Airfinance Journal Middle East 2020

8:00AM Morning refreshments & registration

8:55AM Chairperson's opening remarks

9:00AM Opening keynote address

9:30AM How strong is the macro-economic picture for Middle Eastern aviation?

• Will air traffic increase at the rate necessary to support airline growth?
• How much of a challenge does overcapacity pose to Middle Eastern airlines and what solutions are available to them?
• What can Middle Eastern aviators do to increase confidence in the sector?

10:00AM What will Wizz Air Abu Dhabi bring to the Middle Eastern market?

Wizz Air, a stalwart of the European LCC market has launched a new Middle Eastern initiative, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. Hoping to grow the operation to 50 aircraft in 10 years, hear Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi tell the story of this new initiative, and what impact they hope to have on Middle Eastern aviation.

10:30AM Will the next wave of lessor consolidation begin in the Middle East?

• Aircraft lessors usually have at least one eye on fleet expansion, with M&A being a common tool for achieving this. Should we expect further activity in 2020?
• Are we likely to see entire platforms being traded or more portfolios?
• What other paths to expansion exist for lessors wishing to increase fleet size and market share?

11:10AM Morning refreshments & networking break

11:30AM Will Middle Eastern aviation’s fundamentals hold in the face of exogenous challenges?

• How severely has Middle Eastern traffic been impacted by coronavirus and drops in intra-Asian travel?
• Will the UAE maintain its status as a hub of Middle Eastern aviation?
• What can Middle Eastern airlines and financiers do to bolster profitability and efficiency in the aviation industry?

12:00PM Will the widebody aircraft market be able to recover in 2020?

• Airbus A330 values bolster and what does the future look like for this aircraft type?
• How badly has the region been hit by various engine delivery delays and what impact has this had on airline performance?
• What are the immediate term prospects for the A350?
• What does the customer and investor base look like for the 777X?

12:40PM Networking lunch

2:00PM Financing aviation sustainably

• How are environmental concerns impacting financiers today and what can the aviation industry do to alleviate them?
• Why does aviation have a perception problem on green issues?
• What options are available for lessors and airlines who wish to bolster their ESG offering and what financial benefits can be enjoyed as a result

2:40PM How healthy is the market for mid-life aircraft in the Middle East?

• Residual value forecasts
• What advantages can Middle Eastern airlines gain from utilising a mid-life fleet?
• How liquid are these assets in the Middle Eastern market?

3:10PM Afternoon refreshments & networking break

3:30PM How does CFM continue to bolster their position in the Middle East?

• How significant are recent orders from Jazeera Airways & Qatar Airways?
• What are the keys to working with customers in this region and what solutions does CFM offer Middle Eastern carriers?
• New technology engines and sustainability

3:50PM Are low-cost-carriers the future of Middle Eastern aviation

• Some of the incumbent Middle Eastern flag carriers have experienced well-publicised turbulence over the last few years, will LCC’s from the region be able to challenge their positions?
• Which aircraft types make sense for low-cost operators in the region and which financing structures make sense to fund deliveries?
• Capacity discipline and efficiency

4:30PM Financing the future – new structures in aircraft finance

Hear Blue Swan Capital CEO, Marc-Karim Vermette, unveil what promises to be a disruptive new financial structure: the Nojoum Aviation Finance Program

4:50PM The rise of Abu-Dhabi as an aviation powerhouse - ADGM

• What explains the rise of Abu-Dhabi’s prominence on the global aviation map?
• How can companies best utilise this jurisdiction and what are the key factors they need to consider?
• What role has Abu-Dhabi Global Markets played in this rise and what strategies are they planning for future growth?

5:30PM Chairperson's closing remarks

5:35PM Networking reception & close of day 1

8:30AM Morning refreshments

9:00AM Chairperson's opening remarks

9:05AM Jordan Aviation prove there is a market for smaller Middle Eastern airlines to succeed

Hear the CEO of Jordan Aviation lay out their strategy for fleet growth and financing, and what it takes to maintain a viable airline operation in one of the world’s toughest operating environments.

9:35AM How can financiers maximise value in the Middle East?

• Amongst historic levels of competition both within the banking world and from lessors, how can lenders stay ahead of the curve?
• Which structures are most prominently in demand for Middle Eastern carriers & lessors?
• Have changes in the regulatory environment impacted lenders’ ability to offer competitive rates on financing?

10:15AM Expanding the investor base for the Aircraft ABS market

• What advantages can Middle Eastern institutional investors find in this market place and how can they utilise them?
• How has the structure of ABS transactions progressed over times and how does this impact both debt and equity investors?
• What are the prospects for new-technology aircraft ABS pools?

10:55AM Morning refreshments & networking break

11:15AM Alternative financing sources and how they've impacted Middle Eastern aviation

• Which capital sources have Middle Eastern carriers & lessors traditionally used to finance deliveries?
• How big is the role of Islamic financing in the region?
• What forecast should we expect for capital markets activity in the Middle East?

11:55AM It’s all about the metal

Aviation remains a relatively niche asset class in the broad spectrum of the transportation sector, and often the technical merits and demerits of the underlying assets can be overlooked by investors. Ranging from widebody distress, engine delivery delays and residual values, hear a panel of experts breakdown the issues you need to understand to stay ahead in the Middle East.

12:35PM Financing North African airlines

• How should investors & lessors weigh up credit and jurisdictional risk for airlines in this region and how can they help ensure positive outcomes?
• Which financial structures make sense for these airlines to utilise?
• Which asset types are in demand in North Africa?

1:15PM Chairperson's closing remarks

1:20PM Close of conference