What Leeham Company does

Leeham Company LLC is a privately held, founder-owned aviation consulting firm established in 1996 by Scott Hamilton and headquartered in Bainbridge Island, Washington. The firm delivers independent, OEM-free economic and competitive intelligence to enterprise clients across the aviation ecosystem, including commercial airlines, aircraft lessors, airframe and engine OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and financial institutions involved in aircraft financing. Its core analytical asset is the proprietary Aircraft Performance and Cost Model (APCM), developed over 16 years and covering 110+ commercial aircraft types with 3,500+ parameters each, which the firm describes as powered by "Natural Language logic" and used for fleet planning, lease structuring, production cost modeling, mission economics, and competitive benchmarking across a 20+ year aircraft service life.

The company operates a small team (1-10 employees) whose combined industry experience exceeds 150 years, anchored by Hamilton (40+ years in commercial aviation) and aeronautical analyst Bjorn Fehrm (former Swedish Air Force fighter pilot, four worldwide patents). Service offerings include strategic aviation consulting, Competitive Intelligence, and the EcoAviation sub-brand covering sustainable aviation technologies (electric aircraft, hydrogen propulsion, SAF, hybrid designs). Revenue is generated through three streams: professional services consulting, subscription/licensing of the APCM platform, and book sales authored primarily by the founder. Distribution is exclusively direct and consultative, with engagements typically conducted under NDA.

In 2008, Leeham founded Leeham News and Analysis (LNA) as an industry analysis publication; in 2025, LNA was divested to AIN Media Group, allowing Leeham Co. LLC and Leeham Consulting to remain independently owned and operated and refocus on the consulting and modeling core. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm has not raised external capital.

Name

Leeham Company

Legal name

Leeham Company LLC

Website

https://leeham.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Leeham Company LLC is a privately held aviation consulting firm that provides OEM-independent aircraft economic analysis, competitive intelligence, and fleet planning services to airlines, lessors, OEMs, and financial institutions, powered by its proprietary APCM modeling platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Consulting and Intelligence

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Airline Data, BI & Decision Support (Fare/Demand/Market Intelligence) (THALABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Embedded & OEM Analytics (HDAEAMAC), Revenue Management Consulting Tools & Managed RM Services (THALAOAN)

Keywords

• Aviation consulting
• Aircraft economic analysis
• Fleet planning services
• Aircraft performance modeling
• Aerospace competitive intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Bainbridge Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aviation Consulting Services: Core revenue stream from strategic aviation consulting services covering airliner operating economics, production costs, future programs, concepts, lease structuring, fleet planning, product and market strategy, and production financial planning. Services integrate market insights with financial modeling for capital allocation decisions.
2. Aircraft Performance and Cost Model (APCM): Proprietary aircraft economic analysis and performance modeling tool used to support purchasing decisions for aircraft throughout their 20+ year service life. Revenue generated through access and licensing of the model for fleet planning, competitive benchmarking, contract bidding, and strategic analysis.
3. Publications and Books: Revenue from published books including 'The Rise and Fall of Boeing and the Way Back' and 'Air Wars: The Global Combat Between Airbus and Boeing', sold through Amazon and other retail channels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Leeham Company provides independent aviation consulting services supported by its proprietary Aircraft Performance and Cost Model (APCM). The firm delivers OEM-impartial intelligence across aircraft operating economics, fleet planning, lease structuring, production cost modeling, competitive benchmarking, and sustainable aviation (EcoAviation) analysis to lessors, airlines, OEMs, tier-1 suppliers, and financial institutions. Its offerings span strategic consulting engagements, the APCM modeling tool, competitive intelligence, sustainable aviation consulting, and aviation-focused books authored by leadership.

Product overview

Leeham Company provides aviation consulting services centered on its proprietary Aircraft Performance and Cost Model (APCM), a 16-year-old analytical platform covering 110 aircraft types including jets, turboprops, eVTOLs, and conceptual aircraft. The APCM is the core analytical engine powering consulting engagements and enables objective aircraft benchmarking across performance and cost dimensions. The company's service portfolio includes Competitive Intelligence, EcoAviation (sustainable aviation consulting), fleet planning, and aircraft economic analysis. Leeham Company also publishes aviation industry books through its founder Scott Hamilton, including 'The Rise and Fall of Boeing' and 'Air Wars.' Leeham News and Analysis (LNA), a news division founded in 2008, was sold to AIN Media Group in 2025 but Leeham Co. LLC remains independently owned and operated.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EcoAviation: Sustainable aviation consulting services focusing on decarbonization solutions including electric aircraft, hydrogen propulsion, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and hybrid technologies.
• APCM (Aircraft Performance and Cost Model)
• Leeham News and Analysis

Products and services

• Aircraft Performance and Cost Model (APCM)

Quantifiable outcome

• Leeham Co. increased PNAA revenues and cash position by 1,000% in three years when Scott Hamilton created their first Business Plan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AIN Media GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Leeham Co. LLC sold its Leeham News and Analysis (LNA) publication to AIN Media Group in 2025. Leeham Co. LLC and Leeham Consulting remain independently owned and operated. LNA continues to provide industry-leading analysis focused on airframe and engine manufacturers and the aerospace supply chain. The sale enables Leeham Co. to focus on its core consulting business while LNA operates under new ownership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Oliver Wyman (Aerospace & Defense practice): Global management consultancy with a major aerospace practice advising airlines, OEMs, and lessors. Overlaps with Leeham in strategic and economic advisory to aviation clients, but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Cirium (Ascend): Largest commercial aviation data and analytics provider, with the Ascend brand covering fleet, values, and market intelligence. Comparable to Leeham in serving lessors and airlines with data-driven insights, but at far larger scale and with broader product portfolio.
• ICF (Aviation): International consultancy with an aviation practice covering strategy, planning, and analytics for airlines and airports. Comparable in aviation economic advisory but with much broader service portfolio and headcount.

Direct peers

• Avitas (an Alton company): Specializes in aircraft valuation, fleet forecasting, and market intelligence for commercial aviation — directly overlapping Leeham's APCM-driven economic analysis and market demand forecasting work for lessors and airlines.
• Campbell-Hill Aviation Group: Boutique aviation consultancy providing transaction support, fleet planning, and aircraft evaluations. Closely comparable boutique competitor to Leeham serving lessors, airlines, and investors with independent aviation advisory.
• Aviation Strategy & Planning (ASP): Boutique consultancy providing aircraft transaction advisory, fleet planning, and lessor services. Highly comparable in customer base (lessors and airlines) and the economic / lease analysis focus that mirrors Leeham's APCM outputs.
• Alton Aviation Consultancy: Boutique aviation advisory firm providing strategy, transaction, and asset management consulting to airlines, lessors, and investors. Closely comparable to Leeham in customer base, boutique delivery model, and focus on independent aircraft economics and fleet strategy.
• Morten Beyer & Agnew (MBA): Aviation consulting firm specializing in aircraft appraisals, technical advisory, and fleet consulting. Overlaps with Leeham in serving lessors and financial institutions with independent aircraft economic and value analysis.
• AeroDynamic Advisory: Aviation-focused consulting firm providing commercial aerospace advisory to investors, OEMs, and operators. Comparable in boutique scale, deep aviation specialization, and OEM-independent positioning.

Emerging players

• IBA Group: Aviation intelligence and advisory firm providing market data, appraisals, and consultancy to airlines, lessors, and investors. Comparable to Leeham in serving aviation financiers with independent aircraft economic and market analysis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leeham Company