The ISTAT society, founded in 1983, promotes and provides a forum for improved communication among those involved in aviation and supporting industries who operate, manufacture, maintain, sell, purchase, finance, lease, appraise, insure or otherwise are engaged in activities related to transport category aircraft. Thomas W. Heimsoth, president of ISTAT adds: “we provide a great platform for our significant membership of 1500 representatives from around the world by offering two major global conferences, hosting one of the premiere receptions at the major airshows for our members and guests, as well as our support of the ISTAT Foundation”.

This year’s European ISTAT Conference is being held in Hamburg as one of the world's leading centres for civil aviation (alongside Seattle and Toulouse). In the Hamburg metropolitan area Airbus Deutschland, Lufthansa Technik, Hamburg Airport together with approx. 300 small and medium-sized companies that supply aviation parts employ a total of more than 30,000 people. In addition, Hamburg plays a key role as gateway to the East. Many aviation companies such as Lufthansa Technik have sound business relations with companies in the CIS, India as well as China. Furthermore the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is affiliated with Shanghai, China. But also towards the West, Hamburg is well connected: the United States is Hamburg’s second most important trade partner. With HSH Nordbank, Hamburg has a leading international transportation finance bank.

The conference was opened by Gunter Bonz, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic and Labor Affairs of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg accompanied by August W. Henningsen, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik AG and Peter Rieck, Member of Management Board of HSH Nordbank AG. Further key speakers include Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline of U.A.E., Vladislav Filev, Director General of Siberia Airlines of Russia, Jozsef Varadi, CEO of Wizz Air Group of Hungary and Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO of Jet Airways India.

Senator Gunnar Uldall of the Ministry of Economics of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg said: “We are proud of the excellent global reputation Hamburg enjoys as one of three leading locations of civil aviation. The ISTAT Conference underlines this positive development. Hamburg actively supports the aviation industry and promotes the cooperation of related companies and institutions. Meanwhile we have created an industry network that is performingperfectly. We also offer our service to international companies planning to come to Hamburg". Senator Uldall is also hosting the closing reception in the Hamburg Town Hall on September 13, 2005.

Lufthansa Technik, being one of the largest employers in Hamburg continues on its growth path. “With our new and innovative products, be it for the leasing community or for start-up airlines, we are often pioneers in the marketplace, and we have learned how to react quickly and flexibly to changes in demand,” Henningsen stated. “With Total Asset Support (TAS®), Lufthansa Technik, having a global network of support centers, takes on a key function between the aircraft owner and its current and future operator, that brings considerable advantages to all,” added Peter Huijbers, Key Account Lessors and Banks at Lufthansa Technik. The TAS® program is specially designed to serve two growing groups of aircraft owners: the leasing companies that lease aircraft out to airlines for specified periods, and the banks that finance those leases. Both owner groups attach great importance to ensuring that the leased asset retains its value, and that the process of transferring it from one lessee to another be as flexible as possible with the minimum downtime.

“As a competent partner offering innovative financing and lease solutions to the aviation industry, we are delighted to support this key level event for the aviation industry bringing together decision makers of the aviation industry worldwide,” said Peter Rieck, Member of the Management Board of HSH Nordbank AG responsible for aviation. “For 2005 we project a dynamic uptrend in the transportation segment that will allow us to even further enhance our position in the aviation industry.”

With a portfolio of approx. € 21.7 billion in shipping and transportation at year-end 2004, HSH Nordbank is a leading international transportation bank and number one worldwide in ship finance. As a global provider of specialist finance, HSH Nordbank covers the entire value chain of the transport and logistics industries. In the aviation sector clients are airlines, leasing companies, aircraft and engine manufacturers including the component industry. An innovative range of products, increasingly including leasing and capital-market products for managing interest, exchange-rate and fuel-price risks, complements traditional debt finance. Global presence through its offices in Europe, North America and Asia assures proximity to its clients worldwide.