CDB Aviation, the wholly owned Irish aircraft leasing arm of China Development Bank Leasing, has secured a sustainability-linked loan ( SLL ) worth US$710 million, marking a strategic first for the platform’s Hong Kong entity.

The five-year unsecured term loan facility underscores the company’s intent to deepen its ESG-aligned financing capabilities in Asia.

“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,” says chief executive officer Jie Chen.

The facility is anchored by a consortium of banks, with Bank of China ( Hong Kong ) serving as both facility agent and coordinator, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ( Asia ) and Crédit Agricole CIB structuring the sustainability framework. A mix of regional and international lenders, including Ping An Bank and CTBC Bank, rounded out the syndicate, reflecting broad institutional confidence in the platform’s trajectory.

The loan’s sustainability linkage is tied to rigorous performance targets that measure the lessor’s progress on fleet decarbonization. Key indicators include reducing the carbon intensity of its aircraft portfolio and increasing the share of new-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft.

This financing comes as aviation faces mounting pressure to align with global climate goals. With sustainable aviation fuel ( SAF ) still years from achieving scale, lessors like CDB Aviation are leveraging capital markets to accelerate the industry’s green transition.

“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,” says Chen, adding that the company is focused on lowering its cost of capital while positioning itself for sustainable profitability.