Taking Flight from the Liffey: Highlights from Dublin’s Airline Economics Conference 2026

Neither rain nor cold dampened the energy at Dublin’s Airline Economics Conference 2026 last week, which gathered a diverse group of aviation professionals from all corners of the globe.

The annual conference is an important gathering for sector stakeholders, offering valuable insights into the current state and outlook of the aircraft leasing sector. With compelling discussions led by industry leaders, lessors, financiers and manufacturers, this year’s conference revealed key themes around market growth, supply constraints, infrastructure challenges and industry consolidation.

Growth and Recovery in the Aircraft Leasing Sector

The aircraft leasing sector is firmly in recovery mode, outpacing pandemic setbacks as airlines return their focus to expansion and modernisation. As air travel demand returns to and surpasses pre-pandemic levels, the need for commercial aircrafts is rising. Leasing companies are leading the way, with over 50% of the global fleet now on lease, highlighting the sector’s crucial role in facilitating airline growth. Delays in aircraft deliveries from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have further fuelled demand for leased aircraft.

Supply Constraints and Delivery Delays

A dominant theme at this year’s conference was the lack of supply of new aircraft. A range of factors were discussed, from differences in availability between wide-body and narrow-body models to ongoing contrasts between Airbus and Boeing production pipelines. Ongoing supply chain challenges and OEM delays place airlines in a challenging position: growing demand is met with a painfully slow rate of new aircraft deliveries, increasing the gap between supply and demand. This has led to a “favourable market” for lessors, especially those with strong order books and robust capital-raising capabilities.

Infrastructure and Runway Capacity

Alongside supply chain hold-ups, infrastructure limitations, especially runway capacity in Europe, pose another significant challenge. Eurocontrol forecasts that the number of European flights will increase to 12 million by 2031¹. However, existing airport infrastructure and runway capacity are struggling to keep pace, due to limited slot availability and operational hour restrictions.

Industry Consolidation and Investor Appetite

The ongoing consolidation among lessors was also a topic at the conference. The most notable example discussed was the acquisition of Air Lease Corporation by Japan’s Sumitomo and SMBC Aviation Capital, with major asset managers like Apollo and Brookfield². Today, the top 10 lessors own over 40% of leased aircraft, giving them significant advantages: access to capital at lower costs and secure preferential order slots with manufacturers. Returns in the leasing industry remain attractive, continuing to draw interest from private equity and institutional investors.

Geopolitical Risks and Regulation

While optimism dominated around growth and investor enthusiasm, speakers also highlighted the significant risks facing the sector. Geopolitical instability raises concerns over tariffs, sanctions and the risk of aircraft decertification due to political disputes. These risks can have a domino effect, threatening not only lessors and airlines, but also passengers and global supply chains.

The Drive for Sustainability, Technology and Reliability

As airlines seek to refresh their fleets, there is growing emphasis on sustainability and greener aircraft technologies. New generation aircrafts offer substantial improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions reduction. However, panellists discussed concerns regarding the reliability of new technologies and the higher maintenance costs associated with modern engines. In some cases, the carbon footprint of dismantling newer aircraft for engines raised additional questions about the overall environmental impact.

Adapting for the Future

Dublin’s Airline Economics Conference 2026 reaffirmed the resilience and adaptability of the aircraft leasing sector in the face of evolving challenges. As demand for air travel surges and the industry pivots towards fleet modernisation and sustainability, lessors will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting airline growth.

¹ EUROCONTROL Forecast Update 2025-2031 – Spring Update | EUROCONTROL

² CNBC – https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/02/airplane-leasing-air-lease-takeover.html