Magma Aviation is considering adding medium-size freighters to its wide- and narrow-bodied fleet, the Dublin headquartered air cargo solutions company said in its review of operations in 2024.
The new aircraft would support its existing B747 international flights, and are expected to arrive by the end of 2025.
Magma Aviation set up its global hub in Dublin in 2024. Chief executive, Peter Kerins explained: “We have established our global services here because Dublin is a global aviation hub. This has allowed us to start developing better relationships with leasing companies. Approximately 50% of the world’s aircraft are leased from Ireland. To grow the company’s network, it is essential to strengthen our position here as new, more efficient, long-range aircraft come to market.”
Magma Aviation is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider. It operates a fleet of 221 aircraft worldwide. Its 14,000-strong team also provides a range of aviation services: MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling and associated aviation services.
Last year, Magma Aviation signed a multi-year contract with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) for freighter handling at Liege Airport (LGG). It also added narrow-body aircraft to its fleet to diversify its operational capabilities.
As well as the new global headquarters in Dublin, Magma Aviation opened an additional office in Dubai to strengthen its commercial presence in the East and access new markets, not only in the Middle East but in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and China.
Kerins stated: “2024 was a very exciting and challenging year for the Magma Aviation. We set out on a plan to make the most of the resources we were using. This will continue as we grow, but the one thing we introduced, and which we always keep in mind, is being quick to adapt. Considering the growth of Magma Aviation over the years, I think the strength has been our people. The team in the company are experts in what they do.”
Looking forward to 2025, he expects growth in air cargo demand to moderate form the 11.3% increase seen last year but still remain at around 5.8%. The global market will continue to adapt to significant geopolitical shifts and economic conditions, such as changes in oil prices and global trade dynamics. These factors will influence both demand and capacity planning across the industry.