Ireland’s presence at the Farnborough International Airshow is more than a showcase trip: it is a statement about where the country’s industrial future is heading. In a notable development for business news ireland, Minister of State Alan Dillon is leading an Enterprise Ireland trade mission aimed at turning global aerospace demand into exports, investment and skilled jobs for Irish firms.
The mission highlights a sector that already delivers major economic value. Ireland’s aerospace, aviation and space industries contribute an estimated €4.6 billion to the economy and support about 44,000 full-time jobs. With around 250 companies operating across the sector, including 130 backed by Enterprise Ireland, the delegation arrives at Farnborough with a clear message: Irish companies want a bigger role in global aerospace supply chains.
Farnborough puts Irish capability in the spotlight
The Ireland pavilion is designed to present the country as a strong partner in advanced manufacturing, aerospace engineering, aviation services and next-generation flight technologies. Companies attending include Avtrain, Atlantic Aviation, Euram, Hummingbird, the Emerald Aero Group cluster and Cora Systems.
That matters because Farnborough is one of the industry’s most influential global events, bringing together aircraft makers, suppliers, investors and policymakers. For business news ireland readers, the real significance is commercial: trade missions like this are where supply chain relationships are deepened, export contracts are discussed and future investment conversations begin.
The programme also includes meetings with senior executives from Airbus, Boeing International, Bombardier and Archer Aviation, as well as engagement with companies involved in European Space Agency-linked supply chains.
What Ireland is pitching to the world
- Advanced aerospace manufacturing expertise
- Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services
- Innovation in drones and eVTOL aircraft
- Growing capability in space technologies
- A well-established aviation finance and leasing ecosystem
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Euram expansion brings a concrete jobs boost
The clearest business announcement tied to the mission comes from Euram, the Offaly-based specialist in aircraft engine maintenance, disassembly, repair and overhaul. The company plans to create 45 new high-skilled jobs by 2027 as part of a major expansion programme.
Euram currently employs more than 40 people, so the hiring plan effectively doubles its workforce. The company has already completed a new 20,000 sq. ft. MRO facility, started building an 11,000 sq. ft. warehouse and is planning a further 64,000 sq. ft. expansion.
For regional development, this is especially significant. It strengthens Offaly’s profile as an international aviation services hub while reinforcing a wider theme in business news ireland: high-value industrial growth is no longer limited to Dublin alone.
Why this expansion stands out
- It adds high-skilled jobs in a specialist global market.
- It reflects rising international demand for engine support services.
- It deepens Ireland’s MRO footprint at a time of global aviation recovery and fleet growth.
Ireland’s global edge goes beyond manufacturing
Ireland also enters Farnborough with one of the strongest aircraft leasing positions in the world. Fourteen of the top 15 aircraft lessors are headquartered in Ireland, with Irish-based lessors managing aircraft assets worth around €270 billion. They oversee roughly 9,500 aircraft, equivalent to 69% of the global leased fleet, plus a future order pipeline of more than 2,300 aircraft.
That gives Ireland unusual weight across multiple layers of aviation, from finance to maintenance to manufacturing innovation. It also helps explain why policymakers are pushing to connect Irish engineering and service businesses with prime international contractors.
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What this means for the Irish economy
The wider importance of the Farnborough mission lies in how it fits into Ireland’s long-term industrial strategy. Aerospace is a high-barrier sector that rewards specialist know-how, trusted certification, export readiness and long-term customer relationships. Those are exactly the capabilities Irish firms are trying to scale.
Enterprise Ireland’s goal is not simply visibility. It is to help domestic companies win contracts, form partnerships and expand in markets including the UK, US, Canada, Europe and Morocco. In practical terms, that can mean more regional jobs, stronger export performance and deeper resilience in the wider Irish industrial base.
FAQ
Why is Farnborough important for Irish companies?
It is one of the world’s top aerospace trade events, giving Irish firms direct access to buyers, partners and major manufacturers.
What is the main jobs announcement from the mission?
Euram has announced 45 new high-skilled roles by 2027 as part of a major expansion in Offaly.
How large is Ireland’s aerospace and aviation sector?
Together with space-related activity, the sector contributes about €4.6 billion to the economy and supports roughly 44,000 jobs.
What makes Ireland globally competitive in aviation?
Its strengths include aircraft leasing, MRO services, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies such as drones and eVTOL systems.
Ireland’s Farnborough push shows how industrial policy, exports and innovation can align around a clear opportunity. For business news ireland, the takeaway is simple: aerospace is becoming an even more important growth story, and Irish companies are positioning themselves to capture a larger share of that global market.
