Irish Stock Exchange initiative could be a flyer

“Build it and they will come” is a mantra that could apply to an initiative by the Irish Stock Exchange this week.

With the support of Boeing it has set out its ambition to become a more significant player in the fast moving aircraft leasing industry. Its statement coincides with two major air finance conferences being held in Dublin that brings together over 1,000 delegates from airlines, lessors and bankers.

A couple of years ago Enterprise Ireland asked a group of aviation lawyers, aviation financiers, lessors and other state agencies including the IDA to get together and brainstorm about how the aviation industry here could be fortified and expanded. One of the ideas that stemmed from that forum (on which I sit) was to encourage the Irish Stock Exchange to more actively promote its abilities to support the funding of the aircraft leasing sector. The response was enthusiastic.