Aircraft Leasing Executive Paul Barton Leaves €17.5 Million Estate

Aircraft Leasing Executive Paul Barton Leaves €17.5 Million Estate

Probate records have disclosed that Paul Barton, a distinguished figure in the aircraft leasing industry, left an estate valued at €17.5 million following his death in September last year. Barton, who lived at Waltham Terrace, Blackrock, County Dublin, was the former managing director of GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the world’s largest commercial aircraft leasing and financing company by fleet size. He was instrumental in guiding GECAS through its landmark €25 billion merger with AerCap in 2021, a transaction that established the largest aviation leasing group globally.

Career and Industry Impact

Barton’s career in aircraft leasing began in 1985 with Tony Ryan’s Guinness Peat Aviation. He was also a founding director of Avolon, a major global leasing company. His leadership spanned a period marked by significant transformation and challenges within the sector. Recently, aircraft leasing firms have confronted complex legal and financial difficulties, including multibillion-euro lawsuits related to aircraft stranded in Russia. These disputes have introduced new uncertainties and are poised to reshape market dynamics. Alongside these challenges, evolving market conditions have led to shifts in leasing rates and heightened liquidity demands, particularly concerning new-generation engine leasing.

In response to these pressures, competitors have implemented strategic adjustments. Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), for instance, has begun divesting E-Jets and older aircraft from its portfolio to streamline operations and reduce exposure to market risks. Such measures underscore the broader industry adaptations that Barton’s tenure helped to navigate.

Other Notable Estates

The Probate Office also published details of several other significant estates last week. Josephine Buckley of Annakisha, Mallow, County Cork, who passed away in March 2022, left an estate valued at €5.9 million. Jeremiah Anthony Roynane of Lavally, Mallow, County Cork, died in November 2023, leaving €4.28 million. Julian Deale of Monkstown Road, Dublin, left an estate worth €2.21 million upon his death in May 2024, while Bridie Brady of Mount Prospect Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin, left €2.18 million. Paul Kennedy of Cartown House, Kildimo, County Limerick, who died last November, left an estate valued at €1.89 million.

The reported estate values include all assets such as property and land, and are not confined to cash holdings alone.