About the Airbus A320 in Commercial Operations
The Airbus A320 family - A319, A320 and A321, in both CEO and NEO variants - is the aircraft of choice for European charter and wet-lease operations. In the UK, A320 family aircraft are operated by charter airlines, PTL holders, ACMI wet-lease providers and increasingly by cargo conversion operators. The A321 in particular has become the dominant holiday charter aircraft for UK departures.
Commercial Operations Context
UK charter airlines use A320 family aircraft to serve the full spectrum of holiday charter demand - from short-haul Mediterranean routes to transatlantic winter sun programmes. The A321LR and XLR open up long-range charter opportunities that were previously the preserve of widebody aircraft. Finance structures for these high-value assets need to be carefully matched to the operator's revenue profile.
Finance Overview
Finance Types Available
- Hire Purchase (HP)
- Finance Lease
- Operating Lease
- Sale and Leaseback
Typical Market Price
£5m–£40m depending on variant and age. Values vary significantly by variant, age, total time, maintenance status and avionics fit.
Typical Deposit
30% for established AOC holders with good covenants. New operators or unusual variants may require more.
Finance Term
Up to 10 years. Longer terms available for newer variants with strong residual values.
Worked Example - Airbus A320 Finance
| Parameter | Example |
|---|---|
| Aircraft purchase price | £12,000,000 |
| Deposit (30%) | £3,600,000 |
| Finance amount | £8,400,000 |
| Indicative rate | 6.0% p.a. |
| Term | 10 years (120 months) |
| Indicative monthly payment | £93,257 (approx.) |
Example is illustrative only. Your rate and terms will depend on operator profile, aircraft condition and lender assessment.