30 May 2025
#5 May 2025: Irish Aircraft Leasing Newsletter
ACIA Completes First ATR72-600 Delivery to Emerald Airlines
ACIA Aero Leasing has announced the delivery of the first of two ATR72-600 passenger aircraft, configured with a 72-seat layout, to Emerald Airlines on lease. As the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional services, Emerald Airlines will expand its fleet to a total of 20 ATR72-600s with the addition of these two aircraft.
ACIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mick Mooney, stated, “We are continuing to strengthen our customer footprint and are delighted to welcome Emerald Airlines as a new lessee for ACIA. Emerald Airlines has grown steadily over the last few years, and we are proud to add them to the ACIA family.”
AviLease Expands Fleet with Boeing 737 MAX Order
AviLease has announced its first direct order for Boeing aircraft, consisting of a firm purchase of 20 737-8 aircraft with options for an additional 10. This single-aisle order supports the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to position the country as a global aviation hub. The new aircraft will help support the target of serving 330 million passengers and attracting 150 million visitors annually by 2030.
AviLease CEO Edward O’Byrne said, “We are pleased to conclude our first direct Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) order, complementing our growth strategy towards being at the top of the industry. Building on our recently achieved investment grade ratings, this transaction proves our ability to transact across all market channels... These new aircraft will accelerate our growth and enable us to deliver the industry’s latest generation, fuel–efficient fleet solutions.”
BeauTech Acquires Four E175 Aircraft on Lease to LOT
BeauTech Power Systems has successfully acquired four Embraer E175 aircraft (MSNs 17000125, 17000132, 17000134, and 17000136), which are managed by Altavair and continue to be leased to LOT Polish Airlines. The acquisition strengthens BeauTech’s position in the aircraft leasing sector, particularly within the Embraer E-Jet family.
BeauTech SVP – Head of Global Acquisitions, Stefanie Jung, said, “This transaction represents a continued development in BeauTech’s platform evolution. While our roots are in mid to end-of-life asset management (in particular, engines), the acquisition of leased aircraft demonstrates our ability to access high-quality assets through flexible structures involving in-service aircraft.”
SMBC Aviation Capital Reports $1.2 Billion Profit Before Tax for FY25
SMBC Aviation Capital announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2025, reporting a record profit before tax of $563 million, up 22% year-on-year before exceptional items. Core lease rental income rose to $2 billion, driven by the integration of higher-yielding aircraft.
CFO Aisling Kenny stated, “During the year, we continued to capitalise on positive demand dynamics... signing $4 billion of new leasing agreements. We also achieved further cash settlements in our Russian insurance litigation. This success is the direct result of our long-term strategy to build a leading, in-demand portfolio of scale... coupled with significant balance sheet strength.”
Acumen’s Take
On ACIA’s ATR72-600 Delivery to Emerald
This transaction reinforces the continued strength of regional turboprops in short-haul markets and highlights the value of fleet commonality for regional operators. The expansion to 20 ATR72-600s reflects Emerald Airlines’ steady network development and operational efficiency strategy.
On AviLease’s Boeing 737 MAX Order
The order marks a milestone in AviLease’s growth strategy and indicates increasing confidence among newer lessors to engage directly with OEMs. The deal also reflects Saudi Arabia’s state-backed push to scale its aviation ecosystem through newer, fuel-efficient narrowbodies.
On BeauTech’s E175 Acquisition
This acquisition showcases BeauTech’s evolving platform strategy, from engine-focused asset management to more integrated aircraft leasing plays. Retaining leases in place enables immediate cash flows and positions BeauTech favourably within the E-Jet secondary market.
On SMBC Aviation Capital’s FY25 Performance
The strong PBT figures and portfolio yield improvement underline SMBC’s disciplined investment approach and operational execution. Its ability to secure new leases and recover assets from distressed jurisdictions points to its robust risk management and global reach.
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