Dublin-headquartered aircraft leasing and asset management firm Airborne Capital has announced a series of significant developments, including a new aircraft investment fund and a strategic investment from one of Japan’s largest financial groups. The IFSC-based company confirmed that it has partnered with Japan’s Mercuria Investment Co. to launch a new open-ended aircraft leasing fund, known as MACH OE, with the first funding round successfully completed on 30th April 2026.
The fund has already secured backing from the Development Bank of Japan, which has joined as an anchor investor. With a target size of approximately ¥150 billion (around €850 million–€1 billion), the fund is expected to begin acquiring aircraft assets from the third quarter of this year.
The announcement highlights Dublin’s continuing importance as a global hub for aircraft leasing. Airborne Capital, headquartered at George’s Dock in the IFSC, manages aircraft assets across more than 20 countries and is part of Ireland’s internationally significant aviation finance sector. Aircraft leasing has become increasingly important as airlines worldwide face ongoing supply constraints from manufacturers and continued growth in passenger demand following the Covid-19 recovery. Funds such as MACH OE are designed to invest in aircraft that are then leased to airlines, providing stable long-term returns for investors while helping carriers access much-needed capacity.
In a separate but related development, Daiwa Securities Group, one of Japan’s leading financial services companies, has agreed to acquire a 10% stake in Airborne Capital, with the option to increase its shareholding to 20% in the future. The deal will also see Daiwa nominate a director to the Airborne Capital board, further strengthening ties between the two organisations. The investment builds on an existing partnership between the companies, which has already included the launch of a joint venture in 2025 focused on aircraft leasing products for high-net-worth investors.
