ABL Aviation at Airline Economics London 2025: Capital Markets, Leasing Strategy & Rising Talent

Airline Economics London 2025 brought together the global aviation finance community for three days of dialogue, dealmaking, and recognition. Held at the QEII Centre in Westminster, the event covered everything from capital deployment to mid-life asset strategy, attracting executives from across the leasing, banking, and airline ecosystem.

ABL Aviation was proud to attend once again as both a strategic contributor and official sponsor of the Airline Economics 40 Under 40 Awards. From keynote panel discussions to our team’s recognition on stage, the week reflected the breadth of insight and depth of talent shaping ABL Aviation’s global platform.

40 Under 40: Recognising the Next Generation

As a sponsor of this year’s Airline Economics 40 Under 40 Awards, ABL Aviation had the honour of supporting a program that continues to highlight the rising talent shaping the future of aviation finance.

We were especially proud to celebrate the achievements of our own team members:

• Umid Sharipov, Managing Director, Relationship Management
• Lee Naicker, Head of Pricing

Their inclusion in the Class of 2025 reflects not only individual excellence, but also our broader commitment to developing talent and fostering long-term leadership from within.

The awards dinner, held at the iconic Natural History Museum, lit up in ABL Aviation’s signature colours, was a standout moment in a busy and meaningful week.

Lessor Panel: Umid Sharipov on Capital, Relationships & the Japanese Market

Speaking on the Lessor Panel, Umid Sharipov brought clarity to some of the complex dynamics currently shaping the market. Key insights included:

• Certainty Is Returning to New Deliveries: Compared to a year ago, OEM delivery schedules are becoming more reliable. This has improved planning for investors and airlines alike, adding much-needed stability after years of disruption.
• Trust-Based Relationships Are Critical: Umid emphasised that aircraft leasing remains a long-term, cyclical business. Success is rooted not in one-off deals, but in strong relationships with a limited group of counterparties. “When things go south, it is the quality of that relationship that determines how well you manage the risk.”
• Japan: A Shifting Investor Landscape: Umid, drawing on more than a decade of experience in Japan, highlighted a key trend: aviation transactions are now competing with shipping for capital. Pre-COVID, aviation made up ~80% of JOL/JOLCO deals; today, it is closer to 50%. This shift underscores the need for aviation lessors to keep Japan attractive to investors with well-structured and competitive deals.
• No Free Capital: Addressing a common misconception, Umid noted that Japanese capital is not “cheap money.” There are real costs and increasing competition for investor attention. To maintain access to Japanese markets, aviation lessors must continue to innovate and deliver value.
• Mid-Life Expansion & Dialogue Over Paper: ABL Aviation is now actively developing mid-life transaction capabilities to complement its strength in new deliveries, allowing for portfolio diversification and more tailored investor alignment. But across all asset types, Umid reinforced a key message: “You can’t write everything into a contract for 12 years. Trust and communication are what carry you through cycles.”

Leasing & Asset Manager Panel: Carlos Garcia Merino on Asset Strategy & Long-Term Discipline

On the Leasing & Asset Manager Panel, Carlos Garcia Merino, Vice President of Marketing at ABL Aviation, focused on asset selection, pricing pressure, and disciplined growth. Highlights included:

• Long-Term Capital, Long-Term Relationships: Carlos underscored that ABL Aviation’s structure allows it to deploy capital over extended timelines, often 20+ years. The firm builds portfolios intentionally, prioritising deep, repeat relationships with a limited number of airlines.
• Japan Remains Competitive, But Tighter: In the JOLCO space, Carlos noted aggressive bidding from equity buyers, with lease rate factors dipping as low as 0.53. Despite the pressure, ABL Aviation remains focused on structured deals that make long-term economic sense.
• Blended Pricing & Asset Diversification: ABL Aviation’s origination strategy includes blending “spicier” assets with those that fit traditional JOL profiles, enabling competitive pricing while preserving investor value. The firm is also increasingly active in engines, helicopters, and business jets — matching shifting appetite from Japanese investors.
• Technical Presence & Relationship Management: Carlos highlighted the importance of cross-functional relationships with airlines — not just commercial, but technical as well. This on-the-ground connectivity has helped ABL Aviation navigate restructurings and preserve value during downturns, including challenging recoveries in South America and Southeast Asia.
• Reputation & Jurisdiction Matter: Carlos shared examples of how certain airlines have gained traction in Japan by building reputations for reliability and transparency. Jurisdictional risk remains a factor, but proven long-term behaviour opens doors.

Looking Ahead

Airline Economics London 2025 offered a timely snapshot of where the market is heading — and what still needs to evolve. For ABL Aviation, the week was both a moment of recognition and a call to keep building: deeper partnerships, better structures, and more resilient strategies.

We extend our thanks to the Airline Economics team for the seamless organisation of this year’s edition.