Brian Hollnagel

Brian Hollnagel is president and CEO of BCI Aircraft Leasing, Chicago, which he founded in 1999.  To launch the firm, Brian Hollnagel raised capital from industry investors and obtained bank financing to buy two 737-200s for $18 million. In 2004, Brian Hollnagel was featured in an article called "Billion Dollar Baby," published in Airfinance Journal. By 2006, Brian Hollnagel's firm owned 97 aircraft worth nearly $1 billion. At the time, Brian Hollnagel was 32 years old.

The company's success is a testament to Brian Hollnagel's vision of the commercial aircraft leasing business. Brian Hollnagel's strategy was to acquire older aircraft, five to 15 years old, preferably in non-auction style transactions, with three- to seven-year operating leases with creditworthy airlines.

Leasing gives airlines flexibility by allowing them to add or replace planes without adding debt, Brian Hollnagel explains. The option is ideal for start-up airlines with no credit histories, as well as for financially struggling carriers coping with soaring fuel costs, Brian Hollnagel adds.

Brian Hollnagel built BCI using leverage, equity investment and commitment to stakeholders. Brian Hollnagel eschewed high yield/high risk airlines in favor of more moderate returns provided by the world's leading carriers. In this manner, Brian Hollnagel built BCI into a billion dollar commercial aircraft trading organization, one of the fastest growing in the industry.

In addition to the U.S. market, Brian Hollnagel's company serves customers around the globe.  With BCI, Brian Hollnagel has counted among his customers some of the world's largest airlines including Air France, British Airways. KLM, Southwest, Swiss, United, US Air and many more. In addition Brian Hollnagel's company is actively pursing opportunities in rapidly growing aviation markets such as Russia, India  China, and the Middle East.

 Prior to founding BCI, Brian Hollnagel was employed by United Airlines, working with the chief pilot and director of flight operations. Brian Hollnagel has been a multi-engine pilot since 1992. Brian Hollnagel also has flight experience in commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 737.

Brian Hollnagel's fascination with airplanes started at age 15, when his father, a recreational pilot, gave him a flying lesson as a Christmas present. Brian Hollnagel's father wanted to share his passion with his only child.  Brian Hollnagel came to love flying so much that he decided to become a pilot. He studied aviation administration at Purdue University. On weekends, Brian Hollnagel would fly home to Naperville, Ill., in a Seneca V twin-engine plane. After graduating from Purdue in 1995, Brian Hollnagel began an internship at United Airlines.



Brian Hollnagel at reuters.com

Brian Hollnagel at ikarma.com

Brian Hollnagel at bbciaircraft.com/manprofile

Brian Hollnagel at bbciaircraft.com

Brian Hollnagel - LookupPage