Why Commercial Aviation Finance is Different
Financing an aircraft for commercial operations is fundamentally different from private or business aviation finance. Lenders assess not just the asset but the business - your AOC, operator covenant, traffic rights, maintenance programme and revenue visibility all form part of the credit picture.
At Doulton Bridging Finance we specialise in placing complex aviation finance across the whole UK market. We work with specialist aviation lenders, major clearing banks and challenger asset finance houses to find the right structure for your operation - whether that's a single Cessna Caravan for a charter start-up or a multi-aircraft jet fleet for an established carrier.
Lender Rates at a Glance - October 2026
| Lender | Indicative Rate | Typical Ticket | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investec Aviation | From 5.8% p.a. | £500k+ | Specialist aviation, strong covenant focus |
| HSBC | From 6.0% p.a. | £1m+ | Global capability, international operators |
| Close Brothers | From 6.1% p.a. | £150k+ | Proven commercial desk, fleet lending |
| Lloyds Bank | From 6.2% p.a. | £500k+ | Relationship pricing, established operators |
| AIB | From 6.3% p.a. | £250k+ | ACMI and lessor connections |
| Lombard | From 6.4% p.a. | £200k+ | RBS-backed, fleet focus |
| Barclays | From 6.5% p.a. | £500k+ | SPV structures, corporate pricing |
| Paragon | From 6.9% p.a. | £100k+ | Flexible on complex structures |
| Shawbrook | From 7.2% p.a. | £75k+ | Challenger lender, newer operators |
Rates are indicative for illustrative purposes. Your rate will depend on operator covenant, aircraft type, term and structure. Contact us for a personalised quotation.
Aircraft Types We Finance
Turboprop Airliners
ATR 42/72, Bombardier Dash 8/Q400, SAAB 340/2000 - regional routes and island services. ATR Finance Guide →
Narrowbody Jets
Boeing 737, Airbus A320 family - charter airlines, wet-lease and cargo conversion operators. 737 Finance Guide →
Regional Jets
Embraer ERJ-135/145, CRJ-200/700 - feeder routes, wet-lease and charter operations. ERJ-145 Finance Guide →
Cessna Caravan
The workhorse of UK Part-135. 208B EX and Grand Caravan for cargo, charter and paradrop. Caravan Finance Guide →
Pilatus PC-12
Charter, medevac, remote area and surveillance operations. Strong residual values. PC-12 Finance Guide →
Beechcraft King Air
Medevac, cargo, charter and air ambulance. Widely used by UK operators under Part-135. King Air Finance Guide →
Light Twins
Piper Navajo, Chieftain and Seneca for air taxi fleets, freight and small charter operations. Navajo Finance Guide →
STOL / Remote Area
Dornier 228, DHC-6 Twin Otter - island services, remote area and scenic flight operators. Dornier 228 Finance →
Operator Types We Work With
AOC holders
- Cargo operators - freight carriers, Royal Mail contractors, Amazon Air partners
- Air ambulance trusts - NHS-contracted HEMS and charitable operators
- Offshore support aviation - North Sea, wind farm and renewables operators
Charter airlines
- Approved Training Organisations - ATOs and flying training organisations
- Wet/dry lessors - UK-based ACMI and asset lessors
- Holding companies and SPVs - group finance structures
Key Considerations for Commercial Aviation Finance
AOC Requirements
Lenders require a valid UK CAA AOC as a prerequisite for most commercial finance. Your operations specifications, maintenance approvals and safety management system will all form part of due diligence. We help you present your AOC documentation effectively.
Wet & Dry Lease Structures
Whether you are financing an aircraft to operate yourself, to place on ACMI wet-lease, or to sub-lease dry, the finance structure needs to reflect the operating model. We work with lenders experienced in all lease structures.
Pre-Delivery Payment Finance
Ordering a new aircraft from ATR, Embraer or Pilatus? PDP bridge loans allow you to fund stage payments during the build period, with the main facility completing on delivery. We have lenders experienced in manufacturer PDP schedules.
UK CAA Registration
Most lenders require G-registration for UK commercial operations. We can also assist with Isle of Man (M-reg) and Irish (EI-reg) registered aircraft for operators using offshore AOC structures.
Guides & Resources
Best Rates Comparison
Compare the top 9 commercial aviation lenders side by side for October 2026.
Complete Finance Guide
Everything you need to know about commercial aviation finance in the UK.
Fleet Finance Calculator
Calculate monthly payments per aircraft and total fleet finance cost.
Wet vs Dry Lease Finance
Understanding finance structures for ACMI and dry lease operators.