Global air finance summit to assess jet shortages, tariff threat

Industry faces concerns over access to efficient new aircraft as supply chains lack parts, labour

- 

Financiers and lessors who make the global air travel industry tick gathered for an annual meeting in Dublin on Jan 13, buoyed by strong lease rates and relatively stable oil prices but facing uncertainty over jet shortages and trade tensions.

Ireland is home to the worldwide aircraft leasing industry, which controls about half the world's airline fleet, and the Airline Economics gathering provides an early chance each year to monitor economic and trade risks around the globe.

Leasing companies have seen rentals and resale values for jetliners rise, as airlines try to meet new demand at the same time as planemakers are struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

For now, that means good profits for lessors and many airlines, since shortages push up demand and fares. But there are concerns over access to efficient new aircraft as supply chains lack parts and labour. Older second-hand planes have been in strong demand to fill the gap.