# Air Lease Corporation: Steven Udvar-Hazy

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-09-04
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy

## Summary

Steven Udvar-Hazy, founder of Air Lease Corporation, recounts his journey from fleeing communist Hungary to becoming a billionaire in aircraft leasing. He details his early career as a young airline consultant, the failure of his first airline Astro Air, and the pivotal realization that leasing offered more stable returns than operations. Udvar-Hazy explains how he built International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), navigated its acquisition by AIG, and subsequently founded Air Lease Corporation after the 2008 financial crisis impacted his previous venture.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy#t=0) Introduction: Steven Udvar-Hazy and Air Lease Corporation
- [3:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy#t=227) Fleeing Hungary and Early Aviation Obsession
- [15:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy#t=959) Early Consulting and the Pacific Airlines Lesson
- [29:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy#t=1769) The Failure of Astro Air and the Leasing Insight
- [40:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy#t=2438) Building ILFC and the Boeing Bulk Order Strategy
- [50:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy#t=3045) AIG Acquisition and the 2008 Financial Crisis
- [1:00:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-04-air-lease-corporation-steven-udvar-hazy#t=3644) Founding Air Lease Corporation and Philanthropy

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Air Lease Corporation (company)
- International Lease Finance Corporation (company)
- AIG (company)
- Astro Air (company)
- Boeing (company)
- Douglas DC-8 (product)
- Boeing 737 (product)
- Boeing 747-400 (product)
- Pacific Airlines (company)
- Aer Lingus (company)
- Air New Zealand (company)
- Hughes Air West (company)
- Aeromexico (company)
- United California Bank (company)
- Britannia Airways (company)
- North Canada Air (company)
- E.F. Hutton (company)
- Solomon Brothers (company)
- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (company)
- Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (product)

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- [Riley Knox: Leviathan Air, Flying Cargo Ships, and Altering Global Trade | Hard Tech Podcast #21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-07-21-riley-knox-leviathan-air-flying-cargo-ships-and-altering-global-trade-hard-tech) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Lessons from a Recovering Hardware Founder | Bluesmart, ROOM, Kite Compliance | Brian Chen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-06-09-lessons-from-a-recovering-hardware-founder-bluesmart-room-kite-compliance-brian) (TRADEOFFS)

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