Case study: European importation of business use aircraft

Earlier this year, the Aviation team and I completed the importation of a Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft for a new client based in the Middle East. Worth around US$60 million, the plane is one of the most popular on the market and has the ability to fly non-stop from Tokyo to New York. Below is a brief case study of the work we delivered.

The client
A leading investment group based and operating in the UAE, across the Middle East and the rest of the world. The client had purchased a Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft to operate for corporate purposes.

The objective
The client required the aircraft to operate into and throughout European airspace with free circulation import status. To that end, the correct paperwork was a critical goal. 

Our role
We established a holding structure for the aircraft and registered it for Value Added Tax (VAT) purposes in the EU. We made arrangements for the direct importation of the aircraft to secure appropriate and permanent EU importation documentation acceptable across all member states. We continue to provide all necessary accounting and VAT reporting for the structure on an ongoing basis.

Grant Atchison is an associate director for First Names Group in the Isle of Man. He leads our specialist Private Client Aviation team, focused on the provision of expert solutions to clients in respect of aircraft assets.

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