International aircraft brokerage Jetcraft has found that high net worth individuals will typically vastly outspend on yachts rather than on their business aircraft, but there is a generational shift in that trend.
Coinciding with the Monaco Yacht Show this week, Jetcraft delved into the intersection of private aviation and yachts, finding that about 35% of those who own the latter also own a business aircraft. That percentage varies by continent, with the highest in Africa at 57% and the lowest in Europe at 30%. Asia had the second-highest percentage of yacht owners who also own aircraft, at 41%, with North America, the Middle East, and Latin America hovering between 38% and 39%.
Average yacht values are highest in the Middle East at $72 million, followed by Asia, $48 million; Europe, $41 million; North America, $39 million; and Latin America, $38 million. Africa had the lowest average yacht value at $35 million.
Looking at the comparative spend, it changes by age, with the older generation (those at least 60) spending 4.5 times more on a yacht than on a jet. That dips to 3.9 times for those between 45 and 60 and to 2.4 times for those younger than 45.
This insight is critical, said Jetcraft, because it underscores the importance of timing. “Whether transitioning from business first to leisure first, or balancing both business and pleasure simultaneously, the decision on when to buy or sell an aircraft is rarely just about the market. It’s about life stage and personal priorities,” the brokerage said.
“We’ve always known that aircraft and yachts fulfil very different roles in our clients’ lives,” added Jetcraft owner and chairman Jahid Fazal-Karim. “What our latest analysis shows is how clearly that distinction grows over time. A plane is an indispensable business tool. Later, the yacht becomes an asset for family and leisure.”