For many high-net-worth individuals, private aviation represents a faster, more secure and convenient way to fly.
But navigating the complex world of owning and chartering a private jet, either for personal or business purposes, requires technical expertise and industry knowledge which only the best aviation advisers can provide.
Aviation advisers help (U)HNW clients navigate the complexities that come with private jet ownership and chartering. Their work often spans both private and business aviation, supporting not only the rich and famous but also their families, sports teams, and businesses in managing everything from one-off holiday flights to long-term ownership strategies.
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Some of the advisers listed in this index are involved in brokering the sale or purchase of private jets, either through full ownership or fractional schemes. For clients who don’t fly frequently enough to justify owning an aircraft outright, advisers can also help identify structures that better match the amount of hours they spend in the air – whether that’s a jet card, fractional share, lease, or on-demand charter.
These advisers typically work across the full lifecycle of ownership, from identifying the right aircraft to structuring the deal, coordinating the transaction and general management. Some also provide advice around aircraft registration and jurisdiction, particularly where tax or regulatory considerations are involved – although that is usually done by experts in aviation finance.
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The best aviation advisers have access to strong networks and maintain close relationships with operators, brokers, and service providers, which allow them to organise exclusive deals and arrangements.
As new addition to this year’s index Laurent Eugene tells Spear’s, a key part of the adviser’s role is helping clients understand what’s realistic, and what makes sense based on how they actually use aviation.
- Methodology
- The best aviation advisers: some names to know
- The best aviation advisers: the complete list
- Contact us
Methodology
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to The Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
The best aviation advisers: some names to know
Tim Barber
- Focus: EMEA aircraft sales
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Duncan Aviation
Tim Barber covers the EMEA region as part of Duncan Aviation’s aircraft sales team.
Explaining the company’s origins and growth in the private jet space, he says: ‘Having started out in 1956 as an aircraft sales company, in response to client demand we started providing maintenance services, and now that’s by far the biggest percentage of the business. Often when someone, even our competitors, are selling their aircraft they’ll refer to the fact that the last major check was carried out by Duncan Aviation, as it’s synonymous with quality.’
Read Tim Barber’s full profile on Spears500.com
Laurent Eugene
- Focus: Independent ownership advice
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: AirPlans AG
Laurent Eugene is a partner at AirPlans AG, a Switzerland-based company which prides itself on being ‘truly independent advisers in both business and private aviation’, Eugene tells Spear’s.
With nearly two decades of experience in the aviation industry, he recognises the importance of putting the owners first. Whether it is transaction management, technical oversight or general aviation counsel, Eugene is committed to ‘finding the most effective structures’, for each of his clients.
Read Laurent Eugene’s full profile on Spears500.com
Olga Tcacenco
- Focus: Wealth structuring
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Kendris
Kendris partner Olga Tcacenco has accrued a wealth of expertise in private aircraft management. She helps UHNW families, family offices and entrepreneurs with wealth structuring when purchasing or operating private planes, which she combines with a strong technical understanding of aviation.
Tcacenco assists clients on all aspects of private aircraft care and often acts as an intermediary between jet operators, brokers and owners.
Read Olga Tcacenco’s full profile on Spears500.com
Eymeric Segard
- Focus: Low-commission, on-demand chartering
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: LunaJets
Founded in 2007 by Eymeric Segard, LunaJets initially set out to resell private jet seats or empty-leg packages at a discount. However, after the financial crisis, the group shifted to offering private flying at the best prices available, through separate units Luna Solutions for buying and selling aircraft, LunaLogistik for cargo transportation and LunaGroup Charter – all headed by Segard.
LunaGroup Charter’s model offers low-commission, top-service, on-demand chartering. ‘Through our charter services, we often move sports fans, corporate groups and families across the world,’ Segard tells Spear’s.
Read Eymeric Segard’s full profile on Spears500.com
The best aviation advisers: the complete list
Contact us
- To apply for inclusion in The Spear’s 500, complete our submission form.
- For further information about rankings, please email research@spearswms.com; we aim to respond to all queries within two working days.
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- To keep up to date with the Spear’s 500, subscribe to our magazine, newsletter and follow Spear’s on Linkedin and Instagram.
- If you have missed calendar deadlines for our research cycles in 2025, you can still register your interest for updates about upcoming research and rankings.
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