CDB Aviation secures $710 million sustainability-linked term loan

CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Dublin-based subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., announced that its Hong Kong entity, CDB Aviation Hong Kong (Limited), executed a $710 million (€610 million) five-year unsecured sustainability-linked loan (SLL) on December 19, 2025.

“This term loan marks a major milestone for our platform, with our Hong Kong entity being appointed as the borrower for the very first time to enter into an SLL to raise substantial funds from the market,” said Jie Chen, Chief Executive Officer of CDB Aviation.

The facility was arranged by a consortium of leading banks, including Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited, Credit Agricole, China CITIC Bank International Limited, and others across Hong Kong, London, and Sydney.

“Our continued success in attracting top-tier financiers reinforces our position as a premier global lessor with the strongest credit rating among the top 10 lessors and showcases the market’s confidence in our long-term strategy. We continue to strengthen our cost of capital and position our platform for sustainable profitability,” Chen added.

The SLL is linked to sustainability performance targets (SPTs), aligned with the company’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These include reducing the carbon intensity of the fleet, focusing on the most fuel-efficient aircraft, and increasing the share of new generation aircraft in the fleet. The structure ensures that financial outcomes are connected to measurable ESG performance, reflecting the aviation sector’s growing focus on environmental accountability.

The new facility positions CDB Aviation to further modernise its fleet, strengthen operational efficiency, and reinforce its standing as a globally competitive aircraft lessor.

Discover the full details of CDB Aviation’s sustainability-linked financing and strategic fleet plan in the complete story.

(Photo credits to CDB Aviation’s official website)