BDO Ireland has formed a new Aviation Advisory unit to expand its services to the global aviation finance and aircraft leasing sectors. The move comes as Ireland-based lessors, which manage more than half of the world's leased commercial aircraft fleet, face growing regulatory, capital markets and technological complexity.

BDO Ireland is headquartered in Dublin and operates as part of the BDO International network. Following its July 2026 merger with BDO UK to form BDO LLP, the combined firm reported revenue of approximately 1.2 billion euros and employs around 8,500 people, including roughly 550 partners across the UK and Ireland.

The new practice is led by partner and head of Aviation Advisory Stan Barnes, alongside Donal Boylan and Gerry Power. The team brings more than 100 years of combined senior executive experience in aviation finance, aircraft leasing, asset management and aviation technology.

Ireland is a major centre for the global aircraft leasing industry, with nine of the world's ten largest aviation lessors maintaining a presence in the country. Irish-based lessors manage more than half of the global leased commercial aircraft fleet.

The firm said the sector is facing increasing complexity as companies contend with evolving regulation, changing capital markets, technological change and greater scrutiny of risk, asset performance and long-term value.

The unit will advise lessors, airlines, investors, financial institutions and other aviation businesses on strategic, financial, operational and technology-related issues, with services spanning complex aircraft and portfolio transactions, operational transformation, asset lifecycle management, risk and governance, technology transformation and regulatory requirements.

BDO said the practice will combine specialist aviation expertise with the wider capabilities of its Irish business, providing clients with a more integrated approach to complex industry challenges, with a focus on helping aviation companies manage risk, strengthen decision-making and protect the long-term value of aircraft assets.

For the sector, the launch reflects growing demand for specialist advisory support as aviation finance and leasing navigate a period of sustained regulatory and technological change.

Source: AviTrader / BDO Ireland / International Accounting Bulletin