Ishka Airfinance Awards 2026

The Deals That Defined 2025

Aviation finance’s longest-standing independently adjudicated awards programme is back. Winners announced live, judged by former CEOs, board members, and senior executives from across the industry.

20 October 2026 From 5:30pm Convene, 555 Broadway, New York
Register to attend
25
Award categories
15+
Years running
5
Independent judges
70
Shortlisted deals

What are the Deal of the Year Awards?

First established over 15 years ago, the Ishka Airfinance Deal of the Year Awards have recognised excellence across aviation finance through independent assessment. Shortlists and winners are determined by a panel of senior industry figures drawing on verified deal data, market intelligence, and analytical rigour. This year’s awards span 25 categories covering the full breadth of aviation finance activity.

25
Categories
15+
Years of independent recognition
100%
Independently adjudicated

The judging panel

Judges do not vote in categories where their former employers are nominated.

BG
Bertrand Grabowski
Former executive board member, DVB Bank
Ryanair Group
RM
Robert Martin
Non-executive director and former CEO
BOC Aviation
OS
Olaf Sachau
Former CEO, Intrepid Aviation. Advisor, Itasca MGA
Intrepid Aviation
RM
Richard Moody
Former global head of transportation financing, Deutsche Bank
HCOB Aviation Capital
UZ
Ulrike Ziegler
President of the board, Impact on Sustainable Aviation
Sustainable Aviation

2025 shortlisted deals

The following deals have been selected for their innovation, complexity, and impact on the market. Each represents a transaction that pushed boundaries in its category this year.

ABS Deal of the Year3 deals▼
Navigator 2025-1DAE / PIMCO
PKAIR 2025-2PK AirFinance
GGAM 2025-1Griffin Global Asset Management
A350 Finance LeaseEthiopian Airlines
Aircraft Warehouse FacilityFortress
Aircraft Warehouse FacilityPhoenix Aviation Capital
A220 & Engine Commercial LoanBreeze Airways
Acquisition of Air Lease CorporationSMBC Aviation Capital
Acquisition of Air Transport Services GroupStonepeak
Boeing 777 Commercial LoanAir India
Sustainability-Linked Commercial LoanCMB Leasing
French Tax LeaseIndiGo
BNP Paribas
MUFG
Societe Generale
A321neo Finance LeaseIndiGo
French Tax LeaseIndiGo
A350 PDP FinancingPhilippine Airlines
Capital RaiseAkasa Air
Acquisition of Crianza AviationFPG Amentum
BeYoke Aviation New JOL/JOLCO PlatformAIP Capital
Bond IssuancePhoenix Aviation Capital
Bond IssuanceAviLease
AASET MT-1 2025-1 Aircraft ABSCarlyle Aviation Partners
Aircraft Warehouse FacilityOaktree
Acquisition of Air Transport Services GroupStonepeak
Aircraft Commercial LoanTitan Aircraft Investments
Engine Sale-LeasebackBeauTech Power Systems
WEST IX Engine ABSWillis Lease Finance Corporation
Engine Commercial LoanMarathon Asset Management
Bond IssuanceTrueNoord
Commercial LoanVirgin Atlantic
Acquisition of Nordic Aviation CapitalDAE Capital
Aircraft PurchaseAvolon
Acquisition of Nordic Aviation CapitalDAE Capital
Acquisition of Air Lease CorporationSMBC Aviation Capital
Bond IssuanceGOL
DIP LoanGOL
Commercial LoanVivaAerobus
737 Max Sale-LeasebackAkasa Air
A321neo Sale-LeasebackIndiGo
A321neo Operating LeaseUnited Airlines
Phoenix Aviation Capital
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE)
Aviation FundAviLease
Navigator 2025-1 Aircraft ABSDAE / PIMCO
AFIC-Itasca Supported FinancingOman Air
737 Max Commercial LoanAllegiant Travel
AASET MT-1 Aircraft ABS with Master Trust StructureCarlyle Aviation Partners
A321neo French Tax LeaseVivaAerobus
50-Aircraft PurchaseAzorra
Acquisition of Air Transport Services GroupStonepeak
Revolving Credit FacilityWillis Mitsui Engine Support
50-Aircraft PurchaseAzorra
Acquisition of Nordic Aviation CapitalDAE Capital
Warehouse FacilityAbelo Capital
DIP LoanGOL
737-800 Commercial LoanPegasus Airlines
A321neo Insurance-Guaranteed LoanIndiGo
AFIC-Itasca Supported FinancingOman Air
A350 PDP FinancingPhilippine Airlines
Sustainability-Linked Commercial LoanCDB Aviation
A321neo Sustainability-Linked Commercial LoanPegasus Airlines
777F Commercial LoanCES Financial Leasing
A350 JOLCOEmirates
A320neo French Tax LeaseTAP Air Portugal
737 Max JOLCOSunExpress
A321 Purchase & Lease NovationArena Aviation Capital
Aircraft Commercial LoanMacquarie AirFinance
737-800 Commercial LoanPegasus Airlines