Aircraft Leasing and Valuation
Understand aircraft leasing and valuation fundamentals: lease types, financing structures, asset valuation, risk, and contract essentials for better deal decisions.
@ Aeroclass
Course description
Aircraft leasing and valuation sit at the core of aviation finance, influencing fleet strategy, cost control, and asset risk management. This training provides a clear overview of how aircraft are leased and financed, how value is determined throughout the asset lifecycle, and how commercial, legal, and technical factors affect negotiations and long-term outcomes.
Through practical examples and industry insights, participants will explore various leasing models, valuation methods, residual value dynamics, and the interaction between lessors, airlines, and financiers. The course equips professionals with the tools to assess lease options, understand value drivers, and make informed decisions that protect organizational interests.
By the end of the course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of aircraft leasing structures and valuation techniques, enabling them to approach negotiations and asset management with confidence.
Note: This class is delivered over non-consecutive days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) to allow participants time for reflection, self-study, and completion of short assignments between sessions.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this class, participants will be equipped to:
- Distinguish major aircraft lease types and financing structures and their implications
- Apply core valuation methods and interpret value drivers and residual trends
- Identify and manage key risks (commercial, legal, and technical) in leasing transactions
- Evaluate and negotiate essential lease provisions, conditions, and covenants
- Connect valuation assumptions to fleet strategy and financial planning
Who should attend
- Airline fleet, finance, and strategy managers
- Leasing company professionals and asset managers
- Legal counsel and contract managers involved in aviation deals
- Valuation, finance, and credit analysts in aviation
- Consultants and advisors supporting aircraft transactions
Meet your instructor
Bijan Vasigh
Dr. Bijan Vasigh is a professor of Economics and Finance in the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach Florida. He has focused his research, teaching, and consulting on the theory, modeling, and application of financial instruments in transport finance. He is the author of North America’s leading aviation textbooks, including An Introduction to Air Transport Economics: From Theory to Application, Foundation of Airline Finance: Methodology and Practices, and Aircraft Finance: Strategies for Managing Capital Costs in a Turbulent Industry.
Dr. Vasigh’s work has led to formal collaborations with multiple domestic government agencies and foreign governments, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Learning Center, and NASA on a grant on “Determination of Statewide Economic Benefits of the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS).” He has been interviewed and quoted by national and international news media, including The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, NBC News, CBS News, USA Today, Forbes, Bloomberg Business, National Public Radio (NPR) Marketplace, El Pais (Spain), Rzeczpospolita (Poland), Trinidad Express, Cuba News, and The Guardian (United Kingdom), among others.
One of the largest assets that an airline has are aircraft, so it is critically important to develop a methodology that estimates an aircraft's value and determines efficient utilization to ensure an acceptable lease payment.
Why you should attend?
With leasing now accounting for more than half of the global commercial fleet, understanding lease structures and valuation principles is essential for informed decision-making. Every term in a lease agreement - from payment schedules to return conditions - is influenced by underlying asset values.
This training helps you build the competence to evaluate value assumptions, mitigate residual risk, and align leasing strategies with financial and operational goals. You will gain the confidence to interpret market signals, negotiate effectively, and ensure your organization’s leasing decisions are both commercially sound and strategically aligned.