Why are so many planes registered in Ireland?

[Mattg]

I've noticed that a lot of airlines that are not based in Ireland (or even Europe) choose to register their planes in Ireland, so they have EI- registrations. For example, ITA Airways, SAS, Aeromexico, Air Astana and MIAT Mongolian Airlines do this. Anyone know why?

 

[elanshin]

I've noticed that a lot of airlines that are not based in Ireland (or even Europe) choose to register their planes in Ireland, so they have EI- registrations. For example, ITA Airways, SAS, Air Astana and MIAT Mongolian Airlines do this. Anyone know why?

Tax haven reasons?

 

[AIRwin]

Do they belong to lessors there?

 

[Himeno]

cost reasons.
avoid some regulation problems.

some reasons lots of ships are registered in Panama

 

[pauly7]

Tax tax tax or lack thereof.

So many of the companies I work with have huge ‘random’ manufacturing operations in Ireland as well, because of the ‘structuring advantages’ it provides. Even with large shipping and logistic costs it still works out cheaper.

 

[levelnine]

Tax tax tax or lack thereof.

So many of the companies I work with have huge ‘random’ manufacturing operations in Ireland as well, because of the ‘structuring advantages’ it provides. Even with large shipping and logistic costs it still works out cheaper.

Not only tax. Plenty of places have lower taxation regimes than Ireland.

It's low tax combined with a robust legal system, which is especially important to lessors as they are often in court suing for repossession of their property. There's currently billions of dollars worth of aircraft sitting in Russia that belongs to lessors. Has produced a huge amount of litigation in the Irish courts.

 

[bashworth]

Approximately 50% of the world’s leased aircraft are managed or leased through Ireland.

A favourable corporate tax regime, double tax treaties, first-rate infrastructure, skilled talent pool and rich aviation heritage, are the main reasons. (summary of a Deloitte Page)

 

[kelvedon]

Yes, it’s a tax haven. In 2016 Apple moved its IP assets to Ireland which represented half of the countries GDP growth for that year.

 

[Mattg]

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I was under the impression that an Irish (or European) registered plane was not allowed to overfly Russia. But MIAT's UBN-FRA flight is doing so. I wonder what the rules are around this?