28 Nov 2025
Acumen Daily Aviation Brief - 28th November 2025
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
ASL Airlines Ireland Transfers Boeing 737 Classic
ASL Airlines Ireland has transferred one of its remaining Boeing 737 Classic freighters to ASL Airlines France, reflecting the group’s steady push toward a more modernised fleet. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-43Q(SF) (MSN 28494), previously operating as EI-STV, has now been re-registered as F-GZTR. The transfer was finalised in Brussels on 27 October, marking another step in ASL Aviation Holdings’ strategy to streamline operations and retire ageing Classic-series freighters across its European network.
Icelandair Upgauges Dublin–Keflavik Capacity
Icelandair has boosted capacity on its Dublin–Keflavik service by deploying Boeing 767-300ERs on select October and November rotations, lifting available seats by around 47% compared with its usual narrowbody operations. The airline operated the widebodies on multiple dates across both months, responding to sustained passenger demand on the route. Three 262-seat, two-class 767-300ERs TF-ISN, TF-ISO, and TF-ISW substituted for Icelandair’s A321LR and 737 MAX 8/9 fleet, marking a notable temporary upgauge for the transatlantic-connecting sector.
Pegasus Airlines Expands Winter Connectivity
Pegasus Airlines is strengthening its European offering for the Winter 2025/26 season with a daily nonstop service between Dublin and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). The route has maintained solid demand since launch and will continue to be operated by the carrier’s modern A320neo and A321neo fleet. These aircraft, seating 186 and 239 passengers respectively, form the backbone of Pegasus’s efficiency strategy, delivering over 20% lower fuel burn and emissions alongside a significantly reduced noise footprint. The winter schedule underscores Pegasus’s commitment to reliable, high-density connectivity between Ireland and Türkiye.
Aircraft Update
ET-BBD Boeing 737-8 Delivered to Ethiopian Airlines
A Boeing 737-8, registered ET-BBD (c/n 66147), has been delivered to Ethiopian Airlines following a ferry routing from Boeing Field to Dublin and onward to Addis Ababa between 18 and 20 November 2025. The aircraft joins the carrier’s expanding 737-8 fleet, supporting Ethiopian’s ongoing narrowbody renewal programme. Its arrival further strengthens the airline’s regional and medium-haul operations with improved fuel efficiency and performance.
HL8741 Delivered to Parata Air
An Airbus A320-216, registered HL8741 (c/n 3978), has been delivered to Parata Air after arriving in Seoul on 7 November 2025. The aircraft, previously operating as 2-IDTJ, now joins the carrier’s growing narrowbody fleet. Its addition supports Parata Air’s plans to expand capacity and enhance regional connectivity with a reliable, fuel-efficient A320 platform.
Global Aviation News
BOC Aviation Finalises A350-900 Lease Deal with EGYPTAIR
BOC Aviation has signed a purchase-and-leaseback agreement with EGYPTAIR for three Airbus A350-900s, marking the start of a new partnership between the lessor and the Egyptian flag carrier. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and delivered from 2025 under a mix of long-term operating and finance leases. BOC Aviation says the addition of the A350 supports EGYPTAIR’s plans to modernise its widebody fleet with more efficient, next-generation aircraft.
Buraq Air Commits to 10 Airbus A320neo Family Jets
Buraq Air, Libya’s first private airline, has signed an MoU for 10 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, marking its debut as an Airbus customer. Announced at the Dubai Airshow, the deal supports the carrier’s fleet-modernisation plans and strengthens its ability to expand regional connectivity. Buraq Air says the A320neo’s efficiency and flexibility will play a key role in growing its core network while also enhancing joint operations and passenger experience alongside its strategic partner, Medsky Airways.
CALC Signs Two-A320ceo Lease Deal with SalamAir for 2026 Delivery
CALC has signed lease agreements with Oman’s low-cost carrier SalamAir for two Airbus A320ceo aircraft, with both jets scheduled to join the fleet in Q2 2026. The aircraft will transition from CALC’s existing PRC fleet, underscoring the lessor’s ability to remarket and redeploy assets efficiently. The deal also strengthens CALC’s presence in the Middle East while giving SalamAir additional capacity as it scales regional operations.
Canada Repeals 10% Luxury Tax on Aircraft and Boats
Canada has scrapped its 10 percent luxury tax on new aircraft and vessels, a move welcomed across the country’s business aviation sector. The government acknowledged the levy had become inefficient, costly to administer, and harmful to industries already navigating economic uncertainty. The repeal, revealed during the Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2025 event, marks a significant shift for operators and manufacturers who had argued the tax discouraged investment and slowed fleet renewal.
Dubai International Uses AI to Boost Capacity and Punctuality
Dubai International Airport says its growing use of AI is delivering major efficiency gains, allowing the hub to “squeeze in” an extra 35 flights per day. AI-driven forecasting and stand-allocation tools have pushed on-time performance to 95 percent up from about 80 percent, while also speeding up aircraft turnarounds. With DXB handling around 1,400 flights daily, the improvements translate into as much as $300,000 in additional daily revenue, underscoring how advanced automation is reshaping operations at the world’s busiest international airport.
Emirates Group Sets Another Half-Year Profit Record
The Emirates Group has reported its strongest ever half-year result, posting a pre-tax profit of AED 12.2 billion (US$3.3 billion) for the first six months of 2025–26. After tax, profit stands at AED 10.6 billion (US$2.9 billion), a 13 percent rise on last year and the Group’s fourth consecutive record for this reporting period. With EBITDA reaching AED 21.1 billion (US$5.7 billion), Emirates credits solid operational performance, strong travel demand, and disciplined cost management for keeping its momentum firmly ahead of last year’s pace.
Etihad Expands Airbus Widebody Fleet with New A330neo, A350-1000 and A350F Orders
Etihad Airways has unveiled a major widebody fleet expansion after placing firm orders for six A330-900s, seven additional A350-1000s, and three A350F freighters. Announced at the Dubai Airshow, the move makes Etihad the newest A330neo customer and further deepens its long-term commitment to the A350 family. Alongside the direct purchases, Etihad also confirmed plans to lease nine more A330-900s from Avolon, positioning the airline for stronger capacity growth across both passenger and cargo operations in the years ahead.
Wizz Air Targets Lower Costs with New CEE Bases
Wizz Air is reshaping its network strategy, expecting noticeable financial gains from FY2027 as it opens new bases across Central and Eastern Europe and completes its exits from Vienna and Abu Dhabi. The upcoming bases in Warsaw Modlin, Bratislava, Tuzla, Podgorica and Yerevan each launching with two aircraft will begin delivering partial cost savings later this year, with stronger efficiencies expected from March onward. The airline says the shift reflects a renewed push toward its core CEE markets, deliberately moving capacity away from higher-cost stations to support more sustainable long-term growth.
Irish Aviation News
Minister Peter Burke Outlines New Tourism Policy at WTM London
Speaking at a reception in the Irish Embassy during World Travel Market 2025, Tourism Minister Peter Burke briefed Irish delegates on the government’s refreshed tourism strategy. He confirmed that Budget 2026 will restore the 9% VAT rate mid-year and introduce the first dedicated enterprise funding package for the sector. Burke also highlighted the need to prepare for a 12% increase in spring and winter seat capacity, supported by additional resources for Tourism Ireland to chase new air routes, extend the visitor season, and elevate Ireland’s culinary tourism through a stronger focus on regional artisan producers.
Joe Gill: How New Aircraft Technology Is Reshaping Airline Strategy
Joe Gill highlights how next-generation narrowbodies like the Airbus A321LR are changing the way airlines design their networks. With long-range capability and far better fuel efficiency, these aircraft let carriers open point-to-point routes that were previously impossible or uneconomical with larger widebodies. Air Canada is already using the A321LR to reach secondary European cities, while Aer Lingus has been deploying the same type to unlock thinner North Atlantic destinations that its A330 fleet couldn’t viably serve.
John Whelan: EU’s €2bn STIP Targets Aviation’s SAF Shortfall
John Whelan outlines why the European Commission’s new €2bn Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) represents a pivotal shift in how the EU intends to tackle aviation’s rising emissions. While the bloc has cut overall emissions by 30% since 1990, aviation has gone in the opposite direction, climbing 29% over the same period a stark contrast that has intensified pressure ahead of COP30.STIP sets out a fast-track roadmap to expand sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, address supply bottlenecks, and accelerate uptake across the sector. Whelan notes that after years of slow progress, the plan is the EU’s most explicit attempt yet to close the SAF gap and push aviation toward meaningful decarbonisation.
Macquarie AirFinance Agrees A350-900 Sale-and-Leaseback with EGYPTAIR
Macquarie AirFinance has finalised a sale-and-leaseback agreement with EGYPTAIR for two Airbus A350-900s, strengthening its long-term partnership with the Egyptian flag carrier. The widebodies will join EGYPTAIR’s growing fleet under operating leases, supporting its ongoing push toward more fuel-efficient, next-generation aircraft. The deal marks another strategic placement for Macquarie’s portfolio and reinforces EGYPTAIR’s commitment to modernising its long-haul operations.
Manchester Fails to Meet Aer Lingus Expectations
Aer Lingus’s Manchester experiment has fallen short of the ambitions originally set when IAG opened a base there, raising questions that date back to the airline’s 2015 takeover. At the time, critics feared key Heathrow slots and transatlantic priorities could shift away from Ireland concerns that resurfaced when Aer Lingus launched US routes from Manchester to New York, Barbados and Orlando.A decade on, the Manchester operation has not delivered the scale or performance IAG envisioned, reinforcing long-standing anxieties about group-level decision-making and the balance between Aer Lingus’s Irish market needs and IAG’s broader network strategy.
Government Approves Creation of Dedicated MetroLink Delivery Body
Ireland’s long-planned MetroLink project has taken a major step forward, with Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien securing Cabinet approval to establish a dedicated statutory delivery body.The new organisation will operate under the Minister’s remit and be solely responsible for delivering MetroLink, reflecting both the scale and national importance of the project. The move aims to streamline governance, tighten accountability, and ensure Ireland’s largest transport investment progresses with clear oversight and focused leadership.
Minister Clarifies Limits on Inspecting Aircraft for Munitions
A Dáil exchange has highlighted Ireland’s restricted powers when it comes to inspecting aircraft suspected of carrying munitions. Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien noted that civil aircraft cannot carry munitions in Irish territory without an exemption, but inspections are only permitted when an aircraft is departing from Ireland and there’s reason to believe it would breach the rules.He added that these powers do not extend to routine checks on overflights, and the Department is continuing to review how such cases can be addressed.
New Temperature-Controlled Freighter Set to Boost Mid-West Jobs
A new “fridge freighter” service from Shannon to Wilmington, North Carolina, is poised to deliver a major economic lift to Ireland’s mid-west. The temperature-controlled Boeing 767 operation is tailored for the life sciences sector, giving regional exporters a direct, specialised cargo link to the US.It’s one of two dedicated freight launches this month, alongside Turkish Airlines’ new A330 freighter service from Dublin to Istanbul. Together, the routes strengthen Ireland’s air-cargo capacity and could support the creation of hundreds of new jobs across the mid-west.
Novus Aviation Capital Places Two A350-900s with Ethiopian Airlines
Novus Aviation Capital has finalised the placement of two Airbus A350-900 aircraft with Ethiopian Airlines during the Dubai Airshow 2025, reinforcing a long-standing partnership between the lessor and Africa’s largest carrier. The signing took place at the Airbus Chalet, marking another coordinated step in Ethiopian’s widebody expansion.Novus Co-CEO Mounir Kuzbari highlighted the airline’s importance as a long-term customer and emphasised the company’s ability to secure modern capacity that aligns with operators’ evolving fleet needs. The deal further strengthens Novus’s position as a key global lessor supporting next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft programmes.
Tweet Picks
@aviator_aero Airbus is studying a potential larger version of its A350 jet family, Christian Scherer, CEO of its commercial planemaking business, said on Monday as Dubai's Emirates ignited a fresh debate about larger and more capable twin-engined jets: Reuters.
@IATA The ambition to mobilize climate finance is commendable, but the means proposed by the Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition—new taxes on passengers, especially those flying premium class—are flawed. These levies don’t directly cut emissions.
@IATA We've signed an MOU with @EASA to explore synergies between the EU Flight Emissions Label & IATA’s EcoHub & CO2 Connect calculator for more accurate & efficient sharing of emissions data to build confidence in sustainability.
@theaircurrent From Dubai: Emirates buys itself a 777-10 feasibility study with airshow mega-order.
Video Picks
India: A Case Study in Air Connectivity Driving Development
This segment explores how India’s rapid expansion in air connectivity has become a catalyst for nationwide economic growth. The video breaks down how new airports, improved regional links, and targeted aviation policies are unlocking access to jobs, tourism, trade, and investment across previously underserved areas. It also highlights India’s push to scale its domestic fleet, modernise infrastructure, and support rising demand across tier-2 and tier-3 cities — offering a clear, data-driven look at how aviation is shaping one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
MRO Podcast: Asia-Pacific Hot Topics — AI, China, Fleet Growth, Slots and USM
This discussion unpacks the major forces currently shaping the Asia-Pacific MRO landscape. The panel dives into how AI is reshaping predictive maintenance, the latest signals from China’s recovering aviation market, and what accelerating fleet growth means for capacity planning across the region. It also looks at mounting slot constraints, rising demand for used serviceable material, and how supply-chain pressures continue to influence turnaround times. The episode gives a sharp, insider view of where opportunities and bottlenecks are emerging for the region’s airlines, lessors, and MRO providers.
Unlocking Hidden Airside Capacity | International Airport Summit 2025 Preview
This preview session takes a clear look at one of the toughest challenges facing major hubs today: how to squeeze more performance out of already-constrained airside infrastructure. The speakers break down practical ways airports can unlock latent capacity through smarter stand allocation, better turnaround coordination, and the use of advanced decision-support tools. They also highlight how data, AI and cross-stakeholder visibility can reduce delays without the need for major new construction. It’s a sharp, operationally focused conversation that sets the stage for deeper discussions at the International Airport Summit 2025.
Acumen’s Take
The briefing underscores how quickly the industry is shifting toward newer, more efficient assets, with airlines and lessors alike using fleet renewal as a lever for cost control and resilience. Capacity strategies are tightening too, from widebody redeployments to AI-driven operational gains at major hubs. At the same time, policymakers are pushing ahead with structural reforms, from tourism frameworks to major transport projects, that will shape future demand patterns. Across all these threads, the message is consistent: disciplined investment, smarter operations and stronger alignment between regulators, airports and operators remain the foundations for sustainable growth heading into 2026.
