Qatar Airways has signed its first aircraft financing agreement through a Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO). The transaction covers three Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
HSBC acted as debt arranger and sole lender, while JP Lease Products & Services (JLPS) was responsible for equity underwriting and arrangement. JLPS will serve as equity arranger for the overall program.
This is the first transaction under Qatar Airways’ planned JOLCO program in Japan, which will cover a total of seven aircraft across three transactions. Through this deal, Qatar Airways said it is entering Japan’s aircraft financing market and further strengthening its financial partnerships in Asia.
Hamad Al-Hater, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Group, commented, “We view the JOLCO market as a strategic, long-term source of funding and will continue to utilize it to finance future fleet investments and growth opportunities.” He added, “This provides an important foothold in Japan’s financial market and gives us access to a deep pool of capital on highly attractive terms.”
Seiji Ishikawa, President and CEO of JLPS, commented, “Japanese investors first look at an airline’s creditworthiness. Qatar Airways has strong creditworthiness, and Japanese investors welcome this transaction. We see this not as a one-off deal, but as the beginning of a long-term program.” Abdul Hakim Mostafawi, CEO of HSBC Qatar, said, “Our role as debt arranger and sole lender demonstrates our ability to support fleet expansion, diversify funding sources, and connect leading airlines with global capital.”
