The Firm

A practical understanding of both sides of an aviation transaction.

Metolius Aviation Capital is a discreet, private aviation investment group. Our experience spans more than four decades — as operator, asset manager, lessor and financier — across airline operations, aircraft and engine assets, leasing, cross-border transactions, private credit and structured finance.

Since 1978

Our Aviation Heritage

Metolius Aviation’s roots date to 1978 and the founding of Air Berlin by the Lundgren family. Shane Lundgren joined Air Berlin in 1982, initially as a commercial airline pilot, and subsequently became involved in airline operations and aircraft asset management.

In 1998, Shane joined Irish aviation leasing company Pembroke Capital, expanding his experience into commercial aircraft leasing and aviation finance. These experiences — as an operator, asset manager, lessor and financier — provided the foundation for the creation of Metolius Aviation Capital in 2006.

2006 — Today

The Evolution of MAC

  1. 2006

    Metolius Aviation Capital

    MAC is established to pursue opportunities in commercial aircraft and engine transactions, drawing on decades of airline operating, asset management and aviation finance experience.

  2. 2008

    Aircraft Order Refinancing

    During the global financial crisis, MAC works on the refinancing of a significant commercial aircraft order — developing financing solutions through a period of severe disruption in global credit markets.

  3. 2012

    Strategic Airline Investment

    MAC initiates the transaction that results in Etihad Airways acquiring a 29% interest in Air Berlin, bringing together a European airline and one of the world’s fastest-growing international carriers.

  4. 2012–2017

    Engine Investment

    MAC acquires commercial aircraft engines for lease and eventual teardown — early, direct exposure to engines as sources of high-value components and Used Serviceable Material, not simply operating assets.

  5. 2017

    $500 Million Engine Financing

    MAC places approximately $500 million of financing with GE supporting a portfolio of 20 widebody aircraft engines — connecting specialized aviation assets with institutional sources of capital.

  6. COVID Era

    MENA Engine Financing

    MAC works with a MENA carrier on financing a pool of commercial aircraft engines — asset-based solutions delivered through a period of profound aviation market disruption.

  7. Recent

    Aerospace & Defense Finance

    MAC works to provide financing to German aircraft manufacturer Grob Aircraft, subsequently acquired by defense technology company Helsing — capital solutions where industry knowledge matters as much as financial analysis.

  8. Today

    Turbine Engine Capital

    MAC is a partner in Turbine Engine Capital, a growing aviation services business focused on the acquisition and leasing of commercial aircraft engine stands — infrastructure supporting the global engine market.

Core Competency

Structuring capital around specialized aviation assets

We believe the aerospace industry frequently presents opportunities that require more than conventional financial analysis. Understanding the value of an aircraft, an engine, a component portfolio or an aerospace business requires knowledge of the underlying equipment, operators, maintenance requirements, aftermarket and industry cycle.

MAC combines this aviation knowledge with financial structuring experience to identify opportunities and bring together the appropriate combination of assets, operators and capital.

Mission

Our mission is to connect aviation expertise with capital. We seek opportunities where our understanding of both the asset and the financing allows us to create value that conventional approaches may overlook.