Steven F. Udvar-Hazy is Founder, Chairman & CEO of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), the worldwide market leader in the leasing and remarketing of advanced technology commercial jet aircraft to airlines around the globe, with a portfolio valued at more than $ 52 billion, consisting of more than 1000 jet aircraft.
Mr. Udvar-Hazy was born in Budapest, Hungary and escaped with his family to Sweden in 1958. He then immigrated to the USA shortly thereafter.
In 1966, while an undergraduate student at UCLA, Mr. Udvar-Hazy formed Airlines Systems Research Consultants, a firm specializing in airline routes, fleet and planning analysis. His first clients included Aer Lingus (Ireland), Mexicana and Air New Zealand.
With a major in Economics and a minor in International Relations, he received a Bachelor's degree from UCLA in 1968. That year he also received his private pilot's license, and continued graduate studies in transportation management and economics. He has been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees including one from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.
In 1973 he formed Interlease Group, Inc. which today is known as International Lease Finance Corporation, the largest customer of Airbus and Boeing.
In 1977 Mr. Udvar-Hazy obtained FAA instrument, multi-engine and commercial pilot ratings, and in 1978 he graduated from American Airlines training academy in Fort Worth, Texas, as a certified jet pilot. In 1980 he graduated from the Stanford University Graduate Business School, Airline Management course. He holds FAA Airline Transport Pilot license and has more than 8,000 hours flying time, including more than 7,000 hours in jets. He has type ratings in Gulfstreams, Learjets, Citations and presently is captain on the Gulfstream V.
ILFC went public in 1983 with $ 220 million in assets and $ 8 million in profit. In 1990, International Lease Finance Corporation was acquired by American International Group, as a wholly owned subsidiary based in Los Angeles, California. Since the acquisition, ILFC has generated a cumulative profit of $ 11 billion for AIG.
Steve Hazy also serves on the Board of Directors of Skywest, Inc., and is on the Board of several foundations, educational institutions and corporations, and is the major donor for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
He, his wife, Chris and their four children reside in Beverly Hills, California.