finance is typically the stronger option. As brokers, we assess which lender is genuinely best placed for your situation before making any approach.
Current Lombard Aircraft Finance Rates
Rates are indicative as of October 2026 and subject to credit assessment, aircraft condition, and full application.
| Product | Aircraft Type | Rate From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hire Purchase | Business Jet £1m+ | 6.5% APR | Strong credit / NatWest relationship preferred |
| Finance Lease | Business / Charter use | 6.0% APR | AOC operators; charter income may support |
| USD Facility | US-manufactured jets | Available | Gulfstream, Citation, Bombardier US-reg variants |
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum aircraft value | £1,000,000 (practical minimum) |
| Currency | GBP; USD for US-manufactured or US-registered aircraft |
| AOC / charter income | Can be structured as commercial asset finance |
| Ownership structure | Personal or limited company; offshore limited flexibility |
| NatWest relationship | Preferred; accelerates assessment; may improve terms |
| Aircraft registration | G-registered standard; N-registered by specialist arrangement |
Lombard vs Close Brothers - Which Aviation Lender?
| Criteria | Lombard (NatWest) | Close Brothers Aviation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum aircraft value | £1m (practical) | £10,000 |
| Aircraft spectrum | Business jets | Piston to business jet |
| USD finance | Available | GBP only |
| AOC operators | Strong - commercial underwriting | Possible |
| NatWest relationship | Advantage | Not relevant |
| Finance lease from | 6.0% APR | 6.0% APR |
| HP from (business jet) | 6.5% APR | 6.8% APR |
| G-reg expertise | General | Specialist |