EirTrade Aviation expanding Knock facility

EirTrade Aviation has received full planning permission from Mayo County Council to expand its facility at Knock, Ireland West Airport. The proposed project will extend the Company’s existing 2,100sqm site with an additional 10,500sqm facility to expand capacity for its engine and airframe disassembly and EASA Part 145 Line Maintenance services. The development will include an aircraft hangar designed to accommodate one narrowbody aircraft with geometric provisions to perform airframe disassembly and MRO operations, including line maintenance. The facility will also comprise a workshop/crating area, high bay VNA racking, bulk storage and engine storage. Steven Trowell, Senior Vice President – Maintenance & Disassembly at EirTrade Aviation, said of the project: “Following the relocation of our engine disassembly facility to Knock in November 2025, this modern, functional space will consolidate our streamlined and comprehensive service provision at Ireland West Airport. “We are dedicated to providing efficient services to our customers, offering maintenance services, aircraft disassembly, and engine disassembly all at one location. Not only that, but asset management and parts trading and leasing support can also be provided from Knock, owing to the parts inventory we will keep on-site. The expansion of our facility to increase performance capacity is a testament to our commitment to deliver high-quality support to operators, owners, and lessors worldwide.” The proposed facility will not only cater for EirTrade’s specific operation requirements, but will also carefully consider the key constraints regarding airside and runway regulations at Ireland West Airport. There are plans for a high-performing building envelope as well as intentions to incorporate an extensive solar panel installation, allowing the building to exceed sustainability and regulation requirements. The development, which will involve liaison with the IAA throughout, is programmed to start construction in late 2026 and will be managed on behalf of EirTrade by Galway-based multi-disciplinary firm O’Neill O’Malley Architecture & Project Management. Tom Bond, Operations Director at O’Neill O’Malley, said of the Grant of Full Planning Permission, “We have successfully delivered this significant project milestone and are now looking forward to taking this programme forward and overseeing procurement, construction and successful project completion and delivery for EirTrade.” BOC Aviation signs US$2 billion club loan BOC Aviation said it has signed a self-arranged club loan transaction totalling US$2 billion with 19 banks globally. The transaction comprises five-year unsecured term loan facilities of US$1 billion, five-year unsecured committed revolving credit facilities of US$500 million and seven-year unsecured term loan facilities of US$500 million, the first of this tenor signed by the company. DBS Bank Ltd. acted as the Global Coordinator and Documentation Agent with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Singapore Branch, acting as Facility Agent for the transaction. The transaction also saw BOC Aviation adding two new banks to our strong lending group of financial institutions. The proceeds will be used for general working capital purposes, capital expenditure and refinancing of existing debt. “This transaction demonstrates the continued support that we receive from our panel of banking partners, enabling us to extend the term of our unsecured debt transactions at highly competitive pricing. This additional funding further expands the liquidity available to the Company to pursue its growth plans”, said Chan Mui Sin, Head of Treasury, BOC Aviation. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]