Q: Highly favourable tax environment

Ireland enables tax-efficient cross-border lease structures , supported by one of the most attractive tax regimes globally for aircraft leasing companies. Low corporate tax rate (12.5%) on trading income Capital allowances for aircraft, allowing lessors to depreciate aircraft for tax purposes and reduce taxable income Extensive double taxation treaties (+70 currently in effect), helping to minimise or eliminate withholding taxes on lease rentals and prevent double taxation of lease income across jurisdictions VAT efficiency for aircraft operated in international commercial service, often resulting in 0% VAT on aircraft imports when structured correctly Section 110 regime, allowing special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to structure asset-backed financing efficiently

Q: Strong legal and regulatory framework for asset protection

Ireland helps reduce jurisdictional and repossession risk through a strong legal and regulatory framework for high-value, mobile aircraft assets. A well-established common-law legal system, familiar to global financiers Full adoption and implementation of the Cape Town Convention, strengthening lessor repossession rights and security interests in aircraft Courts and regulators experienced in complex aviation finance transactions

Q: Deep aviation finance expertise and ecosystem

Ireland’s concentrated aviation finance ecosystem lowers transaction costs and increases execution speed — critical in a competitive leasing market. Headquarters or major operations of leading lessors such as AerCap, Avolon and SMBC Aviation Capital A deep talent pool across aviation finance, legal and technical disciplines, supported by local universities offering specialised courses such as the MSc in Aviation Finance Global professional services firms, such as BDO, with dedicated expert aviation advisory teams in Dublin supporting lessors and investors Strong links with global banks, capital markets and aircraft manufacturers

Q: Efficient access to global capital markets

Ireland provides efficient access to global capital markets , helping leasing companies minimise funding friction in a highly leveraged, capital-intensive sector. Gateway to Europe status as an EU member, with access to European markets and regulatory frameworks while maintaining strong transatlantic links A preferred domicile for aircraft ABS, bank lending and capital-markets funding Familiarity among global investors, proven track records of Irish leasing platforms, and bankruptcy-remote SPV structures

Q: Political stability and pro-business policy

Ireland offers reduced country risk through long-term political stability and a consistent pro-business policy environment. Long-term political stability Consistent government support for aviation finance Predictable regulatory and tax policy, critical for assets with 20–25 year lives

Q: First-mover advantage and network effects

Ireland benefits from strong network effects that reinforce its position as the leading jurisdiction for aircraft leasing . Ireland’s involvement dates back to the 1970s, when Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA), founded by Tony Ryan, established innovative leasing models Once major lessors established themselves, network effects took hold Airlines, banks, insurers and advisers now expect large leasing transactions to be structured through Ireland This reinforces Ireland’s dominance and makes relocation unattractive for established lessors

Question 1

Highly favourable tax environment

Accepted Answer

Ireland enables tax-efficient cross-border lease structures, supported by one of the most attractive tax regimes globally for aircraft leasing companies.

Low corporate tax rate (12.5%) on trading income
Capital allowances for aircraft, allowing lessors to depreciate aircraft for tax purposes and reduce taxable income
Extensive double taxation treaties (+70 currently in effect), helping to minimise or eliminate withholding taxes on lease rentals and prevent double taxation of lease income across jurisdictions
VAT efficiency for aircraft operated in international commercial service, often resulting in 0% VAT on aircraft imports when structured correctly
Section 110 regime, allowing special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to structure asset-backed financing efficiently

Question 2

Strong legal and regulatory framework for asset protection

Accepted Answer

Ireland helps reduce jurisdictional and repossession risk through a strong legal and regulatory framework for high-value, mobile aircraft assets.

A well-established common-law legal system, familiar to global financiers
Full adoption and implementation of the Cape Town Convention, strengthening lessor repossession rights and security interests in aircraft
Courts and regulators experienced in complex aviation finance transactions

Question 3

Deep aviation finance expertise and ecosystem

Accepted Answer

Ireland’s concentrated aviation finance ecosystem lowers transaction costs and increases execution speed — critical in a competitive leasing market.

Headquarters or major operations of leading lessors such as AerCap, Avolon and SMBC Aviation Capital
A deep talent pool across aviation finance, legal and technical disciplines, supported by local universities offering specialised courses such as the MSc in Aviation Finance
Global professional services firms, such as BDO, with dedicated expert aviation advisory teams in Dublin supporting lessors and investors
Strong links with global banks, capital markets and aircraft manufacturers

Question 4

Efficient access to global capital markets

Accepted Answer

Ireland provides efficient access to global capital markets, helping leasing companies minimise funding friction in a highly leveraged, capital-intensive sector.

Gateway to Europe status as an EU member, with access to European markets and regulatory frameworks while maintaining strong transatlantic links
A preferred domicile for aircraft ABS, bank lending and capital-markets funding
Familiarity among global investors, proven track records of Irish leasing platforms, and bankruptcy-remote SPV structures

Question 5

Political stability and pro-business policy

Accepted Answer

Ireland offers reduced country risk through long-term political stability and a consistent pro-business policy environment.

Long-term political stability
Consistent government support for aviation finance
Predictable regulatory and tax policy, critical for assets with 20–25 year lives

Question 6

First-mover advantage and network effects

Accepted Answer

Ireland benefits from strong network effects that reinforce its position as the leading jurisdiction for aircraft leasing.

Ireland’s involvement dates back to the 1970s, when Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA), founded by Tony Ryan, established innovative leasing models
Once major lessors established themselves, network effects took hold
Airlines, banks, insurers and advisers now expect large leasing transactions to be structured through Ireland
This reinforces Ireland’s dominance and makes relocation unattractive for established lessors

Ireland: the global hub for aircraft leasing and aviation finance

Why Ireland for aviation leasing?

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