Global Leaders Awards

Airline Economics Aviation 100 Global Leaders Awards 2025

Global Leaders 2025 

Moving swiftly into the New Year, we are excited to welcome delegates back to Airline Economics’ Growth Frontiers Dublin 2025. The year ahead is proving promising for the industry, with panellists expressing a level of optimism as demand surges and trading activity continues to grow. However, the road ahead will have its hurdles; engine shortages, aircraft delivery delays, and geopolitical tensions are some of the key headwinds pointed to by our esteemed panellists.   

These complex challenges will require the brilliant minds, which the aviation industry so often attracts, to steer through and capture the promising opportunities that 2025 holds. With this in mind, Airline Economics has honoured outstanding individuals that have demonstrated a stellar propensity for navigating the industry with our Aviation Legends awards. We would like to thank José Abramovici, Ian Reid, and John Meakin for graciously accepting their awards during the ceremony held at the RDS in Dublin.          
         
José Abramovici  

José, also a recipient of our Lifetime Achievement award, was named an Aviation Legend for his outstanding contributions to aviation finance over a career spanning more than three decades.   

From his beginnings in aerospace engineering to leading Crédit Agricole-CIB’s global Cross-Border Asset Finance team, José’s career has been defined by innovation and resilience. He played a pivotal role in opening new markets in Asia-Pacific, pioneered groundbreaking capital markets solutions during the Global Financial Crisis, and has championed sustainability efforts.  

José’s vision, leadership, and dedication have left an indelible mark on the aviation industry. Even in retirement, his passion for aviation and decarbonization continues to inspire the next generation of leaders. Jose was one of the first supporters of Airline Economics and for that we will forever be grateful. Jose has been, and always shall be, a friend to us and many in this industry.          
         
Ian Reid  

We honour Ian Reid as part of our  Aviation Legends  series, celebrating his extraordinary four-decade career in aviation finance.         
Ian's journey began with a love of aviation sparked in childhood, further nurtured at Cambridge University, where he learned to fly. Pivoting from a pilot’s path to finance, Ian built a remarkable career at institutions such as Chase Manhattan Bank, JP Morgan, and RBS Aviation Capital, excelling in global aviation finance.  

Among his many achievements, Ian played a pivotal role in rescuing Philippine Airlines from bankruptcy twice, including leading its $1.3bn debt restructuring during the pandemic, transforming the airline into a profitable enterprise.         
         
John Meakin   

We are proud to recognise John Meakin as part of our  Aviation Legends  series, celebrating his exceptional contributions to export credit agency (ECA) finance and the aviation industry over a remarkable career.  

John began his journey in 1977 in a small seaside branch in England, eventually rising to become the Global Head of Export & Agency Finance at J.P. Morgan. His career has taken him across continents, from London to New York, Los Angeles, Johannesburg, and beyond, where he has been instrumental in structuring innovative ECA-supported finance solutions.  

Notable achievements include securing the first European ECA-backed transaction for a U.S. lessor, pioneering multi-aircraft financing facilities, and leading J.P. Morgan’s ECA-supported aircraft finance team to global acclaim.         

Congratulations to our Aviation Legends recipients.          
         
Aviation 100 Awards 2025  

As we leave 2024 behind, we’d like to take the opportunity to look back and celebrate excellent companies, innovative transactions, and key players in the industry over the past year with our Aviation 100 Awards 2025.

Aviation 100 Lease Deal of the YearAerCap Spirit Airlines sale-leaseback of 36 aircraft 
Aviation 100 Freighter Deal of the YearBOC Aviation places three Boeing 747-8 freighters with Atlas Air
Aviation 100 Fund of the Year (New Fund)SAFFA (Sustainable Aviation Fuel Financing Alliance)
Aviation 100 Fund of the Year (Long Term Performance)Carlyle Aviation PDP Fund
Aviation 100 Supported Finance Deal of the YearPegasus Airlines ECA-supported engine shop visit and LLP financing (amended and extended)
Aviation 100 Sustainable Finance Deal of the YearAviation Capital Group Inaugural Sustainability-Linked Loan
Aviation 100 Airport Deal of the YearKingston Airport Revenue Finance Senior Secured Notes issuance "King Air"
Aviation 100 M&A Deal of the YearAlaska Airlines Acquisition & Financing Package for Hawaiian Airlines
Aviation 100 Equity Deal of the YearStandardAero IPO
Aviation 100 Structured Finance Deal of the YearJetBlue $2.765bn True Blue Loyalty Financing & Convertible Debt Offering
Aviation 100 Restructuring Deal of the YearSAS $1.2bn Exit Financing 
Aviation 100 Capital Markets Deal of the YearALC Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D, issuance
Aviation 100 ABS Deal of the YearvFIN 2024-1 Loan ABS
Aviation 100 Debt Deal of the YearAerCap Sukuk
The Gerry Laderman EETC Deal of the Year AwardPhoenix Aviation Capital Series 2024-1 EETC (PAC 2024-1)
Aviation 100 Editor’s Deal of the Year for InnovationAzorra $1bn Corporate Facility + $1bn High Yield Bond and Term Loan B
Aviation 100 Overall Deal of the YearPK Air 2024-1
Airline of the YearDelta Air Lines
Lessor of the YearAerCap
Bank of the YearBNP Paribas
Law Firm of the YearClifford Chance
Aircraft of the YearAirbus A321neo
Appraiser of the YearCirium Ascend Consultancy
MRO of the YearMTU
Parts Supplier of the YearAvAir
CFO/Treasury Team of the YearAisling Kenny, CFO, SMBC Aviation Capital
CEO/Industry Leader of the YearAndy Cronin, CEO, Avolon 
Face of AviationJeff Lewis, Hanwha Aviation
Lifetime Achievement Award Jose Abramovici