Turkish Airlines Honoured with “Sustainable Financing Pioneer Award” for Groundbreaking Sustainability-Linked Aircraft Loan

Turkish Airlines has been awarded the Sustainable Financing Pioneer Award by leading aviation finance platform Ishka, in recognition of its groundbreaking integration of sustainability into aviation financing. The award celebrates the airline’s innovative sustainability-linked loan structure used in a multi-currency Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO) transaction to fund the acquisition of two Airbus A321neo aircraft.

This marks the first time a sustainability-linked loan has been incorporated into a multi-currency JOLCO model—an advanced financing solution that aligns investment terms with the airline’s Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs), particularly those related to reducing carbon intensity across its fleet. The transaction was arranged by Société Générale.

Assoc. Prof. Murat Şeker, Member of the Board, Executive Committee, and Chief Financial Officer of Turkish Airlines, commented on the achievement:

“We are proud to receive this international recognition for embedding a sustainability-driven financing structure into our aircraft acquisition strategy. This innovative approach not only supports our fleet renewal and growth but also highlights our long-term commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Over the past decade, Turkish Airlines has completed aircraft financing transactions worth approximately USD 16 billion, receiving more than 30 international awards from industry leaders such as Global Transport Finance, Airline Economics, Airfinance Journal, and Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Türkiye.

The Sustainable Financing Pioneer Award is a testament to Turkish Airlines’ leadership in integrating environmental responsibility into financial strategy, setting a benchmark for the aviation industry as it continues to evolve towards a greener future.