Airline Economics Aviation 100 Global Leaders Awards 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 Year | AerCap Spirit Airlines sale-leaseback of 36 aircraft |
Aviation 100 Freighter Deal of the Year | BOC 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 Year | Pegasus Airlines ECA-supported engine shop visit and LLP financing (amended and extended) |
Aviation 100 Sustainable Finance Deal of the Year | Aviation Capital Group Inaugural Sustainability-Linked Loan |
Aviation 100 Airport Deal of the Year | Kingston Airport Revenue Finance Senior Secured Notes issuance "King Air" |
Aviation 100 M&A Deal of the Year | Alaska Airlines Acquisition & Financing Package for Hawaiian Airlines |
Aviation 100 Equity Deal of the Year | StandardAero IPO |
Aviation 100 Structured Finance Deal of the Year | JetBlue $2.765bn True Blue Loyalty Financing & Convertible Debt Offering |
Aviation 100 Restructuring Deal of the Year | SAS $1.2bn Exit Financing |
Aviation 100 Capital Markets Deal of the Year | ALC Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D, issuance |
Aviation 100 ABS Deal of the Year | vFIN 2024-1 Loan ABS |
Aviation 100 Debt Deal of the Year | AerCap Sukuk |
The Gerry Laderman EETC Deal of the Year Award | Phoenix Aviation Capital Series 2024-1 EETC (PAC 2024-1) |
Aviation 100 Editor’s Deal of the Year for Innovation | Azorra $1bn Corporate Facility + $1bn High Yield Bond and Term Loan B |
Aviation 100 Overall Deal of the Year | PK Air 2024-1 |
Airline of the Year | Delta Air Lines |
Lessor of the Year | AerCap |
Bank of the Year | BNP Paribas |
Law Firm of the Year | Clifford Chance |
Aircraft of the Year | Airbus A321neo |
Appraiser of the Year | Cirium Ascend Consultancy |
MRO of the Year | MTU |
Parts Supplier of the Year | AvAir |
CFO/Treasury Team of the Year | Aisling Kenny, CFO, SMBC Aviation Capital |
CEO/Industry Leader of the Year | Andy Cronin, CEO, Avolon |
Face of Aviation | Jeff Lewis, Hanwha Aviation |
Lifetime Achievement Award | Jose Abramovici |