Internet aircraft broker Aircraft Shopper Online (ASO) is to launch an online marketplace for fractional programme shares, which it claims is the first geographic medium for selling shares of co-owned aircraft.
Called Aircraft Partnership, this section of the ASO site will enable buyers and sellers to list and search for aircraft shares within a specific radius. ASO says the strategy is designed to bring "new liquidity to the market for aircraft shares by enabling sellers to connect with likely buyers whom they cannot reach by posting an announcement at their fixed base operation [FBO]".
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration aircraft register, at least 20% of the piston aircraft in the USA are operated by partnerships or co-ownerships, ASO says. Shares are believed to change hands more frequently than whole aircraft because partners who relocate can no longer participate in a co-ownership arrangement.
ASO president Tony Friend says: "Marketing aircraft shares is a challenge because it is pointless to advertise to anyone more than 40 or 50 miles away, but the tactic of promoting a share at one FBO limits the pool of buyers."
Source: Flight International
