Case Study

Case Study: How Stress Testing Revealed Hidden Concentration Risk

A Dublin-based lessor discovered critical portfolio vulnerabilities using our stress testing tool. Here's what they found—and how they fixed it.

Portfolio Details: 85 aircraft | €320M market value | 12 operators | 8 jurisdictions

The Problem: Invisible Concentration Risk
Portfolio appeared diversified on the surface, but stress testing revealed dangerous exposure

Initial Assessment

The lessor's portfolio looked healthy: 85 aircraft spread across 12 operators and 8 jurisdictions. No single operator exceeded 15% of portfolio value. No single jurisdiction had more than 20% exposure.

But when we ran a COVID-19 stress scenario, the picture changed dramatically.

What the Stress Test Revealed

  • ✗ 45% of aircraft operated by 3 airlines with B+ credit ratings
  • ✗ 62% of revenue concentrated in 4 operators
  • ✗ 28 aircraft (33%) in Russia—high repossession delays (180+ days)
  • ✗ COVID-19 scenario: €18.2M expected loss (5.7% of portfolio)
  • ✗ Worst-case (Geopolitical): €24.1M loss (7.5% of portfolio)

The Root Cause

The portfolio had operator concentration risk masked by aircraft type diversification. While the lessor had 40 narrowbody and 45 widebody aircraft (seemingly balanced), 3 operators controlled 62% of monthly revenue. A single operator default would trigger a cascading revenue cliff.

The Solution: Data-Driven Rebalancing
Using stress test insights to guide portfolio optimization

Recommended Actions

1. Reduce Operator Concentration

Target: No single operator >8% of revenue. Action: Sell 12 aircraft from top 3 operators over 18 months.

2. Mitigate Jurisdiction Risk

Target: Reduce Russia exposure from 33% to 15%. Action: Redeploy 8 aircraft to Western Europe (faster repossession).

3. Upgrade Operator Credit Quality

Target: 70% of aircraft with A- or better operators. Action: Acquire 15 aircraft from tier-1 carriers (Lufthansa, United, etc.).

Results After Rebalancing

COVID-19 Scenario Impact

Before: €18.2M (5.7%)

After: €8.4M (2.1%)

↓ 54% improvement

Concentration Risk (HHI)

Before: 2,847 (High)

After: 1,624 (Moderate)

↓ 43% improvement

Top Operator Exposure

Before: 18% of revenue

After: 7% of revenue

↓ 61% reduction

Russia Exposure

Before: 33% of aircraft

After: 15% of aircraft

↓ 55% reduction

Key Insights for Aviation Lessors
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