16 Jan 2026
Acumen Daily Aviation Brief - 16th 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:
READ NOW: https://www.acumen.aero/blogs
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
N903SY Boeing 737-91MER Delivered to Sun Country Airlines
A Boeing 737-91MER, registered N903SY (c/n 40070), has been delivered to Sun Country Airlines and arrived at Cecil Airport on 14 December 2025. The aircraft was previously registered as A4O-BK and now joins Sun Country’s narrowbody fleet, supporting the carrier’s capacity requirements across its leisure-focused network as it continues to optimise fleet deployment and utilisation.
N855SY Boeing 737-8KN Delivered to Sun Country Airlines
A Boeing 737-8KN, registered N855SY (c/n 40262), has been delivered to Sun Country Airlines and arrived at Cecil Airport on 12 December 2025. Previously registered as A6-FEJ, the aircraft adds further capacity to Sun Country’s 737NG fleet, supporting the airline’s leisure and charter operations as it continues to strengthen fleet flexibility and operational resilience.
Global Aviation News
FedEx Anticipates MD-11 Aircraft Return in Spring Period
FedEx Corp expects the grounding of its MD-11 freighter fleet to be lifted sometime in the spring, according to CFO John Dietrich, after the aircraft were taken out of service during the peak shipping season. The temporary loss of capacity is expected to cost the company around $175 million but the update came alongside a strong fiscal second-quarter performance, with FedEx exceeding expectations on the back of solid package volumes, improved yields, and continued benefits from its multi-year cost-reduction and streamlining programme.
Finnair to Fly A350 to Melbourne via Bangkok from October 2026
Finnair has confirmed it will launch daily Airbus A350-900 services to Melbourne via Bangkok from October 2026, marking its first entry into the Australian market and providing one-stop connectivity to around 90 European destinations via Helsinki. The new route strengthens links between Australia, Southeast Asia, and Northern Europe, with Finnair highlighting strong opportunities for both leisure and business travel, while Melbourne Airport welcomed the addition as a valuable new daily connection to Europe through Finland’s expanding long-haul network.
FTAI Aviation Announces Launch of FTAI Power
FTAI Aviation has launched FTAI Power, a new platform that adapts surplus CFM56 aircraft engines into power turbines designed to meet fast-growing, AI-driven data centre energy demand. Leveraging its position as one of the world’s largest owners and aftermarket MRO providers of the CFM56, FTAI aims to deliver a flexible, cost-efficient, and scalable power solution, with turbine production targeted to begin in 2026, extending the lifecycle of legacy aviation assets into the energy sector.
IATA: An Assessment of Risks in 2026
The International Air Transport Association has published a qualitative, perception-based assessment outlining the key risks likely to shape the global economic environment in 2026, aimed at raising awareness rather than forecasting outcomes. The analysis maps potential risks by likelihood and potential economic impact, highlighting how geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic uncertainty, policy shifts, and supply chain fragility could influence global growth and, by extension, aviation demand, underscoring the need for industry stakeholders to remain alert, flexible and prepared for a range of downside scenarios.
IBAC Welcomes Saxon Air and Sonoma Aviation as Industry Partners
International Business Aviation Council has welcomed Saxon Air and Sonoma Aviation as new Industry Partners, expanding its partner network to 28 organisations alongside 14 Member Associations supporting its global business aviation mission. The additions bring UK- and US-based expertise into IBAC’s ecosystem, with Saxon Air contributing jet and helicopter charter capabilities alongside a modern flight training programme using EASA-certified electric trainer aircraft, while Sonoma Aviation strengthens IBAC’s North American footprint, reflecting continued engagement from operators across key business aviation markets.
Iberia Expands in Asia with Codeshare Agreement with China Southern Airlines
Iberia has signed a new codeshare agreement with China Southern Airlines, linking their hubs in Madrid and Guangzhou and strengthening connectivity between China, Europe, and Latin America. The partnership is anchored by China Southern’s Guangzhou–Madrid service and allows Iberia customers to access major Chinese cities via Guangzhou, while travellers from China gain onward connections across Spain, Europe, and Iberia’s extensive Latin American network. The agreement reinforces Madrid’s role as a global hub and supports Iberia’s broader Asia strategy, complementing existing services to Doha and Tokyo, while aligning with the airline’s Flight Plan 2030, which includes fleet renewal, digitalisation, and a €6 billion investment programme aimed at expanding long-haul connectivity.
Willis Lease Finance Corporation Establishes Willis Aviation Capital
Willis Lease Finance Corporation has established a new asset management platform, Willis Aviation Capital, focused on managing third-party capital and aviation assets through discretionary funds, marking a strategic expansion beyond balance-sheet investing. The new entity will manage engine and aviation asset portfolios primarily funded by external investors, generating recurring management fees, carried interest, and servicing revenues, while strengthening WLFC’s asset management presence and supporting balance-sheet deleveraging as the company broadens its role across the aviation finance ecosystem.
Wizz Air Acquires TUI Slots to Expand Luton Network
Wizz Air has acquired take-off and landing slots at London Luton Airport from TUI Airways, enabling the launch of six new routes next summer as the carrier deepens its presence in the London market. From mid-June, Wizz Air will add services to Yerevan, Alicante, Lyon, Corfu, Faro, and Turin, expanding its Luton network to 66 destinations and basing an additional Airbus A321neo at the airport, taking the total to 15 aircraft. The expansion includes year-round flights to Lyon and Turin, increased leisure connectivity to Southern Europe, and Luton’s first-ever direct link to Armenia, underlining Wizz Air’s strategy to scale capacity, improve network breadth, and strengthen its position as Luton’s largest operator heading into 2026.
Irish Aviation News
Click&Go Holidays Survey Points to Strong Early 2026 Booking Intent
Click&Go Holidays has released its Q4 Travel Sentiment Survey, showing that 45% of Irish consumers who have yet to book a 2026 holiday plan to do so between January and March, signalling strong early-year demand for travel. The survey, published in late December, also found that holiday prices in 2025 rose by 3% compared with 2024, broadly in line with general inflation. Beyond the peak early booking window, 27% of respondents expect to book between April and June, 13% between July and September, and just 6% in the final quarter of 2026, underlining a clear preference for earlier planning as travellers seek availability and price certainty.
Ireland West Airport Sets Out €30m+ Transformation Programme for 2026–2028
Ireland West Airport has outlined a major Transformation Programme for the 2026–2028 period, with more than €30 million of safety, security, and infrastructure projects planned as part of its long-term modernisation strategy. Following almost €8 million of Department of Transport–supported investment in 2025, recent upgrades have included airfield and aeronautical ground lighting works, electrical infrastructure improvements, sustainability and climate adaptation planning, new emergency and electric ground vehicles, and a covered boarding walkway for departing passengers. The next phase of the programme signals a step-change in scale, reinforcing the airport’s focus on regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and delivering facilities aligned with the future needs of airlines and passengers.
Ryanair Closes 2025 with Widespread Capacity Cuts Across Europe
Ryanair is ending 2025 with broad capacity reductions across its European network, citing rising airport charges and new aviation taxes as key drivers, while carefully protecting scale in its most profitable markets. Although Spanish airports report moderated growth and some anticipated exits have not materialised, with routes such as Dublin–Santander continuing and several Cork services resuming after a six-week pause, the airline has selectively trimmed weaker routes to sharpen margins. The approach reflects Ryanair’s long-standing strategy of absorbing first-quarter losses in anticipation of the peak summer season, a model that underpinned profits of €1.61 billion last year and continues to shape network decisions amid a tougher cost environment.
Ryanair Expands Nuremberg Network with New Rabat Route
Ryanair has expanded its European network by adding a new route from Nuremberg to Rabat, marking the low-cost carrier’s latest push into North Africa and strengthening connectivity between Germany and Morocco. The new service brings Morocco’s capital into Ryanair’s growing leisure and city-break portfolio, reflecting sustained demand for affordable links between secondary European airports and emerging tourism and business destinations, while reinforcing the airline’s strategy of selective network growth focused on high-potential routes.
Ryanair Slows Growth Across Former Yugoslav Markets in 2026
Ryanair is taking a more measured approach to expansion across the former Yugoslav markets in 2026, signalling a shift away from the aggressive growth seen in recent years. After rapidly scaling capacity by capitalising on constraints faced by competitors, the airline is now prioritising consolidation, with summer peak capacity across the region set at around 2.47 million seats, just 2.8% higher year on year. This compares sharply with the 15.7% growth recorded in the same period last summer, suggesting Ryanair is reassessing market maturity and yield dynamics, even as it keeps the option open for selective route additions later in the cycle.
Shannon (EINN) Charter GA Security Update: New IAA Screening Procedures from January 2026
From 1 January 2026, updated security rules introduced by the Irish Aviation Authority have changed how charter general aviation operations are handled at Shannon Airport. While GA operations continue without restriction, the new procedures bring more formalised security screening and adjustments to the U.S. CBP preclearance process, reducing the level of discretion previously associated with charter movements. Operators are being advised to plan well in advance and clearly brief passengers, particularly VIP clients, as the overall airport experience is now more structured and visible than in past years.
Swann Takes Flight with easyJet at Belfast International Airport
South Antrim MP Robin Swann visited easyJet at Belfast International Airport to meet senior management and discuss the airline’s role in maintaining Northern Ireland’s connectivity to key European and international destinations. Discussions focused on route development, local employment, and economic impact, with Swann highlighting easyJet’s contribution to the regional economy, including its direct employment of more than 400 staff at Belfast International Airport.
2025 in Review: The Most-Read Aviation Stories on Flying In Ireland
Flying In Ireland has published its 2025 year-in-review, highlighting the ten stories that most captured the attention of Ireland’s aviation community, reflecting a year shaped by fleet developments, connectivity gains, and moments of national significance. The most-read pieces ranged from the arrival of the Garda Air Support Unit’s Viking 400 in Baldonnel and a high-profile petition to reopen Galway Carnmore Airport, to landmark route launches by Aer Lingus and SkyUp Airlines, the opening of a new Dublin office by Boeing, and key aircraft deliveries involving Ryanair and the Irish Air Corps. Together, the list underscores how operational milestones, regional airport debates and personal stories combined to define the conversation in Irish aviation throughout 2025.
Tweet Picks
@GBPolitcs NEW: Rolls-Royce looking at moving its £1.6 trillion jet engine project and 40,000 of Britain’s top jobs to America.
@hjelnaes CAPA Airline Leader Summit in Lisbon. SAS CEO Anko van der Werff on stage: NPS=Top of mind - Irregularity cost down 50% - SAS=1 of 3 in 2026 (Jan Carlzon ex SAS CEO) said SAS 1 of 5 in 1995. Referering to airline consolidation in Europe. #CAPASummit.
@HofmannAviation Uzbekistan’s Qanot Sharq has become the fifth Airbus A321XLR operator worldwide, having taken delivery of the first of four A321XLR aircraft on Dec. 19.
@Jamie_Freed US Air Force to buy two more 747-8s for presidential fleet support.
Video Picks
Alaska Air Places Record Boeing Order in Global Growth Push
In this video, Alaska Air outlines the strategic rationale behind its record aircraft order with Boeing, framing the deal as a long-term growth move rather than a short-term capacity play. The discussion focuses on fleet simplification, efficiency gains, and how the order supports Alaska Air’s ambitions to strengthen its competitive position and expand its network footprint in an increasingly consolidated global airline market.
Aviation Leaders Series with Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon
In this episode of the Aviation Leaders series, Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon, shares his perspective on where aircraft leasing is heading as the industry navigates supply constraints, shifting airline strategies, and long-term fleet renewal cycles. The conversation touches on capital discipline, lessor–airline partnerships, OEM dynamics, and how scale and balance-sheet strength are shaping competitive advantage in the leasing market.
Eoghan Corry on Morning Ireland – Travel in 2026
In this Morning Ireland segment, Eoghan Corry, editor of Travel Extra, breaks down what travellers can expect in 2026, from airfare trends and route planning to how airlines are shaping schedules amid capacity, cost pressures, and demand shifts. The discussion offers a practical read on booking windows, value pockets, and how evolving airline strategies may influence travel choices for Irish passengers next year, with insights shared on Morning Ireland.
Acumen’s Take
This edition highlights how 2026 is shaping up as a year of selective growth rather than broad-based expansion. Airlines are clearly prioritising yield, fleet flexibility, and capital discipline, whether through measured capacity deployment, creative asset reuse, or deeper partnerships. At the same time, infrastructure constraints, regulatory pressure, and security changes in Ireland are becoming more influential in network and operational decisions. The common thread is pragmatism: airlines, lessors, and airports are adapting to tighter margins and structural limits while positioning themselves for long-term resilience rather than short-term scale.
