Boeing hosts its fourth annual Middle East financiers conference

This year's location for the week-long program was Cairo, Egypt, where high-level executives were provided with a detailed overview of the underlying dynamics and key decision drivers of today's airline marketplace.

Participants included about 30 senior-level financiers from 17 institutions including Waha Leasing, Abu Dhabi Investment Company, Banque Misr Egypt, Novus, RBS, Barclays and HSBC among others.

Led by experts from the manufacturer's financing unit, Boeing Capital Corporation (BCC), the sessions featured presentations by Boeing Commercial Airplanes executives on the current market outlook, airplane performance and economics, and other issues. A combination of formal presentations and interactive discussions allowed participants to gain the maximum amount of essential information in a short time.

As the reputation of Boeing's airline planning conference has spread, it has become increasingly attractive to senior-level financiers who for reasons of time or travel find it hard to attend similar company events in Seattle and elsewhere. The current global economic turmoil had added even greater need among the region's financiers for timely and objective market data.

"In assembling a group of financiers with the stature of those who joined us in Cairo, our objective was to share information and perspectives on market conditions that are unique to us, and available only as a result of our objective role as a manufacturer and not as a competing bank or financial institution,"

said John Matthews, BCC managing director for Middle East and Africa.

At a time when aircraft financiers worldwide are struggling with impacts to their business, the opportunity to attend the conference was particularly welcome.

"In today's environment, it is important for financiers to be aware of the fundamental principles of aircraft valuation, the factors influencing residual values, the competitive characteristics differentiating one aircraft type over another, and the strategies behind the various airline business models. These are only a few of the topics addressed during the conference," said Spiro Farougias, Marketing Director, Waha Leasing.

"It is a well organized event and an excellent opportunity to network with other aviation finance professionals. Attendance is essential for all financiers entering the aviation market as well as those who are veterans in the industry."