13 Jan 2026
Acumen Daily Aviation Brief - 13th January 2026
Acumen Aviation Newsletters
Acumen Aviation’s newsletters offer deep dives into the most impactful trends and developments across the aviation sector. These resources are crafted to keep you informed about critical industry changes and provide actionable insights:
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IrishAero News
Ryanair Group Takes Delivery of 34 Boeing 737s in 2025
Ryanair Group continued the expansion of its Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 “Gamechanger” fleet through 2025, taking delivery of 34 aircraft during the calendar year and bringing the in-service total to 206 aircraft as of 31 December 2025. The majority of deliveries were allocated to Dublin-based Ryanair DAC, which received 26 aircraft, reinforcing its status as the group’s largest MAX operator. Polish subsidiary Buzz took delivery of seven aircraft, while Ryanair UK received its first 737 MAX 8-200, marking a notable milestone for the London Stansted-based AOC. The deliveries further underline the group’s commitment to fleet modernisation and unit-cost leadership using the high-density MAX platform supplied by Boeing.
LY-BQR Airbus A321-231 Departs Ireland West Airport
An Airbus A321-231, LY-BQR (MSN 0946), has departed Ireland after an extended storage period. Reported by Skyliner Aviation, the aircraft had been stored at Ireland West Airport since 2018 and departed on 22 December 2025, routing via Verona, Italy, to Varna, Bulgaria, for Electra Airways operations. Previously stored in all-white livery with former AnadoluJet titles, the aircraft was re-registered to Maverick Horizon Ltd on 25 August 2025, having earlier operated as 9H-SLG.
MIAT Wet-Leases EI-MGL Boeing 787-9 to Gulf Air
MIAT Mongolian Airlines has wet-leased a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, EI-MGL (MSN 60326), to Bahrain-based Gulf Air, which is operating the aircraft in full Gulf Air colours. The aircraft positioned from Ulaanbaatar to Bahrain on 12 December 2025 and entered service on 14 December, operating the daily Bahrain–Manila route as flights GFA154/155. The wet lease supports Gulf Air’s long-haul growth plans, following the airline’s November 2025 order for 15 Boeing 787s, with options for three more, as it continues to expand its widebody network across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Aircraft Update
EI-TEB Airbus A220-300 Delivered to ITA Airways
An Airbus A220-300, registered EI-TEB (c/n 55407), has been delivered to ITA Airways. The aircraft was ferried from Montréal to Rome Fiumicino Airport on 13 December 2025, supporting the airline’s continued A220 fleet induction and short- to medium-haul renewal strategy.
EI-TEC Airbus A220-300 Delivered to ITA Airways
An Airbus A220-300, registered EI-TEC (c/n 55413), has been delivered to ITA Airways. The aircraft was ferried from Montréal to Rome Fiumicino Airport on 13 December 2025, further supporting the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal with next-generation narrowbody aircraft.
EI-TED Airbus A220-300 Delivered to ITA Airways
An Airbus A220-300, registered EI-TED (c/n 55419), has been delivered to ITA Airways. The aircraft was ferried from Montréal to Rome Fiumicino Airport on 05 January 2026, continuing the steady expansion of ITA Airways’ A220 fleet as part of its short- and medium-haul fleet modernisation programme.
Global Aviation News
American Airlines Further Strengthens Its Flagship Hub
American Airlines is strengthening operations at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), its largest hub, where over 30% of daily connecting passengers and checked baggage pass through. The airline is investing millions of dollars to improve infrastructure, processes, and customer facilities, reinforcing DFW’s critical role in network reliability and its strategy of concentrating resources at core hubs to maximise scale and connectivity.
APOC Aviation Acquires CF34-10E Engine for Teardown
APOC Aviation has acquired a CF34-10E engine for teardown, expanding its used serviceable material (USM) offering as demand for quality engine material continues into 2026. The engine, most recently operated by Kenya Airways, will be dismantled in Europe, with parts stored at APOC’s warehouse near Amsterdam Schiphol, extending the company’s engine material base and strengthening its position in the CF34 aftermarket.
Aena Extends Incentives for Regional Airports
Aena has extended its incentive programme aimed at supporting airline operations and traffic growth at regional airports across Spain, reinforcing efforts to stimulate connectivity beyond the country’s main hubs. The move reflects continued focus on route development and regional demand recovery as airlines refine capacity deployment and network strategies in response to evolving market conditions.
Arena Aviation Capital Acquires Ten Airbus A321-200 Aircraft
Arena Aviation Capital has completed the acquisition of a portfolio of ten Airbus A321-200 aircraft, operated by Vietnam Airlines, marking its largest single transaction since launching in 2013. The aircraft were purchased from Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Joint Stock Company (VALC), with the deal highlighting Arena’s ability to execute complex cross-border transactions and strengthen its narrowbody portfolio as it closed out 2025.
Avion Express Brasil Expands Fleet with Second Aircraft
Avion Express Brasil has expanded its fleet to two Airbus A320 family aircraft, with the second aircraft registered in Brazil in December 2025, marking a key milestone as the carrier begins operating its first long-term ACMI contract. The fleet growth strengthens operational capacity and underpins plans to scale to five aircraft in 2026, reflecting rising demand for flexible capacity solutions in Brazil’s growing aviation market.
Avation PLC Delivers ATR 72-600 to SUM Air
Avation PLC has delivered a new ATR 72-600 aircraft to South Korean carrier SUM Air, marking the airline’s first ATR aircraft and Avation’s first customer in South Korea. Delivered on 29 December 2025, the aircraft is placed on a 12-year lease and forms part of Avation’s 2024 order for ten ATR 72-600 aircraft, reinforcing the lessor’s long-term commitment to the regional turboprop market and stable, long-duration lease placements.
British Airways Reportedly Considers Direct Flights to Red Sea Airport
British Airways is reported to be in discussions with Red Sea International Airport regarding the launch of direct flights from London, potentially creating the first non-stop UK connection to the emerging Red Sea destination. Currently, British travellers must route via hubs such as Dubai or Doha, or connect through Jeddah or Riyadh, but growing hotel capacity along Saudi Arabia’s western coastline has reached a scale that may now support direct long-haul services, according to comments from Red Sea Global.
Emirates Reiterates Interest in Berlin Services
Emirates has reiterated its long-standing interest in launching flights to Berlin, a route the carrier has sought to operate since at least 2004. Progress remains constrained by the current bilateral air services agreement between Germany and the United Arab Emirates, under which Emirates has reached its permitted destination limit, despite the airline highlighting Berlin’s strategic importance as Germany’s capital and a market offering strong leisure and corporate demand with onward connectivity via Dubai.
Irish Aviation News
Aer Lingus Announces NS26 Network Additions
Aer Lingus has announced further Northern Summer 2026 (NS26) network expansion, adding five European routes and one new transatlantic service. New services include Cork–Nice (resuming from May 2026), Cork–Santiago de Compostela, and Dublin routes to Asturias, Montpellier (also resuming), and Oslo, all operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. On the long-haul network, Aer Lingus will launch Dublin–Pittsburgh from 25 May 2026 with four weekly A321LR/XLR flights, complementing the previously announced Dublin–Raleigh/Durham service starting in April 2026.
CSO Aviation Statistics Q3 2025
Central Statistics Office Ireland has reported continued growth across Ireland’s main airports in Q3 2025, with 13.1 million passengers handled, up by more than 700,000 year-on-year. In the first nine months of 2025, passenger numbers reached 33.4 million, an increase of 1.5 million compared with the same period in 2024, while flight activity rose by almost 9,000 movements. Dublin Airport accounted for 83% of all flights during the quarter, air freight volumes increased by 8% year-on-year, and seasonally adjusted passenger traffic remained flat between Q2 and Q3 2025, indicating stable demand levels.
Donegal County Council Pledges Continued Tourism Support in 2026
Donegal County Council has confirmed that tourism will remain a key priority in 2026, building on the momentum from the TBEX conference held in Letterkenny in September 2025. The council also highlighted ongoing international promotion by Lonely Planet, while outlining continued support for the camping and campervan sector through stakeholder collaboration, facility funding, pilot signage projects, and a review of existing camping service points across the county.
Dublin Airport Fire and Rescue Service Partners with First Responder Charity
Dublin Airport Fire and Rescue Service has announced a partnership with first responder charity CRITICAL to expand volunteer emergency response coverage across Leinster. The collaboration will see trained DAFRS personnel, including advanced paramedics, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and first responders, volunteering within their local communities to support emergency call-outs, with 20 responders already signed up and a further five expected to join, strengthening rapid response capabilities alongside the National Ambulance Service.
Dublin Handles 69% of Passenger Traffic in 2025
Dublin Airport accounted for an estimated 68.9% of all passenger traffic travelling on and off the island of Ireland in 2025, based on the latest available monthly data. While marginally higher than 68.8% in 2024, the share remains below the 70.1% recorded in 2023 and 69.5% pre-pandemic, as regional airports including Cork, Knock, and Derry are expected to post double-digit passenger growth, reflecting a gradual rebalancing of traffic away from the capital.
Flight Sales and New Routes to Explore in 2026
Eoghan Corry, Editor of Travel Extra, has highlighted emerging flight sales and new airline routes for 2026 in a recent discussion on RTÉ Radio 1. The podcast outlines how airlines are shaping their 2026 schedules, with competitive fares and expanded route options expected as carriers respond to sustained travel demand and evolving passenger preferences.
HRA Purchases A330 P2F from CDB Aviation
High Ridge Aviation has completed the acquisition of an Airbus A330-300 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft (MSN 958) from CDB Aviation, marking the first transaction between the two parties. The aircraft, registered 9H-VDC, is on lease to Mexico-based cargo operator MasAir and represents the first P2F asset in HRA’s portfolio, establishing MasAir as a new customer and signalling HRA’s entry into the widebody freighter segment.
IATA’s Walsh Voices Doubts Over Heathrow Third Runway Timeline
Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, has stated he has “zero confidence” that plans to deliver a third runway at Heathrow Airport by 2035 will be completed on time. Speaking in Geneva, Walsh pointed to the scale and complexity of the project, including extensive tunnelling works, reinforcing long-standing airline concerns around infrastructure delivery timelines and capacity constraints at Europe’s busiest hub.
Ryanair Boss Criticises Taoiseach Over Dublin Airport Passenger Cap Delay
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has criticised Taoiseach Micheál Martin over continued delays in removing the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, despite commitments made in the Programme for Government. While steps were initiated in September to begin drafting legislation to lift the cap, reports indicate the process is facing resistance within the civil service, prompting O’Leary to warn that prolonged inaction risks constraining capacity growth and Ireland’s international connectivity.
Tweet Picks
@FirdausAirways American Airlines ramps up premium upgrades to regain ground on Delta, United.
@FirdausAirways Boeing seeks FAA emissions waiver to sell 35 additional 777F freighters. @FirdausAirways Municipal government entity to take 20% of Shenzhen Airlines under equity financing plan.
@FirdausAirways Passenger Jets Are Japan’s Newest Tool to Track Climate Change.
Video Picks
How the New PIT Terminal Delivers on the Promise of the Renderings
This video examines the completed terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport, assessing how the finished facility compares with its original design renderings. It highlights key architectural features, passenger flow improvements, and the practical execution of design concepts intended to enhance operational efficiency and the overall traveller experience.
Inside SATS – The Airport Logistics Leader Feeding and Moving the World
This video offers an inside view of SATS and its role as a global leader in airport logistics, showcasing how the company supports airlines through ground handling, cargo operations, and inflight catering across major international hubs, while highlighting the scale and coordination required to keep global aviation supply chains moving.
IATA–UPU–ICAO Webinar | Strengthening Global Partnerships
This webinar brings together IATA, UPU, and ICAO to discuss how deeper collaboration between aviation, postal, and regulatory bodies can strengthen global logistics networks. The session focuses on improving resilience, efficiency, and cross-border coordination across air transport, mail, and cargo operations.
Acumen’s Take
This edition highlights how scale, flexibility, and infrastructure discipline are shaping aviation into 2026. Ryanair’s steady MAX deliveries, ITA’s A220 ramp-up, and Aer Lingus’ NS26 expansion all point to airlines doubling down on efficient fleets and focused network growth, while lessors and ACMI operators continue to capitalise on demand for flexible capacity and freighter assets. At the same time, constraints around airport infrastructure, regulation, and bilateral limits remain a recurring theme, reinforcing that growth in 2026 will be as much about execution and policy alignment as it is about aircraft availability.
