At Aer Lingus, our fleet is the single largest capital investment on our balance sheet & the foundation of our growth strategy. We are seeking a highly analytical, commercially astute Fleet Planning & Strategy Specialist to help shape the long-term direction of our aircraft portfolio.

Reporting to the Fleet Planning & Strategy Manager, you will play a central role in evaluating aircraft investments, optimising fleet performance, & supporting board-level decisions across the full aircraft lifecycle — from acquisition and financing through to mid-life optimisation and disposal.

This is a high-impact strategic role with exposure to senior leadership and close collaboration across the International Airlines Group (IAG) network. 

You will contribute to defining & delivering both short-term (0-5 year) and long-term (5-15+ year) fleet strategies across short-haul & long-haul operations. You will develop financial & strategic analysis that informs aircraft acquisitions, disposals, lease structures & major fleet enhancement projects.

This role combines aviation knowledge, financial modelling expertise, commercial judgement & strategic thinking.

Your responsibilities as a Fleet Planning and Strategy Specialist will include:

Fleet Strategy & Planning

• Support the development & continuous refinement of short-term and long-term fleet plans.
• Maintain and enhance fleet planning databases, models & scenario analysis tools.
• Conduct aircraft performance, cost & lifecycle evaluations to support network & growth strategies.
• Analyse fleet age profile, replacement timing, disposal flexibility & ownership mix. 

Financial & Commercial Analysis

• Prepare robust financial models & business cases for aircraft acquisition, financing, modification & disposal.
• Conduct lease versus buy evaluations, residual value assessments & capital structure analysis.
• Support negotiations & commercial assessments relating to operating leases (dry/damp/wet), financing agreements, purchase contracts and lease novations.
• Contribute to Executive Board & IAG-level investment submissions.

 Aircraft Lifecycle & Projects

• Support major fleet modification & upgrade programmes, ensuring on-time and on-budget execution.
• Monitor aircraft-level KPIs including ownership structure, cost performance & strategic flexibility.
• Assist in managing aircraft transitions, lease returns & end-of-life strategies.

Stakeholder & Industry Engagement

• Build & maintain strong relationships with OEMs, lessors, financiers, appraisers & industry stakeholders.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Finance/Treasury, Legal & IAG colleagues to ensure coordinated delivery of fleet initiatives.
• Represent Aer Lingus at relevant industry & supplier events and forums.

Systems & Process Enhancement

• Drive improvements in fleet planning processes, reporting systems & analytical capability.
• Support the adoption of data-driven and AI-enabled solutions to enhance decision-making & efficiency.

• Third-level qualification in Aerospace Engineering, Business, Finance or a related discipline.
• Strong analytical, commercial and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prepare and deliver high-quality executive presentations and briefing materials.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability; proficiency in programming or analytical tools is an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational ability with high attention to detail.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of airline operating environments.
• Fluent English (written and spoken).
• Eligible to live and work in the EU.
• Current unrestricted worldwide passport.
• Ability to pass airport security vetting (including 5-year background check).

Closing Date: 01st March 2026.

At Aer Lingus, we embrace diversity and believe in providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals. We are dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and respectful work environment that values employees' unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected status. If you have any questions or require any accommodations to support you in your application, please contact us at recruit@aerlingus.com.