Airfinance Journal unveiled the winners of its 2022 Awards in a ceremony on 8 June 2023 in London.

Presented by: Hugh Davies, senior reporter 

Laura Mueller, content director 

There were 30 categories considered in the Airfinance Journal 2022 Awards, of which five were regional.

Regional Awards:
Shortlist for the Asia-Pacific Deal of the Year included:
• CALC RMB1bn Bond Issuance
• Hong Kong Airlines $6.2bn Leases Restructuring
• Malaysia Airlines $2bn PDP/Financing for 20xA/c

The winner is:
• Hong Kong Airlines $6.2bn Leases Restructuring

Shortlist for the Europe Deal of the Year included:
• Air France-KLM €500m Bond Issuance
• GOAL $120m Insurance Supported Loan/Sale & Leaseback for three Air Baltic A220s
• Nordic Aviation Capital $6.3bn Restructuring

The winner is:
• Air France-KLM €500m Bond Issuance

Shortlist for the Latin America Deal of the Year included:
• LATAM Exit Financing: $500m RCF/$1.1bn Commercial Loan/$1.15bn Bond Issuance
• Aeromexico $5.5bn Fleet Restructuring
• Volaris $144m PDP Financing/Sale leaseback for seven aircraft

The winner is:
• LATAM Exit Financing: $500m RCF/$1.1bn Commercial Loan/$1.15bn Bond Issuance

Shortlist for the Middle East-Africa Deal of the Year included:
• Acia Aero Leasing $59m Revolving Credit Facility for 14 aircraft
• Alafco $80m Commercial loan for two A320neo aircraft
• Flydubai $250m Sale & Leaseback for five 737 Max8s

The winner is:
• Flydubai $250m Sale & Leaseback for five 737 Max8s 

Shortlist for the North America Deal of the Year included:
• Aircastle $450m Commercial Loan
• Jetblue Airways $3.5bn Acquisition Bridge Facility
• Air Lease Corporation $1.5bn Bond Issuance

The winner is:
• Jetblue Airways $3.5bn Acquisition Bridge Facility

Global Awards:

Shortlist for the Airline Restructuring Deal of the Year included:
• Aeromexico $5.5bn Fleet Restructuring
• LATAM Exit Financing: $500m RCF/$1.1bn Commercial Loan/$1.15bn Bond Issuance
• Lion Air €1bn Restructuring

The winner is:
• Aeromexico $5.5bn Fleet Restructuring

Shortlist for the Bank Loan Deal of the Year included:
• AerDragon AFIC-supported financing for two 737 Max9s
• Avolon $660m Commercial Loan for 17 aircraft
• SMBC Aviation Capital $1.8bn Commercial loan/$700m Revolving Credit Facility

The winner is:
• Avolon $660m Commercial Loan for 17 aircraft

Shortlist for the Capital Markets Deal of the Year included:
• Air Lease Corporation $1.5bn Bond Issuance
• LATAM Exit Financing $500m RCF/$1.1bn Commercial loan/$1.15bn Bonds Issuance
• MAST 2022-1 $303.7m ABS for 15 aircraft

The winner is:
• Air Lease Corporation $1.5bn Bond Issuance

Shortlist for the Cargo Deal of the Year included:
• Air France-KLM and CMA CGM Partnership for freighter conversion
• Altavair/Hawaiian Airlines 10xA330-300P2F Operating Lease & Funding
• Aero Capital Solutions €200m Commercial Loan for 14 737-800s

The winner is:
• Altavair/Hawaiian Airlines 10 A330-300P2F Operating Lease & Funding

Shortlist for the Equity Deal of the Year included:
• Air France-KLM €2.256bn Share Issuance
• Air France-KLM €500m Bond Issuance
• Nordic Aviation Capital $6.3bn Restructuring

The winner is:
• Air France-KLM €2.256bn Share Issuance

Shortlist for the EETC Deal of the Year included:
• British Airways $522m EETC for four aircraft
• Iberia €680m EETC for five aircraft
• Sun Country Airlines $188.3m EETC for 13 737-800s

The winner is:
• Iberia €680m EETC for five aircraft

Shortlist for the Guaranteed Financing Deal of the Year included:
• Pegasus Airlines €520m ECA Guaranteed Loan for 10 A321neos
• GOAL $120m Insurance Supported Loan/Sale & Leaseback for three Air Baltic A220s
• Groupe Dubreuil Insurance-guaranteed loan for one A350-1000

The winner is:
• Pegasus Airlines €520m ECA Guaranteed Loan for 10 A321neos

 Shortlist for the Lease (Operating/Sale leaseback) Deal of the Year included:

• Volaris $144m PDP Financing /Sale & Leaseback for seven aircraft
• Scoot Tigerair Sale leaseback for four 787s
• GOAL $120m Insurance Supported Loan/Sale & Leaseback for three Air Baltic A220s
The winner is:
• GOAL $120m Insurance Supported Loan/Sale & Leaseback for three Air Baltic A220s

Shortlist for the M&A Deal of the Year included:
• Carlyle Aviation Partners ACMK Holdings $4bn Merger
• Aergo Capital/Seraph Aviation Management Acquisition
• SMBC Aviation Capital/Goshawk $6.7bn Merger

The winner is:
• SMBC Aviation Capital/Goshawk $6.7bn Merger

Shortlist for the New Platform of the Year included:
• AviLease (PIF Aviation Fund)
• PIMCO Aviation Fund

The winner is:
• AviLease

Shortlist for the Portfolio Trade of the Year included:
• Carlyle Aviation Partners/AMCK Holdings Aircraft Portfolio Acquisition
• DAE Capital 36-aircraft portfolio purchase
• SMBC Aviation Capital Goshawk $2bn Acquisition

The winner is:
• Carlyle Aviation Partners/AMCK Holdings Aircraft Portfolio Acquisition

Shortlist for the Revolving Credit Facility Deal of the Year included:
• Acia Aero Leasing $59m Revolving Credit Facility for 14 aircraft
• Dubai Aerospace Entreprise $1bn Revolving Credit Facility
• Truenoord $400m Revolving Credit Facility for 17 aircraft

The winner is:
• Acia Aero Leasing $59m Revolving Credit Facility for 14 aircraft

Shortlist for the Structured Lease Deal of the Year included:
• Avation $44m Commercial Loan for two A220-300s
• Castlelake Aviation $123.4m Gulf Air A321neo PDP Financing Facility
• Sky Leasing $312m Commercial Loan for 12 737 Max8s

The winner is:
• Sky Leasing $312m Commercial Loan for 12 737 Max8s

Shortlist for the Tax Lease Deal of the Year included:
• ICBC Financial Leasing $112m Jolco financing for three A320neos
• Pegasus Airlines $44.2m Jolco financing for one A321neo
• Avolon $170m Jolco for three aircraft

The winner is:
• Pegasus Airlines $44.2m Jolco financing for one A321neo

Shortlist for the Unsecured (airline and lessor) Deal of the Year included:
• Air Lease Corporation $1.5bn Bond Issuance
• SMBC Aviation Capital $1.8bn Commercial Loan/$700m Revolving Credit Facility
• Wizz Air €500m Bond Issuance

The winner is:
• Wizz Air €500m Bond Issuance

Shortlist for the Used Aircraft Deal of the Year included:
• Sky Leasing $312m Commercial Loan for 12 737 Max8s
• Carlyle Aviation Partners €4bn Commercial Loan
• BBAM Commercial Loan for 15 aircraft

The winner is:
• BBAM Commercial Loan for 15 aircraft

Special Awards:

Shortlist for the AFJ Sustainability Award Europe included:
• Aircraft Leasing Ireland nominated for signing of the Aircraft Leasing Ireland Sustainability Charter
• Iberia €680m EETC for five aircraft
• Pegasus Airlines €520m ECA Guaranteed Loan for 10 A321neos

The winner is:
• Aircraft Leasing Ireland nominated for signing of the Aircraft Leasing Ireland Sustainability Charter

Shortlist for the Innovative Deal of the Year included:
• Castlelake Aviation $123.4m Gulf Air A321neo PDP Financing Facility
• Avolon $170m Jolco for three aircraft
• Malaysia Airlines $2bn Financing for 20 aircraft

The winner is:
• Castlelake Aviation $123.4m Gulf Air A321neo PDP Financing Facility

Shortlist for the Overall Deal of the Year included:
• Air Lease Corporation $1.5bn Bond Issuance
• SMBC Aviation Capital $2bn Commercial Loan
• Nordic Aviation Capital $6.3bn Restructuring

The winner is:
• Nordic Aviation Capital $6.3bn Restructuring

Shortlist for the Aviation Finance House of the Year included:
• Citibank
• MUFG
• Societe Generale-CIB

The winner is:
Societe Generale-CIB

Editor Financing Deal of the Year: Avolon $170m Jolco for three aircraft

Editor Regional Market Deal of the Year: Chorus Aviation/Falko Merger

Editor Tax Lease Deal of the Year Asia: ICBC Financial Leasing $112m Jolco for three A320neos

News of the Year: Aergo Capital/Seraph Aviation Management Acquisition

Leadership Award of the Year: Norm Liu, President & CEO Nordic Aviation Capital

Lifetime Achievement: John Willingham, CEO, Macquarie Airfinance, speech and award given by Eamonn Bane, CEO