At the Airline Economics awards ceremony held in London on September 9th, Turkish Airlines received three prestigious accolades. The airline was awarded the "European Supported Finance Deal of the Year" and the "European Overall Deal of the Year" awards. Additionally, Assoc. Prof. Murat Seker, Turkish Airlines’ Member of the Board, Executive Committee, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), was recognized as "European CFO of the Year."
Turkish Airlines, known for flying to more countries than any other airline, has expanded its financier base geographically, leveraging cost efficiency and minimizing currency risks through a diverse revenue structure. The financing of three Airbus A350 aircraft in Chinese Yuan by AVIC International Leasing and CCB Financial Leasing earned the "European Overall Deal of the Year" award. This innovative approach highlights the airline’s ability to integrate new currencies into its financing portfolio.
The "European Supported Finance Deal of the Year" award was given for the financing of two Airbus A350 aircraft with an ECA guaranteed JOLCO structure in Japanese Yen, provided by BNP Paribas & Citibank and NTT TC Leasing consortium. This recognition underscores Turkish Airlines’ strong presence in the Japanese market since 2007.
Assoc. Prof. Murat Seker’s award as "European CFO of the Year" acknowledges his exceptional financial leadership and strategic vision, which have been pivotal in the airline’s continued growth and success. Since becoming CFO in 2016, Seker has played a crucial role in optimizing financial operations, managing risks, and implementing forward-thinking strategies, contributing significantly to the company’s achievements.
Representing Turkish Airlines at the awards ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Seker expressed his gratitude: “I am truly honored to receive these awards and grateful to be part of the strong Turkish Airlines family. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone at the airline, and I am confident that we will continue to advance towards our strategic goals.”
Turkish Airlines’ aircraft financing team, with its expertise in various financing structures, consistently achieves some of the lowest financing costs in the industry. The airline has received numerous awards from renowned organizations such as Global Transport Finance, Airline Economics, Airfinance Journal, and Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Turkey for its innovative financing models, many of which were implemented for the first time.
In the past decade, Turkish Airlines has won 30 international aircraft finance awards for successful executions totaling approximately $16 billion.
Previous Awards:
- 2024 Airline Economics - Global Lease Deal of the Year Award
- 2024 Airline Economics - JOLCO Deal of the Year
- 2024 Airline Economics - Supported Finance Deal of the Year
- 2023 Airline Economics - Asia-Pacific Lease of the Year
- 2022 Airfinance Journal - Europe Deal of the Year
- 2022 Airfinance Journal - Structured Lease Deal of the Year
- 2022 Airline Economics - Global Lease Deal of the Year Award
- 2022 Airline Economics - European Lease Deal of the Year
- 2020 Airline Economics - Lease Deal of the Year (Europe)
- 2020 Airline Economics - Supported Finance Deal of the Year (Europe)
- 2019 Bonds, Loans and Sukuk - Transport Finance Deal of the Year (Middle East)
- 2019 Airline Economics - Supported Finance Deal of the Year
- 2018 Airline Economics - Lease Deal of the Year
- 2018 Global Transport Finance - Tax Lease Deal of the Year
- 2018 Bonds, Loans and Sukuk - Transport Finance Deal of the Year (Middle East)
- 2017 Airfinance Journal - Tax Lease Deal of the Year
- 2017 Global Transport Finance - Unique Deal of the Year
- 2017 Bonds, Loans and Sukuk - Trade & Export Finance Deal of the Year (Middle East)
- 2017 Bonds, Loans and Sukuk - Transport Finance Deal of the Year (Middle East)
- 2017 Bonds, Loans and Sukuk - Structured Finance Deal of the Year (Middle East)
- 2015 Airfinance Journal - Capital Markets Deal of the Year
- 2015 Airfinance Journal - Tax Lease Deal of the Year
- 2015 Airline Economics - Editor’s Deal of the Year
- 2015 Airline Economics - European Deal of the Year
- 2015 Global Transport Finance - EETC Deal of the Year (Europe)
- 2015 Bonds, Loans and Sukuk - Trade & Export Finance Deal of the Year (Middle East)
- 2015 Airfinance Journal - Engine Deal of the Year
Innovations:
- First airline to secure Chinese Yuan-denominated aircraft financing outside of China (2024)
- First ever Itasca Re Insurance Covered Finance Lease (2023)
- First ever ACG Aircraft Financing Solutions (AFS) guaranteed Italian tax lease (2021)
- First ever UKEF guaranteed French tax lease (2020)
- First ever ACG Aircraft Financing Solutions (AFS) guaranteed finance lease (2019)
- First ever BALTHAZAR guaranteed French tax lease (2019)
- First ever AFIC guaranteed Italian tax lease (2018)
- First ever SACE guaranteed French tax lease (2018)
- First ever AFIC guaranteed French tax lease (2017)
- First ever JPY-denominated EETC JOLCO (2015)
- First ever US Ex-Im guaranteed French tax lease (2015)
- First ever EECA guaranteed Italian tax lease (2014)
- First ever Bond Convertible JPY Ex-Im guaranteed engine lease (2014)
- First ever US Ex-Im guaranteed JPY-denominated Convertible Bond (2013)
- First ever EECA guaranteed JOLCO lease (2011)
- First ever EECA guaranteed Italian tax lease in JPY denomination (2014)
- First ever US Ex-Im guaranteed French tax lease (2015)