Expand Ireland is home to a thriving ecosystem of 250 aviation and aerospace companies. Pictured, visitors take pictures as the Al Fursan aerobatic team of the UAE Air Force performs during the Dubai Airshow in 2017. Photo: Satish Kumar/Reuters The sun is finally rising again in the world of aviation following an unprecedented spell of turbulence. Mass vaccination programmes and the easing of restrictions mean that people are once again travelling abroad, with pent-up demand reported in both business and leisure travel.
And, while virtual business platforms came into their own during the pandemic, a much-needed return to in-person meetings has resulted in a big increase in air-transit activity.
The pandemic has resulted in huge changes for the industry. Companies and stakeholders are now looking for innovative solutions to substantial challenges in many areas.
With a strong and growing ecosystem that covers virtually every area of the sector, Irish companies can now offer a compelling package of solutions for every challenge faced by global aviation companies.
Ireland has enjoyed a long and proud history in aviation, dating back to when pioneering aviators Alcock and Brown landed in Ireland after the world’s first transatlantic flight. We also introduced the concept of duty free shopping to the world at Shannon Airport in the 1940s.
Most significantly, Ireland’s Guinness Peat Aviation launched the concept of aircraft leasing in the 1970s — today Ireland commands around 60pc of the global leasing market, with more than 50 aircraft leasing companies having a presence in Ireland.
In more recent years, the concept of low-cost flying was pioneered by Ryanair in the 1990s, turning the airline into Europe’s largest by passenger numbers. We have also produced some of the most important people in global aviation today, including Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Airways; Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); and Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair. Business Newsletter
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Today, Ireland is home to a thriving ecosystem of 250 aviation and aerospace companies that spans all aspects of the sector, from maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to simulation training.
These companies have proven their resilience and flexibility by producing solutions to some of the most serious and urgent issues faced by the global aviation industry today.
These include travel tech solutions, such as the world’s first widely adopted mobile health passport, VeriFLY from Daon; technical textiles, such as anti-microbial carpets from aircraft interior […]
