GainJet Ireland has taken delivery of the first jet in the world to be registered on the new Irish EJ register for corporate and business jets. Administered by the Irish Aviation Authority with the support of International Aviation Services Centre, the registration comes almost 90 years to the day since the first ever Irish aircraft registration, EI-AAA, in October 1928.

Based at Shannon airport, GainJet Ireland was established in August 2015 and secured its AOC in June 2016. It now employs 14 staff under the eye of CEO Ray Mills. The latest aircraft, a managed Lineage 1000, joins the company's fleet of Boeing, Gulfstream, Challenger and Citation jets.

Says Mills: “It's been an amazing year. We started at Shannon with three jets in 2016. We chose Shannon because it is a strategically located European base that connects continents. Moreover, thanks to the growing International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) cluster, Shannon has become a major aviation hub for leasing companies and for Atlantic crossing traffic.

“Shannon is a three-time 'Airport of the Year' winner and we are very proud to be based here. We're grateful to the Irish Aviation Authority which has been so supportive, and to the IASC for its consistent support and promotion of the aviation businesses here. With the delivery of our latest jet, we now operate seven jets. We have plans to take delivery of further jets before the end of the year."

With the EJ register in place, GainJet Ireland can offer fast and efficient in-house aircraft registry solutions for commercial and NCC corporate jets, based on EASA's standards. "I think it's fair to say that very exciting times lie ahead," concludes Mills.

GainJet Ireland operates within Shannon Group's IASC business unit, tasked with building on the well-established aviation cluster at Shannon. IASC MD Patrick Edmond comments: “It is fantastic to see what Gainjet has achieved in such a short time. This is down to its experienced CEO and dedicated team. We in Shannon have a particular focus on the area of business and corporate aviation. This commitment to growth by a leading player such as GainJet is a real vote of confidence in the aviation ecosystem here in Shannon, reaffirming its attractiveness as an ideal location for aerospace and aviation businesses.”