CMI Lease: Crew, Maintenance and Insurance

ACMI Lease helps aircraft owners, established airlines, startup airlines and programme organisers assess CMI arrangements for passenger and cargo operations. We can work with an aircraft you already have, help arrange the purchase of an individual aircraft or a fleet, or assist with a dry lease.

Discuss your CMI requirement

What is a CMI lease?

CMI stands for Crew, Maintenance and Insurance. Under this arrangement, the customer makes the aircraft available separately and contracts an operator to provide the agreed operating services. The aircraft may be owned by the customer or secured through a separate lease.

The term CMI leasing describes the operating package; the aircraft ownership or lease arrangements remain a separate part of the structure. Aircraft sourcing and the CMI operating plan can be developed together, including before a purchase or dry lease has been agreed.

Aircraft sourcing, purchases and dry lease

Your enquiry can begin with a proposed operation rather than a particular aircraft. Tell us the capacity, routes, number of aircraft and delivery schedule you need. ACMI Lease can help identify suitable aircraft and work towards the acquisition or leasing arrangement that fits the programme.

• Aircraft sourcing: help identify aircraft options against the required type, configuration, condition and intended operation.
• Aircraft or fleet purchase: help arrange the purchase of one aircraft or multiple aircraft, taking the proposed fleet composition and delivery timing into account.
• Dry lease assistance: help source aircraft for dry lease and coordinate the proposed lease term, aircraft specification and delivery requirements with the CMI plan.

Planning these elements together allows the intended operator’s requirements to inform aircraft selection. The purchase or dry lease terms and the CMI service scope each need to be agreed, with aircraft acceptance and applicable approvals addressed before operations begin.

CMI, ACMI and dry lease compared

The main difference is which party supplies the aircraft and arranges the operating services. Identify that responsibility first, then compare proposals on the same basis.

Arrangement	Aircraft supply	Operating services
CMI	Customer provides the aircraft separately.	Operator provides crew, maintenance and insurance within the agreed scope.
ACMI	Aircraft forms part of the package.	The package includes crew, maintenance and insurance.
Dry lease	Lessor supplies the aircraft.	Lessee arranges its operation and support separately.

If you also need the aircraft supplied within the operating package, see what an ACMI lease includes. For an aircraft-only arrangement, read about dry lease options.

When CMI leasing may suit your programme

CMI can be considered for an aircraft you already own, have leased or intend to acquire. For example, an owner may be preparing an existing aircraft for a new programme, while an airline may want to plan operating support alongside a fleet purchase or dry lease.

For passenger flying, the assessment includes seating, cabin service, crew requirements and the proposed timetable. For cargo flying, it also needs to address loading arrangements, handling support and the pattern of freight movements. Each programme requires an operator able to support the aircraft and routes.

The proposed base matters as much as the aircraft type. Repeated rotations from one airport, overnight stops and a changing route network create different crew and maintenance requirements. Share these details early so the proposal reflects the intended operation.

CMI services for startup airlines

For a startup airline, aircraft selection and operating preparations need to follow the same launch plan. ACMI Lease can help source aircraft for purchase or dry lease and assess CMI arrangements for the initial fleet. The requirement may involve a single aircraft at launch or several aircraft introduced in stages.

Share your planned routes, operating base, passenger or cargo requirements and target launch date. Also explain the current stage of the airline project and its proposed operating structure. These details help align aircraft delivery, the responsible operator’s requirements and applicable approvals with the intended start of service.

Planning a CMI lease proposal

A useful proposal connects aircraft readiness with the planned start of service. The responsible operator needs to assess the aircraft specification, technical records, maintenance status and intended utilisation before confirming suitability.

The operating plan should identify the responsible Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holder and define operational responsibilities. It also needs to address crew preparation, aircraft acceptance, operating permissions and support at the proposed bases. Aircraft ownership alone does not establish readiness to begin the programme.

ACMI Lease can help bring the aircraft requirement, proposed operating arrangements and commercial terms into one review. Where a partner AOC holder is involved, its acceptance and applicable approvals form part of the process.

Define the scope before comparing prices

A CMI quotation needs more detail than a headline monthly or hourly figure. Set out the contract period, expected flying hours and sectors, together with any minimum utilisation commitment. Then identify the services and costs covered by the quoted amount.

• Maintenance: distinguish line maintenance from major checks, engine work, component support and any reserves. Confirm which items fall within the operator’s package.
• Crew: define staffing, training, positioning, accommodation and the support needed for the schedule.
• Insurance: identify the policies, coverage limits and deductibles, together with any aircraft-owner or lessor requirements.
• Other operating costs: allocate fuel, airport charges, handling, navigation charges and positioning explicitly.
• Programme changes: agree how schedule changes, additional hours, maintenance downtime and the end of the contract will be handled.

These details make offers easier to compare and help expose gaps before contracting. The maintenance and insurance scope must be clear even when a proposal uses the standard CMI description.

Information to include in your enquiry

Start with a practical summary of the operation and whether you already have an aircraft or need help obtaining one. Include the following where available:

• Aircraft type, variant and number required; for identified aircraft, registration or serial number and current location.
• Ownership or lease status, passenger or cargo configuration, and intended delivery condition.
• A summary of maintenance status, upcoming checks and technical-record availability.
• Operating base, destinations, proposed schedule and expected monthly flying hours.
• Required start date, contract duration and flexibility around commencement.
• For startup airlines, the project stage, planned initial fleet and proposed operating structure.

If you need aircraft sourcing, include your preferred purchase or dry lease route, budget range and delivery schedule. If a transaction is already underway, explain the stage reached so we can assess how the CMI preparations fit the expected aircraft handover.

CMI lease questions

Can CMI cover an aircraft leased from another company?

Yes, a CMI structure can involve an aircraft secured through a separate lease. The aircraft lease, permissions from the relevant parties and the proposed operating arrangement must fit together. Provide those details when requesting an assessment.

Does CMI include every maintenance expense?

The contract determines the scope. A package may cover line maintenance while allocating heavy checks, engines or other work separately. Ask for a clear breakdown of included services, exclusions and responsibility for additional costs.

How quickly can a CMI operation begin?

Timing depends on the aircraft’s condition and location, the operator’s readiness, crew preparation and applicable approvals. An aircraft ready for delivery still needs an agreed operating plan. Share your target date at the start of the enquiry.

Discuss CMI services with ACMI Lease

Tell us about the operation you want to establish and any aircraft already selected. Whether the requirement involves one aircraft or a fleet, we can discuss aircraft sourcing, purchase or dry lease assistance alongside the proposed CMI services.

Begin your enquiry with “CMI requirement”. Include the aircraft type, number required, base, dates and schedule, and state whether you already have the aircraft or need assistance sourcing it.

Send your CMI enquiry