Aviation leasing, maintenance, repair and operations, as well as technical aviation companies from America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, flew into Dublin for this week’s Airline Economics MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) Global Dublin aviation summit.

Now in its third year, the three-day conference includes talks, events, exhibitions and networking opportunities, as well as keynote speeches and panel discussions on topics ranging from aircraft-lease transitions to MRO life cycle management.

Future impacts

The opening presentation, which gave a market overview of the industry and expected developments in the next two years, drew the biggest crowds as delegates assessed future impacts on the industry.

Speakers from GECAS, MB Aerospace, Ryanair, Aero Norway, Etihad and MRO Global addressed the conference. Solicitor Claire O’Mahony from the Law Society’s Diploma Centre contributed to the aviation training panel presenting on aviation law.

Claire spoke about the role that high-quality education has to play in ensuring the continued success of the industry in Ireland.

World's fleet

Ireland is internationally recognised as the global hub for aviation leasing and finance, with each of the top ten global aircraft lessors enjoying a presence here.

Half of the world’s fleet of leased aircraft is owned, leased, or managed in Ireland. The major industry players have been attracted by Ireland’s stable political regime, membership of the EU, favourable time zone, educated workforce, allied with legal and regulatory advantages.

In addition, the country’s network of over 60 double tax treaties, combined with the absence of withholding tax on aircraft lease rentals and a corporate tax rate of 12.5%, makes Ireland a commercially attractive place to set up and run an aircraft leasing company.

The aviation sector is a huge growth industry and the Diploma Centre’s Certificate in Aviation Leasing and Finance will be offered again in autumn 2019, while its Diploma course will run again in January 2020.