Airfinance Journal Awards 2021 winners were unveiled in a ceremony on 5 May 2022 in Dublin.

There were 30 categories considered in the Airfinance Journal 2021 Awards, of which 17 were global products.

Shortlist for the Bank Loan Deal of the Year included:
• Castlelake $1 billion warehouse facility
• Griffin Global Asset Management $1 billion commercial loan
• Easyjet $1.87 billion commercial loan

The winner is:
• Easyjet $1.87 billion commercial loan

Shortlist for the Guaranteed Financing Deal of the Year included:

• Crianza Aviation $425 million AFIC-supported and Balthazar-guaranteed loans for three aircraft
• Pegasus Airlines $400 million  UKEF-guaranteed finance lease for 10 aircraft
• AVIC Leasing $180 million  Balthazar-guaranteed loan for four A321neo aircraft

The winner is:
• Crianza Aviation $425 million AFIC-supported and Balthazar-guaranteed loans for three aircraft

Shortlist for the Tax Lease Deal of the Year included: 

• Flydubai AFIC-supported Jol for one Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft
• SAS Jolco for one A350-900 aircraft
• Atlas Air Jolco for two 747-8F aircraft

The winner is:
• SAS Jolco for one A350-900 aircraft

Shortlist for the Sale and Leaseback/Operating Lease Deal of the Year included: 
• Aeromexico operating lease for 12 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft
• China Eastern Airlines RMB2 billion sale and leaseback for 12 A321 aircraft
• Spirit Airlines $3.4 billion sale and leaseback for 63 aircraft

The winner is:
• Aeromexico operating lease for 12 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft

Shortlist for the Structured Lease Deal of the Year included: 
• Flair Airlines Finance lease for five Max 8 aircraft
• Turkish Airlines Italian lease combined with ACG guarantee for three A321neo aircraft

The winner is:
• Turkish Airlines Italian lease combined with ACG guarantee for three A321neo aircraft

Shortlist for the Used Aircraft Deal of the Year included: 
• Stellar 2021-1 $282 million ABS for 21 aircraft
• Avianca sale and leaseback for 27 aircraft
• SAS $18 million portfolio financing for four aircraft

The winner is:
• SAS $18 million portfolio financing for four aircraft

Shortlist for the Cargo Deal of the Year included: 
• CDB Aviation $240 million for 12 A330P2F conversions
• KKR/Altavair $300 million for four A330-200 conversions and leases
• Lufthansa Jolco financing for three 777F aircraft

The winner is:
• KKR/Altavair $300 million for four A330-200 conversions and leases

Shortlist for the New Fund/Alternative Financing Platform Deal of the Year included:
• Castlelake $2.6 billion inaugural capitalization
• Gilead Aviation $1 billion warehouse facility
• ABL Aviation

The winner is:
• Castlelake $2.6 billion inaugural capitalization

Shortlist for the Equity Deal of the Year included:
• Cebu Air $840 million capital raising & liabilities re-profiling
• Easyjet £1.3 billion rights issue and $400m RCF
• Lufthansa €2.16 billion rights issue

The winner is:

• Cebu Air $840 million capital raising & liabilities re-profiling

Shortlist for the M&A Deal of the Year included:
• KKR $650 million purchase of CIT loan portfolio
• Aercap/GECAS $34 billion merger
• Carlyle $2.36 billion acquisition of Fly leasing

The winner is:
• Aercap/GECAS $34 billion merger

Shortlist for the Airline Restructuring Deal of the Year included:
• Avianca restructuring
• Malaysia Airlines restructuring
• Norwegian Air Irish Examinership

The winner is:
• Avianca restructuring

Shortlist for the Lessor Unsecured Bond Deal of the Year included:
• BOC Aviation $1 billion unsecured notes
• DAE Capital $1.25 billion unsecured notes
• Aercap/GECAS merger $21 billion unsecured notes

The winner is:
• Aercap/GECAS merger $21 billion unsecured notes

Shortlist for the Airline Bond Deal of the Year included:
• Wizz Air €500 million unsecured bond
• Ryanair €1.2 billion unsecured bond
• Hawaiian Airlines $1.2 billion secured notes

The winner is:
• Hawaiian Airlines $1.2 billion secured notes

Shortlist for the ABS Deal of the Year included:
• Stellar 2021-1 $282 million for 21 aircraft
• SLAM 2021-1 $663 million for 16 aircraft
• SALT 2021-1 $893 million for 156 aircraft

The winner is:
• SALT 2021-1 $893 million for 156 aircraft

Shortlist for the Sustainability Financing Deal of the Year included:
• British Airways $553 million EETC for seven aircraft
• Air France $111 million A350-900 Balthazar-backed sustainability-linked senior secured loan

The winner is:
• British Airways $553 million EETC for seven aircraft

Shortlist for the Environmental/ESG Leadership Deal of the Year included:
• CMB Leasing JPY15 billion green loan
• British Airways $553 million EETC for seven aircraft
• Air France $111 million A350-900 Balthazar-backed sustainability-linked senior secured loan

The winner is:
• Air France $111 million A350-900 Balthazar-backed sustainability-linked senior secured loan

Shortlist for the Best ESG Initiative of the Year included:
• Aviation Working Group’s Carbon Calculator (ACC)
• Air France-KLM’s ESG Rating issued by S&P
• CMB Leasing JPY15 billion green loan

The winner is:
• Aviation Working Group’s Carbon Calculator (ACC)