Average wage in aircraft leasing sector hits nearly €250k

Throughout last year, the aircraft leasing sector generated income of €27.6bn and incurred expenditure of €22.8bn resulting in a profit of €4.8bn. In 2015, the sector recorded a profit of €3.2bn. File photo: IAA via Getty Images)

The average person working in the aircraft leasing sector in Ireland earns nearly €250,000 a year as the profit recorded by these companies has risen by 50% over the last decade, new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows.

According to the CSO, there were 3,096 people employed in aircraft leasing in 2025 who earned a combined total of €772m. Between 2019 and 2025, the mean average annual full-time earnings of an employee in the sector has risen from €183,000 to €249,000.

In terms of demographic breakdowns, the mean annual earnings per female employed in the industry has increased 38.8% since 2019, growing from €107,000 to €148,000. During the same period, mean annual earnings per male employed in the industry has risen 35.8% from €231,000 to €313,000.

Throughout last year, the aircraft leasing sector generated income of €27.6bn and incurred expenditure of €22.8bn resulting in a profit of €4.8bn. In 2015, the sector recorded a profit of €3.2bn.

The pandemic did impact the sector with profits declining 69% in 2020 to €1.3bn and dropped even further to €1.1bn during 2021.

Companies operating in the sector earn the majority of their income in their primary activity of the operational leasing of aircrafts. This activity has generated an accumulated €216.9bn for the industry during the period 2015 to 2025.

Since 2015, the most important regional sources of operational leasing income have been Asia at 41.1%, followed by Europe at 35.9%.

By country, China has been the most significant source, providing 8.7% of all operational leasing income in 10 years. The next largest country was Ireland at 7.5%, followed by the United States at 7.2%.

The total value of the assets held by these companies increased by 25.2% over the last decade. However, in 2025 total assets decreased by 6.6% year-on-year to €183.5bn. This marks the first decrease in the category since 2020.

In 2015, the industry was financed primarily through loans, accounting for 56.1%, and equity, accounting for 20.9%.

The proportion of loan-financing fell to 48.4% by 2025 while equity financing grew slightly to 22.1%.

Bonds, notes and other funding have increased from a combined 15.2% to 25.8% during the period. The proportion of funding from creditors fell from 7.8% in 2015 to 3.7% in 2025.

Aircraft leasing is a significant business in Ireland, so much so, that it can skew economic indicators such as gross domestic product. That is why when the Central Statistics Office calculates modified gross national income it subtracts the depreciation on two kinds of assets in order to exclude globalisation effects which is intellectual property and leased aircraft.