Good business practice dictates that any self-interest is declared upfront. So here goes. Since childhood, I have been passionately interested in planes – an enthusiasm that has only grown stronger over years. I qualified as a private pilot more than twenty years ago, though I am sadly a lapsed PPL. My better half is equally enthusiastic – and hugely knowledgeable – about civil aviation. For almost forty years, we have spent our free time at airfields all over the world, including of course our unique Gibraltar International Airport. 

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A Long-Awaited Development

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It was therefore exciting to read the Government’s announcement in August that plans to establish Gibraltar’s Aircraft Register are well advanced. It is one of those rare occasions when professional and personal interests align perfectly. The finer details will follow, but I am optimistic about what this development will mean for Gibraltar. 

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The history of aviation locally is long and rich – and far beyond the scope of this brief introduction. Suffice to say while Gibraltar has had its own international aircraft registration code (initially VR-G, later VP-G) for decades, a commercial aircraft register has never proved possible, until now.

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As the Chief Secretary explained in August: “The registry will aim to attract high-end private and commercial aircraft, which in turn will generate additional revenue to Government through registration fees and related charges, and open up new business opportunities for Gibraltar’s legal, finance and insurance sectors.”   

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Learning from Other Registries

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The other “offshore UK” jurisdictions have been active in this area, with mixed results. The Isle of Man was first off the runway and has been highly successful, now boasting close to three hundred aircraft on its register. Guernsey followed with more than two hundred. Both cater to similar markets, including temporary registration for aircraft moving between leases or operators. Jersey, however, tried valiantly but ultimately unsuccessfully to compete in the same space and its registry has since closed. 

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Further afield, there are other standout examples and two of the best are Aruba and San Marino. Read on to discover why I think that. 

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Debunking the Myths

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Gibraltar’s long-awaited registry is almost here. In recent months, I have had countless conversations about it, and I am happy to dispel a few myths. Chief among them is the size of Gibraltar’s airport. Impressive though it is, it could not be described as vast by any measure. The naysayers argue that the runway cannot cater for the world’s largest jets and that parking space is limited. 

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That may be true, but it misses the point entirely. The proposed Gibraltar-registered fleet will not likely be based on the Rock. Rather, we can expect to see – or “spot,” to use the aviation vernacular – Gibraltar-registered aircraft around the world. In effect, they will be flying advertisements for the Rock. As with Aruba and San Marino, the Civil Aviation Authority’s philosophy is that its inspectors will travel to the aircraft instead of the aircraft coming to Gibraltar.

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San Marino provides a yet more interesting comparison. It has no airport at all, using nearby Rimini in Italy as its “local” airfield. Yet I have seen Sammarinese-registered aircraft in Fort Lauderdale, Dubai and Farnborough to name just three.

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A Safe Pair of Hands

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Most exciting to me is that Gibraltar has appointed the Aviation Registry Group to help develop the new registry. Headed by CEO Sir Jorge Colindres, the firm has been a dominant force in the global aircraft registration industry for more than three decades, with successful operations in Aruba and San Marino. Having met Sir Jorge and his team at industry events over the years, I can confidently say that Gibraltar could not have chosen a safer pair of hands. This appointment is a real boost for the nascent registry.

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Chris Purkiss, the Director General of the recently established Gibraltar Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), is another key figure. An industry professional with decades of experience from his RAF service (including three years as Station Commander in Gibraltar), to serving as Gibraltar’s Director of Aviation for the last 17 years, he assumed his new role earlier this year. He told me: “Establishing a Gibraltar aircraft registry has been my dream for a long time. With the support of Government, we have put together an experienced team within the GCAA and I am really excited to see the project becoming a reality.  We have partnered with experts in the aircraft registry world and will enjoy the benefits of the contacts and reputation that they have.  Gibraltar will see wide ranging benefit from the introduction of this new industry.”

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More details will be forthcoming, but it strikes me that in the meantime, not enough people are talking about the incoming registry. I want to help change that. The successful registries worldwide have seen plenty collateral business arising – apart from registering aircraft alone. 

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Looking Ahead

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Aircraft owners choose jurisdictions for varied reasons: robust legal systems, efficient oversight, fiscal transparency, and the prestige of a well-regulated jurisdiction. Gibraltar is ideally positioned to attract discerning owners who value professionalism and credibility.

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The most successful registries worldwide have seen significant collateral business emerge — legal, financial, and technical services that ripple through the wider economy. Gibraltar can expect similar benefits.

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These developments are independent of the recently announced UK-EU Treaty relating to Gibraltar that is itself a seminal moment for the Rock. But the timing is ideal. 2026 is shaping up to be a very good year indeed. Stand by for more detailed analysis of this exciting sector as the launch date approaches.

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As always, please get in touch for a no-obligation discussion on how Acquarius can assist you or your clients, whether on aviation-related matters or indeed any other business sector. We are here to help.