in Aircraft values, Lease Rates & Returns , Lessors & Asset managers , Airline trends & analysis
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Reminder: Ishka/ AFG deals of the year submissions open!
Call for awards submissions
Ishka and Airfinance Global are now accepting submissions for their combined Deal of the Year Awards. The Deal of the Year Awards celebrate the best-closed aircraft financings of 2025.
Ishka and Airfinance Global have teamed up to run a joint awards process. Valued for their independence and transparency, these joint awards represent the market-leading deals rated on innovation, timing, size, complexity, and ability to overcome obstacles, and set new industry benchmarks.
Which deals are eligible and who can submit deals?
The awards recognise financing transactions and M&A for airlines, lessors and investors. Any deal participant can submit an award, including lawyers, advisors, airlines, banks, investors, OEMs and lessors.
To be eligible for an award, all deals need to have been closed before the end of the calendar year 2025. The deadline for submissions is the 13th of February.
How to submit
Please click the link to download a submission form.
Please submit all award proposals to awards@ishkaglobal.com.
If you have any additional queries about the system or awards process, please contact Dickon Harris (dickon@ishkaglobal.com)
This year’s categories include:
Regional Awards (9)
Africa Deal of the Year
Americas M&A Deal of the Year
Asia-Pacific Deal of the Year
Best Asian M&A Deal of the Year
Europe Deal of the Year
European M&A Deal of the Year
Latin America Deal of the Year
Middle East Deal of the Year
North America Deal of the Year
Global Product Awards (15)
ABS Deal of the Year
Alt Lender Deal of the Year
Bank Loan Deal of the Year
Capital Markets Deal of the Year
Cargo Deal of the Year
Editor’s Choice*
Engine Deal of the Year
Lease Deal of the Year (Op Lease or SLB).
Most Innovative Deal of the Year
Regional Aircraft Deal of the Year
Restructuring Deal of the Year
Supported Financing Deal of the Year
Sustainable Financing Pioneer Award
Tax Lease Deal of the Year
Used Aircraft Deal of the Year
Team & Individual Awards (3)
Aviation Finance House of the Year *
*Please note there is a separate submission form
(that can be downloaded here) to help lenders submit deals for this award.
Lessor of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award *
Who decides the awards?
Ishka and Airfinance Global will be consulting a panel of external judges who will select the winners of all categories. This year’s judging panel includes:
Robert Martin, non-executive director and former CEO of BOC Aviation
Bertrand Grabowski, former executive board member of DVB Bank, a board member for Ryanair Group, and a non-executive director for Jazeera Airways and Flybondi.
Ulrike Ziegler, president of the board of directors of Impact on Sustainable Aviation
Olaf Sachau, former CEO and managing director of Intrepid Aviation and advisor to Itasca MGA
Richard Moody, former global head - Transportation Financing at Deutsche Bank and HCOB Aviation Capital
The deadline for submissions is the 13th of February.
* Decided by editorial team
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