CDB Aviation

What CDB Aviation does

CDB Aviation is a global, full-service aircraft lessor operating a portfolio of 507 owned and committed aircraft and engines serving 87 airline customers across 44 countries and regions as of December 31, 2025. The company is a wholly-owned Irish-incorporated subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. (CDB Leasing, HKEX: 1606), which itself is the dedicated leasing arm of China Development Bank — one of China's three policy banks operating under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council. Headquartered in Dublin with regional offices in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and the Americas, CDB Aviation was registered in 2016 and operates under CEO Jie Chen (since 2023) with a leadership bench drawn from global aviation finance.

The company's core product offering spans traditional operating leases, structured financing, sale-and-leaseback transactions, aircraft sales and trading, and aircraft management services. The fleet is concentrated in latest-technology fuel-efficient narrowbody and widebody platforms, including the Boeing 737 MAX family (86 aircraft on order from Boeing), Airbus A320neo Family (128 aircraft on order, including A320neos and A321neos), Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A350, and A330neo, plus A330-300 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions conducted in partnership with EFW. Additional capital-markets products include a $3 billion Medium Term Note Program and an expanding series of sustainability-linked loan facilities (cumulatively exceeding $1.8 billion since December 2023). Notable customers span flag carriers, low-cost carriers, and regional operators across all major markets — including United Airlines, Air India, IndiGo, Air France, KLM, LATAM Airlines, Turkish Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Icelandair, WestJet, T'Way Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Marabu Airlines, and Volaris.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring lease income on owned aircraft (subscription-style), supplemented by one-time gains on aircraft sales and trading, fee-based aircraft management services, and structured financing spreads. Investment-grade ratings from S&P (A), Fitch (A), and Moody's (A1) — among the highest in the aircraft leasing sector — underpin competitive cost of capital and consistent access to international debt capital markets. Pricing on individual leases is not publicly disclosed and is determined via relationship-driven, quote-based negotiations reflecting aircraft type, lease term, lessee creditworthiness, and prevailing market conditions.

Name

CDB Aviation

Legal name

CDB Aviation Lease Finance Designated Activity Company

Website

https://cdbaviation.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CDB Aviation is a global, full-service aircraft lessor headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, that owns, leases, and manages a portfolio of 507 commercial aircraft and engines serving 87 airline customers across 44 countries, backed by China Development Bank via parent CDB Leasing (HKEX: 1606).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Leasing: CDB Aviation generates primary revenue through operating leases of aircraft to airlines worldwide. As a full-service lessor, it offers traditional operating leases, fleet renewals, and structured financings. The company maintains a portfolio of owned and committed aircraft, generating recurring lease income from airline customers.
2. Aircraft Sales and Trading: CDB Aviation engages in aircraft sales and trading activities, including sale-and-leaseback transactions with airline customers. The company has completed multiple portfolio sales and individual aircraft transactions.
3. Aircraft Management Services: CDB Aviation provides aircraft management services to airline customers, generating fee-based revenue for portfolio oversight and operational management.
4. Structured Financing Solutions: The company offers innovative financing solutions including portfolio financing, sustainability-linked loans, and medium-term note programs to airlines and for its own capital optimization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CDB Aviation is a global full-service aircraft lessor that acquires, finances, leases, manages, and trades commercial aircraft on behalf of airline customers worldwide. It offers operating leases, sale-and-leaseback transactions, structured financings, fleet management services, and aircraft purchase leveraging its orderbook with Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer, with revenue primarily earned through recurring lease rentals and asset sales.

Product overview

CDB Aviation is a global, full-service aircraft lessor offering a comprehensive suite of aircraft leasing and financing solutions. The company operates as a unified platform combining aircraft leasing, aircraft finance, aircraft sales & trading, aircraft management, and aircraft purchase services. The core product portfolio includes Boeing 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft as well as Airbus A320neo Family (A320neo, A321neo), A350, and A330neo aircraft. Additional offerings include A330 P2F freighter conversions and innovative financing products such as the $3 billion Medium Term Note Program and Sustainability-Linked Loans. As of December 31, 2025, the company manages a portfolio of 507 owned and committed aircraft and engines serving 87 lessees across 44 countries and regions, supported by a large orderbook with Boeing (86 aircraft) and Airbus (128 aircraft).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Leasing Traditional operating leases providing airlines access to aircraft without capital ownership, enabling fleet optimization, fleet renewal, fleet expansion, and financial flexibility for commercial passenger airlines and cargo operators worldwide.
• Aircraft Finance Structured financing solutions for aircraft acquisition, combining leasing expertise with capital markets access for airlines seeking tailored funding structures.
• Aircraft Sales & Trading Buy-sell and trading services for aircraft portfolio management, including sale-and-leaseback transactions with airline customers and individual aircraft transactions for portfolio optimization.
• Aircraft Management Comprehensive management services for aircraft portfolios, including technical and operational oversight delivered to airline customers on a fee basis.
• Aircraft Purchase Procurement services leveraging manufacturer relationships and orderbook positions for new aircraft acquisition, providing airlines with access to the latest-technology aircraft and engines.
• A330-300 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) Conversion Program Passenger-to-freighter conversion program for A330-300 aircraft conducted in partnership with EFW, offering 23% more cargo volume than older freighter types and enabling cargo carriers to access next-generation converted freighters.
• Medium Term Note Program $3 billion Medium Term Note Program enabling capital market financing through CDBL FUNDING 1 special purpose vehicle, including senior unsecured notes issuances used to optimize capital structure and support aircraft portfolio growth.
• Sustainability-Linked Loans ESG-tied financing facilities including $625 million inaugural Sustainability Linked Loan (December 2023), $506 million Sustainability Linked Unsecured Term Loan (April 2024), and $710 million Sustainability Linked Unsecured Term Loan (January 2026), with pricing tied to emissions reduction and ESG performance KPIs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23% more cargo volume with A330 P2F freighter compared to older freighter types
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025CDB Aviation met with COMAC to enhance strategic cooperation, exploring opportunities in Chinese commercial aviation sector and potential aircraft programs.
• Heart AerospaceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022CDB Aviation joined Heart Aerospace's Advisory Board to advance hybrid-electric aircraft development, demonstrating commitment to future propulsion technologies.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aircraft purchase agreements including 50 737 MAX-8 aircraft in September 2024, bringing total orderbook to 86 aircraft. Long-term partnership for next-generation Boeing aircraft.
• AirbuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aircraft purchase agreements including 80 A320neo Family aircraft in September 2024, bringing total orderbook to 128 aircraft. Long-term partnership for latest-generation Airbus aircraft.
• EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for A330-300 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion program, marking CDB Aviation's entry into freighter conversion with 23% more cargo volume than older freighter types.
• CFM InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration$1.3 billion order for CFM LEAP-1A engines to power Airbus A320neo family aircraft, ensuring integrated aircraft and engine solutions for airline customers.
• IATAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIATA Strategic Partner, demonstrating commitment to aviation industry standards and global aviation community engagement.
• ISTAT (International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISTAT Global Sponsor, supporting the international aircraft trading community and professional development in aviation finance.
• Airfinance Journal and University College DublinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholarship partnership launched in 2018 to educate next generation of aviation finance leaders and promote diversity in the industry by creating opportunities for women.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AerCap Holdings: AerCap is the world's largest aircraft lessor with ~3,500+ owned/managed aircraft across all major commercial types — Boeing 737 MAX, 787, Airbus A320neo family, A350, A330. It is the most directly comparable operator to CDB Aviation in scale of full-service aircraft leasing, target customer base (global commercial airlines), and business model (operating leases plus sales & trading, structured finance, asset management).
• SMBC Aviation Capital: SMBC Aviation Capital is a top-3 global aircraft lessor (~700 aircraft) owned by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, serving the same blue-chip commercial airline customer base as CDB Aviation. Its investment-grade parent backing, global placement network, and similar mix of Boeing and Airbus narrowbody/widebody portfolios make it a close comparable.
• Avolon Aerospace Leasing: Avolon is a top-3 global aircraft lessor (~800 aircraft) headquartered in Dublin and listed via Bohai Leasing. It competes head-to-head with CDB Aviation for the same commercial airline customers and has even transacted with CDB Aviation (CDB purchased four Airbus aircraft from Avolon in May 2024). Same Boeing/Airbus fleet mix and similar Dublin-based operating model.
• BOC Aviation: BOC Aviation is a Singapore-headquartered, Hong Kong-listed global aircraft lessor (~700 aircraft) majority-owned by Bank of China. It is the closest geographic and ownership comparable to CDB Aviation — Asian policy-bank parent, similar scale, similar Boeing/Airbus narrowbody focus, and overlapping airline customer base in Asia and globally.
• Air Lease Corporation: ALC is a US-listed (NYSE: AL) global aircraft lessor with ~480 owned/managed aircraft across Boeing and Airbus types, serving the same commercial airline customers globally. Similar full-service platform (leasing, sales & trading, fleet management) and customer base make it a direct peer, though its ownership is more diversified (no single strategic parent) than CDB Aviation's.
• Aviation Capital Group: ACG is a top-10 global aircraft lessor (~500 aircraft) owned by Tokyo Century Corporation, focused on narrowbody leasing to commercial airlines. Comparable to CDB Aviation in scale, fleet composition (predominantly A320 family / 737), and full-service leasing model.
• ORIX Aviation: ORIX Aviation is a Dublin-headquartered aircraft lessor (~170 aircraft) owned by Japanese financial group ORIX. It serves the same commercial airline lessee base with a similar Boeing/Airbus narrowbody focus, though at smaller scale than CDB Aviation.
• Jackson Square Aviation: Jackson Square Aviation is a San Francisco-based global aircraft lessor (~140 aircraft) serving commercial airlines with a Boeing/Airbus portfolio. Same direct leasing model and customer base, though at smaller scale.
• Dubai Aerospace Enterprise: DAE is a top-10 global aircraft lessor (~400 aircraft) majority-owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai. It offers the same full-service aircraft leasing platform to global commercial airlines, with similar Boeing/Airbus fleet composition and operating lease model.
• BBAM Aircraft Management: BBAM is one of the world's largest aircraft lease managers (~500 aircraft under management) with a focus on narrowbody leasing to commercial airlines. Comparable to CDB Aviation in target customer segment and aircraft type, though BBAM's model is more third-party management-focused than balance-sheet leasing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cdbaviation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1f-SeZ4UM6z2jyKbvjnXuQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdbaviation
• Instagraminstagram.com/cdbaviation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CDB Aviation