Standard Chartered has financed nine aircraft for United Airlines, covering four Airbus A321neo jets and five Boeing 737 MAX 8s, in a transaction worth about USD 390 million. The bank acted as lead arranger and initial lender in the deal, which supports United’s fleet optimisation and fuel-efficiency programme.
The financing underscores continued lender appetite for new-generation narrowbody aircraft, a segment favoured by carriers seeking lower fuel burn and stronger operating economics. Standard Chartered’s transportation finance team has been building activity in aviation lending, and the latest transaction extends its relationship with United.
Abhishek Pandey, Standard Chartered’s global head of transportation finance, linked the mandate to the bank’s expanding aviation finance business and its ability to execute large transactions quickly. The release did not specify when the aircraft will be delivered or whether they have already entered United’s fleet.