CDB Aviation, a wholly-owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing, delivered a fleet of 15 new Boeing aircraft to U.S.-based United Airlines. The sale and leaseback transaction covered a fleet of two 787-9 Dreamliners and 13 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which were delivered between 2020 and 2021.

“We want to thank members of both the United and CDB Aviation teams who collaborated on structuring and expediently executing this complex transaction during a particularly challenging period for the industry,” Peter Goodman, chief marketing officer for CDB Aviation, said.

The two 787-9s are powered by General Electric GEnx engines and configured in a 257-seat layout with the new Polaris and Premium Plus cabins. The 13 737 MAX 8 aircraft are powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1B engines and feature a total of 166 seats in a two-cabin layout.

“The onset of COVID-19 ushered in the most challenging period in the history of the aviation industry,” Pam Hendry, vice president and treasurer for United Airlines, said. “We are thankful for the partnership we established with CDB Aviation and appreciate their willingness and ability to support United in a meaningful way during this global pandemic.”

“This mandate demonstrated our evolved platform’s robust capabilities and scale as well as our highly competitive position among global lessors,” Patrick Hannigan, CEO of CDB Aviation, said. “Our commercial team remains focused on identifying ways to deliver wide-ranging and innovative solutions to top-tier airlines, such as United, as they navigate their pathways through the air travel sector’s nascent recovery and position their fleets for post-pandemic realities, with operating economics and sustainability top of mind.”