AEX AeroExchangeThe Zero-Commission Aviation Marketplace
AEX is a global B2B platform for buying and selling certified aircraft parts and whole aircraft. This document outlines the platform's core strengths, its competitive positioning against the incumbent market, and the fee model that defines it: 0% commission on parts, a flat 1% success fee on aircraft sales, and no hidden fees of any kind.
0%
Commission on parts
1%
Aircraft success fee
40+
Countries served
$0
Hidden fees
For over four decades, the aircraft parts trading industry has been dominated by platforms that charge high annual subscriptions, per-listing fees, and transaction commissions — while offering limited verification, opaque seller reputations, and no buyer protection. AEX was built to correct this. The platform combines a modern, fast marketplace with strict airworthiness documentation, verified vendors, and escrow-secured payments — and it does so on a fee model that is radically simpler and cheaper than the incumbents. Vendors keep the full value of every parts sale; buyers transact with confidence; and the only success-based charge is a transparent 1% on whole-aircraft sales, where the asset value justifies it.
Zero Commission on Parts
Vendors keep 100% of every parts transaction. AEX charges no per-deal commission, no success fee, and no transaction surcharge on aircraft components — ever.
1% Only on Aircraft Sales
For whole-aircraft sales, a flat 1% success fee applies — aligned with industry norms for high-value assets and far below traditional broker margins of 5–10%.
No Hidden Fees
There are no listing fees, no inquiry fees, no messaging fees, no escrow fees, and no payout fees. The price you agree is the price that moves. Every charge is published upfront.
Verified Vendors & Documentation
Every seller passes identity, business-registration, and airworthiness-certification review before listing. FAA 8130-3 / EASA Form 1 documentation is required and visible on every part.
Escrow-Backed Transactions
Buyer payments are held securely via Stripe and released to the vendor only after the buyer confirms receipt and acceptance — eliminating non-delivery and mis-representation risk.
Global, Multi-Region Reach
Vendors and buyers across 40+ countries, with GCAA / FAA / EASA compliance support and localized logistics for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, EU, and the US.
Zero commission. No hidden fees. One flat aircraft fee.
The single most important competitive difference: AEX does not take a cut of parts sales. Vendors pay an optional monthly subscription for premium visibility — and keep 100% of every deal. There are no surprise charges, no per-inquiry costs, and no escrow or payout surcharges. The only success-based fee is 1% on whole-aircraft sales, clearly disclosed before any transaction.
| CHARGE / FEE | AEX | NOTE |
|---|---|---|
| Account registration | Free | Buyers & vendors |
| Browsing the marketplace | Free | No login required to view parts |
| Submitting an RFQ / quote request | Free | Unlimited |
| Listing an aircraft part | Free | On subscription plans |
| Transaction commission on parts | 0% | Vendor keeps 100% |
| Success fee on aircraft sales | 1% | Only on closed aircraft deals |
| Escrow / payment processing | Included | No surcharge |
| Payout to vendor | Free | Standard Stripe payout |
| Shipment tracking & insurance | Included | Per-shipment, full declared value |
| Hidden or surprise charges | None | All fees published |
All figures are published and final. No additional charges are applied at any stage of a transaction.
AEX compared with the dominant platforms in the aviation trading space — ILS, AerTrader, and Avinode — across the dimensions that most affect a vendor's margin and a buyer's risk.
| DIMENSION | AEX | ILS | AerTrader | Avinode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission on parts sales | 0% | Subscription + fees | Subscription + fees | — |
| Annual subscription required to list | $15,000/yr | $740+/mo | ||
| Listing fees | ||||
| Per-inquiry / messaging fees | Partial | |||
| Escrow buyer protection | ||||
| Mandatory FAA/EASA documentation | Partial | — | ||
| Vendor verification before listing | Partial | |||
| Transparent vendor ratings & reviews | ||||
| AOG priority logistics & tracking | — | |||
| 1% success fee on aircraft sales | — | — | Broker margins |
Aligned with vendors
Because AEX does not take a cut of parts sales, the platform's revenue depends on vendor success, not on taxing every transaction. This aligns incentives — AEX grows only when vendors grow.
Trust drives volume
Escrow protection, verified documentation, and transparent ratings remove the friction that suppresses deal volume on incumbent platforms. More closed deals, at no per-deal cost, is a better outcome than fewer deals at high commission.
Aircraft fee is proportional
A 1% success fee on whole-aircraft sales reflects the higher value and effort of those transactions, while keeping the platform accessible. Parts — the platform's core volume — remain entirely commission-free.
Mandatory airworthiness documentation
Every listed part must carry a valid FAA 8130-3, EASA Form 1, or equivalent release. Documentation is visible on the listing and verified before a vendor is approved.
Vendor verification process
Business registration, certifications, and contact details are manually reviewed. Only verified vendors appear in search results and receive RFQs.
Escrow-secured payments
Funds are held via Stripe and released only after buyer confirmation, protecting both sides and eliminating non-delivery risk.
Transparent reputation
Buyer reviews and ratings are public on every vendor profile, creating accountability that incumbent platforms lack.
Join the zero-commission marketplace
Register as a vendor and keep 100% of every parts sale, or browse certified inventory as a buyer with full escrow protection. No hidden fees, no lock-in.
AEX AeroExchange · Company Profile & Competitive Positioning · 2026