Private Jet Owners Turn to Engine Leasing Amid Global Supply Crunch

London, United Kingdom - A Financial Times report published on 1 November 2025 has highlighted a growing trend among private jet owners leasing out their aircraft engines amid severe supply chain pressures in global aviation. The article quotes Laura Uberoi, Head of Private Wealth Finance at Addleshaw Goddard, who notes that wealthy families are now generating profits from assets traditionally viewed as expensive liabilities.

Labour shortages, parts delays and rising maintenance costs since the pandemic have left many aircraft grounded for months. This has created a niche but fast-expanding market for private jet engine leasing, as owners rent engines to others facing long repair timelines while retaining their customised aircraft interiors.

Industry data confirm the broader market pressures behind this shift:

• The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Oliver Wyman estimate global airlines will face an additional US$11 billion in costs during 2025 due to supply-chain disruptions — including US$2.6 billion directly related to leased engines while aircraft are under repair (Reuters, Oct 2025).
• The aviation analytics firm IBA reports that engine lease rates have risen by 20–25 per cent since 2019, with one leading model — the CFM56-7B — increasing from about US$75,000 to over US$100,000 per month, while the LEAP-1A26 now exceeds US$125,000 per month.
• IBA also forecasts a 40 per cent rise in global engine shop visits between 2024 and 2025, underscoring the maintenance backlog.
• In business aviation, flight activity is up around 15 per cent compared to 2019, but the global fleet has grown only 7 per cent, according to Global Jet Capital — a mismatch intensifying demand for spare engines.

Uberoi added:

“Private aviation clients are increasingly managing aircraft as part of a broader investment portfolio. Where liquidity, tax efficiency or market imbalance create opportunity, they’re acting quickly. The engine leasing market is the latest example of how sophisticated owners can unlock value from assets that once simply cost money to maintain.”

With high utilisation rates, long repair cycles and intensifying demand for exchange engines, analysts expect this niche leasing market to continue expanding into 2026, even as engine manufacturers such as Safran and Rolls-Royce invest heavily in new repair and overhaul capacity.