07 Apr 2025
Acumen Daily Aviation Brief - 7th April 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:
- China Aviation Industry Newsletter: Air China signs a major codeshare with Emirates. China Airlines adds an A321neo to its fleet. China Southern unveils new cargo routes to Central Asia and introduces the first A350 freighter.
READ NOW: https://www.acumen.aero/blogs/-1-april-2025-china-aviation-industry-newsletter
- India Aviation Industry Newsletter: IndiGo launches direct flights to Bangkok and Abu Dhabi, and a new Delhi-Almaty route. Air India expands its training infrastructure. Bengaluru Airport hits 37.53 million passenger traffic milestone.
READ NOW: https://www.acumen.aero/blogs/-1-april-2025-india-aviation-newsletter
- Irish Aircraft Leasing Newsletter: DAE finishes six Boeing 737 MAX deliveries to Aeromexico. High Ridge Aviation leases A220s to Breeze Airways. Nordic Aviation Capital sells an E195. Stratos delivers a converted A330 freighter.
READ NOW: https://www.acumen.aero/blogs/-1-april-2025-irish-aircraft-leasing-newsletter
- Irish Commercial Aircraft Update: Covers key aircraft movements in Ireland, including A321 acquisitions by Almasria and deliveries to Turkish Airlines and VivaAerobus. Highlights leasing activity from FitzWalter Aviation and Icelease’s cargo conversion project.
READ NOW: https://www.acumen.aero/blogs/-1-april-2025-irish-commercial-aircraft-update
- North American Aviation Newsletter: Reports Air Lease Corporation’s new SVP & Treasurer. Avelo Airlines expands with 13 new routes. Aviation Capital Group completes 737 MAX deliveries to United Airlines via sale-leaseback.
READ NOW: https://www.acumen.aero/blogs/-1-april-2025-north-american-aviation-newsletter
IrishAero News
Emirates Upgrades Dublin Service with Refurbished 777s
Emirates will begin operating its newly retrofitted Boeing 777s on the Dublin–Dubai route. These aircraft feature the airline’s latest cabin interiors, offering enhanced comfort across all classes and elevating the premium experience on this key long-haul connection.
Acumen’s Take
This deployment highlights Dublin’s growing importance in Emirates’ network. For the leasing market, it reinforces continued investment in premium product upgrades on legacy widebody fleets to meet evolving passenger expectations.
Norwegian Resumes Dublin–Copenhagen Service
Norwegian has relaunched its direct service between Dublin and Copenhagen, restoring a popular link for both business and leisure travel. The route had been suspended during the pandemic but returns with strong forward bookings.
Acumen’s Take
This reinstatement underlines Nordic–Irish connectivity recovery. It’s a welcome development for Irish outbound demand and could encourage further LCC frequency increases on intra-European city pairs.
Widerøe Signs Interline with Emerald on Donegal Route
Widerøe has entered an interline agreement with Emerald Airlines (Aer Lingus Regional), allowing passengers to connect via Dublin to Donegal. The deal offers smoother connectivity between Scandinavia and Ireland’s northwest.
Acumen’s Take
This partnership supports regional route viability and demonstrates the growing role of interline ties in sustaining thin domestic services. It also enhances Donegal’s accessibility to new international markets via Dublin.
Aircraft Update
EI-HPE A321neo Ferried to Haikou by GOAL
Airbus A321-271N (ex-VT-IUA), registered as EI-HPE, was ferried to Haikou on 28th March 2025 by GOAL. The aircraft is expected to join operations in Asia, potentially entering service with a Chinese carrier.
Acumen’s Take
This placement reflects strong A321neo demand in Asia. Its superior range and economics continue to appeal to operators focused on high-density, short- to mid-haul trunk routes.
EI-HUN Embraer 190-E2 Completes Acceptance Flight for Hunnu Air
An E190-E2 (c/n 19020171) performed an acceptance flight on 31st March 2025 in São José for Mongolia’s Hunnu Air. The aircraft marks the airline’s shift to next-generation regional jets.
Acumen’s Take
Hunnu Air’s move into the E2 family signals a strategic upgrade for regional efficiency. The E190-E2 offers lower operating costs and fits well into emerging markets with thinner route demand.
ET-BBC 737 MAX 8 Delivered to Ethiopian Airlines via Dublin
Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of a 737-8 (ET-BBC, c/n 66152) between 21–23 March 2025, routing through Dublin from Boeing Field before arriving in Addis Ababa.
Acumen’s Take
Ethiopian’s ongoing MAX intake supports the carrier’s regional growth and reflects strong OEM-lessor collaboration in Africa. Dublin’s continued use as a delivery stop underscores Ireland’s relevance in global aircraft transitions.
Global Aviation News
Air Canada Bookings Down 10% Amid Drop in U.S.-Bound Travel
Air Canada reports a 10% decline in international bookings, driven largely by reduced outbound travel from Canadians to the United States. The airline attributes the slowdown to cost pressures, weak currency, and shifting travel sentiment.
Acumen’s Take
Transborder softness may force Air Canada to readjust capacity or pricing strategies. For lessors and planners, this highlights the volatility of leisure-driven cross-border demand and its impact on short-haul fleet planning.
Play Europe Secures Maltese AOC for Strategic Expansion
Icelandic LCC Play Europe has received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in Malta, laying the foundation for expanded EU-based operations. The move provides regulatory flexibility and access to intra-EU traffic rights.
Acumen’s Take
This reflects a growing trend of dual-AOC strategies for European LCCs. The Malta base will offer Play greater freedom in network planning, aircraft registration, and wet-lease opportunities across the continent.
Raya Airways Leases Fifth 767-200 Freighter from CAM
Malaysia-based Raya Airways has added its fifth Boeing 767-200BDSF on lease from Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), reinforcing its mid-size freighter operations across Asia-Pacific.
Acumen’s Take
The continued addition of converted 767s underscores the strong role of mid-capacity freighters in regional logistics. It's a solid signal for the P2F (passenger-to-freighter) market and secondary widebody asset values.
TAP Resumes Lisbon–Porto Alegre Flights
TAP Air Portugal has restarted its direct Lisbon–Porto Alegre route, re-establishing a vital link between Europe and southern Brazil. The route had been suspended during the pandemic and returns amid renewed Brazil–EU traffic.
Acumen’s Take
This resumption reflects steady demand in long-haul leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) segments. It also signals confidence in South Atlantic widebody recovery, with implications for aircraft redeployment and route profitability.
Airbus & Boeing Spared in First Round of Trump Tariffs
In a major sigh of relief for the aviation sector, the first wave of tariffs under former President Trump’s renewed trade policy has excluded aircraft and aerospace components—for now.
Acumen’s Take
Avoiding aviation tariffs eases immediate concerns for OEMs, lessors, and transatlantic buyers. However, the sector remains vulnerable to future trade shifts, keeping geopolitical risk on the radar for cross-border fleet deals.
Irish Aviation News
ACIA Aero Leasing Delivers ATR 72-600 to Braathens Sweden
Irish lessor ACIA Aero Leasing has delivered an ATR 72-600 to Braathens Regional Airlines. The turboprop will support Braathens’ regional growth strategy and comes as part of a multi-aircraft leasing agreement.
Acumen’s Take
This delivery underlines Ireland’s continued leadership in turboprop leasing. The ATR 72 remains a strong performer in regional markets, offering operators low operating costs and network flexibility—especially in Scandinavia.
Aer Lingus to Operate Record S25 Schedule with 120 Routes
Aer Lingus is set to operate its largest-ever Summer 2025 schedule, serving 97 airports across 120 routes. The capacity boost includes new transatlantic links and expanded European frequency, capitalising on robust seasonal demand.
Acumen’s Take
This record-breaking programme reflects confidence in leisure and VFR recovery. For lessors and airport stakeholders, Aer Lingus’s expansion presents new placement opportunities and stronger slot utilisation at key hubs.
IAA Publishes Timeline for 2026 Dublin Airport Charges Determination
The Irish Aviation Authority has launched a consultation outlining the timeline and process for determining maximum airport charges at Dublin Airport for 2026. Stakeholders are invited to contribute ahead of formal decisions.
Acumen’s Take
Regulatory clarity on future airport charges is vital for long-term planning. For airlines and infrastructure investors, this consultation is a key checkpoint affecting cost forecasts, route viability, and terminal expansion decisions.
Ryanair Carried 15 Million Passengers in March, Up 10% YoY
Ryanair flew 15.0 million passengers in March 2025—up 10% from March 2024 and a striking 37.6% increase from pre-pandemic levels. The airline also maintained a high load factor, signalling sustained travel demand.
Acumen’s Take
These numbers reaffirm Ryanair’s dominant position in the European market. For the leasing sector, such growth supports continued aircraft deliveries and fleet expansion, especially across MAX and mid-life NG aircraft types.
Tweet Picks
@KaptainPetrovs "By 2030, Akasa will be among 30 largest global airlines by fleet size; may grab 15% India market share in 5-7 years": QP CEO Vinod Dube. 199 ordered 737s + existing fleet of 27 = 226 737s over next 7 years.
@RyanMcAleerbiz EasyJet has announced it will start operating flights from City of Derry Airport to Birmingham from September. It comes after Ryanair stopped operating the route last week. It will take EasyJet to three routes at the airport.
@RyanMcAleerbiz Hot on the heels of EasyJet's announcement, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald confirms public funding to subsidise Loganair's Derry to Heathrow flights until March 31 2027. Stormont's Dept for the Economy and the Dept for Transport in London will jointly provide £4.626m.
@SeanM1997 The UK Transport Secretary has overruled the UK Planning Inspectorate, and has announced that London Luton Airport can expand from 19m annual passengers to 32m annual passengers, including terminal extension, a new terminal, and infrastructure improvements.
Video Picks
Building an Airline with No Experience: The Story of Pádraig Ó Céidigh
This documentary dives into how Pádraig Ó Céidigh, a former schoolteacher, built Aer Arann from the ground up. With no aviation background, he navigated regulatory hurdles, financial pressures, and route development challenges to create one of Ireland’s most notable regional carriers.
Acumen’s Take
Ó Céidigh’s journey underscores the value of entrepreneurial vision in aviation. His story offers timeless lessons on niche route strategy, community engagement, and lean operations—key pillars for any regional airline startup.
Luis Gallego on Heathrow Chaos and Capacity Challenges
IAG CEO Luis Gallego discusses the growing operational bottlenecks at London Heathrow, citing staffing shortages, infrastructure strain, and regulatory inertia as key obstacles. He warns these issues could disrupt peak season travel unless addressed swiftly.
Acumen’s Take
Heathrow’s operational fragility presents real risks to network planning and fleet utilisation. Airlines may begin shifting capacity toward secondary UK airports or accelerating digitalisation to manage flow more efficiently.
Lufthansa Group CEO Unfazed by Geopolitical Tensions
Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Group, expressed confidence that transatlantic travel demand will remain stable despite rising global geopolitical tensions. He cited strong booking trends and resilient business travel interest across the Atlantic corridor.
Acumen’s Take
This reinforces the transatlantic corridor as a core growth engine for European flag carriers. Stability here supports continued widebody leasing, long-haul expansion, and strong JV performance across the North Atlantic.
