IBGAA Widens Membership as it Meets for Fourth Annual Conference
/Building on a positive year for business aviation, characterized by new and used business aircraft committed to the Irish registry*, a strong showing of chartered jets and helicopters arriving for the Irish Open and the landmark decision keeping Dublin Airport (EIDW) exempt from the commercial passenger cap - the Irish Business & General Aviation Association (IBGAA) meets in upbeat mood.
Returning to the magnificent K Club, County Kildare, and supported by the Irish Aviation Authority, IBGAA has announced plans to create a new Irish Aviation Diaspora Association within the Association. "Open to companies all over the world with connections to Ireland, this is a smart and engaging way to grow the fledgling national association, which currently embraces 30 members," commented Josh Stewart, IBGAA Chair.
"The organization is excited to officially launch the Irish aviation diaspora and unlock the immense power of the global Irish community. This potential 70 million-strong diaspora is a national asset and the IAD will bring the global Irish aviation community together to spotlight international companies doing business in Ireland through third-party affiliates, associations even company directors with Irish heritage," he added.
Ireland, with its renowned legacy in aircraft leasing, is also playing a big part in progressing next-generation aviation. As part of its strategy to obtain wider recognition, IBGAA will become the latest national European business aviation association to partner with the NBAA's CLIMBING.FAST industry advocacy initiative. IBGAA is also planning, for the first time, to take a country pavilion presence at the AEROFriedrichshafen Show, Germany next April, within its dedicated and expanded business aviation hall.
Wider OEM Participation at Fourth Annual Conference
This week IBGAA is pleased to bring a varied agenda to its 2025 annual conference, moderated once again by the masterful Oisin Lunny. The event commenced with an evening reception hosted by Weston Airport on the evening of November 12. Cirrus Aircraft brought along a Cirrus Vision Jet. IBGAA is especially delighted to welcome more OEMs to Ireland this year. Joining Gulfstream Aerospace, which has loyally supported IBGAA since the outset, are Airbus Corporate Jets; Dassault and Textron, including Bell Helicopters.
Topics on the agenda include:
Honeywell Aerospace's Chris Bigwood, aka 'The WiFi Guy,' leading a session on Are You Future Proofed for Staying Connected?
In a session titled Future of Flight, Gulfstream's Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Smitha Hariharan joins 4Air's Chief Operating Officer Nancy Bsales, to explore the challenges and opportunities in shaping a more sustainable future. Their conversation will balance ambition with realism, legacy with transformation, as Ireland and global leaders chart a course toward cleaner skies.
Have I got news for you? is a new session this year. Moderated by Jetcraft Sales Director Colin Dunne, who closely follows the market, he'll be joined by leading aviation writers and commentators Aviation Week's Daniel Williams, Aviation International News' Kelly Lynch; EVA Editor Paul Eden and bizav communications specialist Alison Chambers at Emerald Media. They'll discuss what stories grabbed their attention this year and their significance into the future.
The National Business Aviation Association and IBAC will lead the returning Global Perspectives from International Associations panel, while the regular business aviation in Ireland slot will include a session on preparedness for the Ryder Cup (coming to Ireland in 2028) and advancing collaboration and skill-sharing between Ireland and Saudi Arabia. Ty Murphy, editor of The Family Office magazine on what a Family Office needs to be aware of in contemplating aircraft ownership. A panel session on Pre-owned Aircraft will be moderated by Daniel Cheung, Principal, Aviation Tax Consultants with Johnny Foster, OGARA JETS; Simon Davies, Global Jet Capital, Paul Doherty, ACASS and Mary Preudhomme, Air Docs.
The conference will also hear from Tom Lyons, author of Aer Dogs and how a small team of Irish trailblazers made low-cost air travel available to billions of people across Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America.
"Putting on a conference like this isn't possible without the backing of sponsors and the organization is most grateful to its regular and new sponsors this year," commented Josh Stewart. Their commitment is testament to the enormous success the past three conferences have delivered.
IBGAA 2025 is being held at The K Club, a luxury golf hotel, 40 minutes by car from Dublin Airport and a 15-minute drive to Weston Airport (EIWT), Ireland's only dedicated general and business aviation airport.
*Flexjet Group and StellAer of Ireland are adding business aircraft on to the Irish registry, along with a cluster of recently delivered privately owned jets.