Given the recent decline in oil prices, the value of new-technology aircraft has been questioned, but this is not warranted. New-technology aircraft create revenue opportunities and reduce operating costs, enabling airlines to build competitive moats that support sustainable business models. These are some of the observations shared in “The Value of New-Technology Single-Aisles”, the latest piece of market intelligence from CIT Group Inc.

“The advantages of adopting new-technology aircraft early will dissipate as the world’s fleet shifts to the new types,” said Steve Mason, Director and Head of Aircraft Evaluation and Asset Strategy, CIT Aerospace. “It will be the early-adopters who fully utilize the benefits of new-technology aircraft that build a lasting competitive advantage. While the price paid for the new-technology aircraft will be crucial to continued competitiveness, the timing of the adoption may be more so.”

Some of the other topics discussed in the report include:

• Fuel Costs Can Be Managed: Pricing is an airline’s strongest tool. By dynamically pricing seat inventory to reflect changes in costs, airlines mitigate their exposure to fuel price volatility.
• Competitive Advantage Must Be Built: Long delivery lead-times will create technology advantages for early adopters to exploit.
• High-Utilization Airlines Favor New Technology: Not all airlines are positioned to take advantage of the benefits new-technology aircraft deliver. Airlines that operate out of airports without noise restrictions will not assign an economic value to smaller noise footprints. Low utilization airlines may not save enough fuel to pay for increased ownership costs.
• The Value of New-Technology Aircraft Differs by Airline: Manufacturers desire payback after their costly period of product development, but new-technology aircraft bring a different value proposition to each airline. During this decade’s technology transition, a variety of options will permit airlines to acquire the right tool to meet their needs.

Individuals can download a free copy of “The Value of New-Technology Single-Aisles”