JB Aircraft Finance launches backed by Bain Capital

opinion

by Fayaz Hussain

June 29, 2026

“Aircraft transactions move quickly, but financing often doesn’t.”

That’s the conclusion of Thomas Garbaccio after more than two decades financing aircraft and engines around the world.

His observation helped inspire JB Aircraft Finance, a new business aviation financing and leasing platform backed by Bain Capital and managed in partnership with Brickell Asset Management.

Heading it up as CEO, Garbaccio, who spent much of his career in commercial aviation leasing before turning his focus to business aviation, believes a significant financing gap exists in the market.

“Many traditional lenders remain focused on newer aircraft and larger transactions,” he tells us. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of productive business aircraft flying every day where financing options have become increasingly limited. We saw an opportunity to create a platform focused on that underserved market.”

One area of particular focus is older business jets, where JB Aircraft Finance says it can provide flexible structures and higher loan-to-value financing than is typical.

“An aircraft doesn’t stop being a productive asset simply because it reaches a certain age,” he says. “Many older aircraft continue to generate substantial value for their owners and operators. We believe they deserve financing solutions that reflect that reality.”

JB Aircraft Finance is targeting charter operators managing fleet transitions and will offer inventory financing to dealers. The company is also offering financing for fractional share purchases through a five-year programme.

“Aircraft transactions are often won or lost based on certainty of execution,” says Garbaccio. “If you can provide both the aircraft and the financing solution, you create a much more efficient process for everyone involved.”

But Garbaccio says the company is about more than institutional capital. It wants to help clients with aircraft selection through closing, helping structure transactions, coordinate inspections, manage regulatory requirements and navigate the many moving parts involved in an aircraft acquisition.

“A lot happens between selecting an aircraft and taking delivery,” he says. “Our role is to help shoulder that process and guide clients to a successful closing.”

Now that the new business has committed equity it plans to arrange a debt facility “in order to give us a little bit more firepower and more leverage on transactions”, says Garbaccio.

“We view our clients as long-term partners,” he adds. “Their success ultimately drives our success. Our goal is to create win-win solutions that help owners and operators grow while building relationships that last well beyond a single transaction.

“We’re going to be focusing on building the pipeline. Ideally, in the next two to three years, we’d like to be at least in the 80 to 100 aircraft range. If we can achieve 15 to 20 aircraft in the first year, we’ll be quite happy with our results.”

The company recently completed its first aircraft transaction. Garbaccio says it already has a deal pipeline expected to close in the coming months.

“The start is always the hardest part,” he says. “But speed, certainty and flexibility remain in short supply in parts of the market. We are confident JB Aircraft Finance can help fill that gap.”