The crazy rich phenomenon in the airline industry: The accountant’s perspective based on IFRS 16

This study aims to find out how the perspective of accountants in Indonesia on their knowledge of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 16 which related to the recognition of ownership of private jets rented by Indonesian “crazy rich”. The respondents of this study were accountants in Indonesia with a total of 222 people consisting of 84 registered accountants who were members of professional accounting bodies such as the Indonesian Accountant Association, Institute of Indonesian Public Accountants, and Institute of Indonesia Management Accountants, and 138 accountants who were not registered. The data analysis method is using a different test (t-test) using the assumption of equal variance assumed and not assumed to see significant differences between the two categories of accountants regarding the perspective of recognizing leased assets. The results show that both categories of accountants have the same perspective for approving the recognition of private jets as assets because they are high-value assets even though the lease period is less than or equal to 12 months and agreeing to be part of business operations that increase revenue. Accounting standards for leases guide lessees to categorize them as finance leases that recognize right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, interest, and depreciation costs. Reports that use finance leases will change profitability and debt-to-equity ratios. By understanding the latest standards, accountants will react appropriately in relation to the existing phenomena. This research provides added value and general lessons for parties with an interest in business and especially for accountants that learning the latest standards is very important in order to be able to scientifically respond to social phenomena that occur around us.