Full coverage: Aircraft leasing

Aircraft repair company Ascent Aviation is pursuing money and the right to seize planes in the US courts but the liquidation proceedings of Russian owner GTLK is causing lengthy delays.

Chief executive Jeff Lewis speaks to The Currency about being the “new kid on the block” in the leasing business and where Ireland fits into its plans.

KPMG's latest annual Aviation Leaders Report 2025 takes the pulse of an industry that had its fair share of headwinds, from supply headaches to environmental rules, but it is an industry positive about the future.

Ireland's top dog status in aircraft leasing has so far proved unassailable to competitors in Hong Kong, Singapore and now India. Major legal players in the industry analyse the inputs to this incredible success story and where it might go from here.

The airline recently raised more than $300m from institutional investors to, among other issues, settle disputes with Irish lessors through “amicable negotiations”.

For seven days, the world's biggest aircraft lessors laid out their claims to recover losses on planes beached in Russia due to the war in Ukraine. From sanctions to settlements, the defendants will now argue why cover is being denied.

As global airline profits bounce back near to 2019 levels, KPMG partner Joe O’Mara examines the factors driving this growth and the risks facing the global aviation industry, much of which is headquartered in Dublin.

Last July SMBC Aviation wrote off $1.6 billion as 34 of its jets were marooned in Russia with little hope of recovery. It is now following a well-beaten path to the Irish High Court to pursue its claims against its insurers.

The current tech rout comes after LinkedIn Ireland posted another set of healthy results, prompting its owner Microsoft to extract massive value from the company. Meanwhile, more aircraft lessors are suing their insurers over planes seized by Russia, while separate new High Court proceedings pit major state bodies against international partners.

When European sanctions hit aircraft leasing companies’ Russian contracts, they stood to lose everything. Co-ordinated industry and diplomatic lobbying resulted in their insurers being on the hook instead, new documents reveal.