AAV News in Brief 1 October 2026

FACC expands plant in in Croatia: With the opening of its plant expansion in Jakovlje, Croatia, FACC is further expanding its international manufacturing network, thereby increasing manufacturing capacity to meet the strong growth of the aviation industry in the coming years. A total of EUR 36 million was invested in the facility. The international aviation industry is preparing for significantly higher production rates: 18,700 firm aircraft orders and a near doubling of the global fleet from 23,210 to 45,550 aircraft by 2045 underscore the high demand in the global market. As a partner to all major manufacturers, FACC is therefore continuing to expand its production capacity: With the opening this Monday of the plant expansion in Croatia – representing an investment of EUR 36 million – the production area at the Jakovlje site has tripled. The site has already grown to over 500 employees, making it FACC’s largest production site outside of Austria. “In 2022, we announced that we would significantly expand our production area and capacity at our site in Croatia and grow our workforce from 160 to over 500 employees. We’ve delivered—and we’re far from done,” said FACC CEO Robert Machtlinger. RECARO Aircraft Seating opens expanded production facility in Poland: RECARO Aircraft Seating Polska officially opened its expanded production and office facility in Świebodzin, Poland. The double-digit, million Euro space2grow investment more than doubles the site’s total area from approximately 10,550 square meters to more than 22,000 square meters and increases annual production capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 passenger seats. The expansion adds approximately 8,600 square meters for production, logistics, and cut2dress operations, bringing the combined area for these functions to around 18,000 square meters. This change allows for an increase in production lines from four to eight, providing additional capacity to support growing customer demand. To improve ergonomics and operational efficiency, the new production setup is designed around a linear product flow. Additionally, the assembly and logistics areas have been separated to enhance workplace safety and optimize material flow. Warehouse operations will be further enhanced with dedicated storage areas and automated storage and picking technology, planned for implementation by the end of 2027. In addition, the expansion adds approximately 3,000 square meters of modern office space, which will more than double the working space to almost 5,000 square meters. New office and social spaces include open office areas, conference rooms, a canteen, and employee facilities designed to support a modern working environment and strengthen collaboration across the site. Avolon sells 33 aircraft to Lesha Bank: Avolon and Lesha Bank announced an agreement for the sale and purchase of a portfolio of 33 aircraft. The transaction comprises a diversified portfolio of commercial aircraft on lease to 25 airlines globally. The transaction represents a significant milestone in the development of the relationship between Avolon and Lesha Bank. It also demonstrates the depth of institutional capital seeking exposure to leased aircraft and the continued strength of demand for high-quality aviation assets. Following completion, the portfolio will be managed by Lesha Aviation Services, bringing the Bank’s total managed fleet to more than 75 aircraft. Andy Cronin, Chief Executive Officer of Avolon, said: “We are pleased to partner with Lesha Bank on this significant transaction. Aircraft trading is a core part of Avolon’s strategy, enabling us to actively manage our portfolio, realise value and recycle capital. This agreement reflects the continued strength of investor demand for aviation assets and the scale and capabilities of Avolon’s global platform.” Mohammed Ismail Al Emadi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Lesha Bank, said: “This acquisition reflects the disciplined approach we have taken to building scale in aviation leasing. Adding a portfolio of this calibre, with established lessees and a strong technology mix, reinforces the resilience and long-term earnings profile we are targeting across our Shari’a-compliant aviation portfolio. Managed through Lesha Aviation Services, we expect this portfolio to deliver stable, diversified returns for years to come.” EirTrade Aviation achieves AFRA Diamond Certification for its disassembly facility in Knock: EirTrade Aviation’s expanding airframe and engine disassembly facility in Knock, Ireland West Airport, has been certified to ‘KPI-Diamond’ status by AFRA (Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association).  This accreditation recognises the application of best management practices in accordance with AFRA’s standards and was introduced with the intention of it being an elite level of competence based on the high quality of data gathered. Steven Trowell, Senior Vice President – Maintenance & Disassembly at EirTrade Aviation, explains that in the aviation industry it is essential to have the right approvals and certifications to instil confidence in customers.  “At the Diamond standard, data is gathered for each asset, so it doesn’t matter if it is one engine or 20 aircraft, the level of detail and monitoring is the same.  It’s a team effort.” EirTrade’s disassembly and line maintenance facility is expanding rapidly, with the company seeing an exponential increase in the number of aircraft and engines coming in for redelivery following the maturity of a lease and teardown.  This has coincided with several initiatives focused on training and recruitment.  Trowell is responsible for building an expert team and empowering them with the knowledge and qualifications to deliver efficient turnaround times. CDB Aviation delivers first of four Boeing 737-8 aircraft to Norwegian: CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing (CDB Leasing), announced the delivery of the first of four Boeing 737-8 aircraft to Norwegian, signifying the lessor’s first aircraft on lease to the carrier. The four aircraft are part of the lease agreements executed between the companies in December 2024. “We are pleased to deliver our first 737-8 on lease to Norwegian, which will support the airline’s growing modern, fuel-efficient fleet,” said Gavan Daly, Head of Commercial EMEA at CDB Aviation. “These aircraft further advance Norwegian’s fleet modernisation efforts, focused on enhancing the carrier’s operational efficiency, environmental performance, and financial flexibility.” “We are pleased to mark the delivery of our first Boeing 737-8 with CDB Aviation. This represents another important step forward in our ongoing fleet renewal. We highly value our new partnership with CDB Aviation as we continue to strengthen Norwegian for the future,” said Geir Karlsen, Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]