2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the Cape Town Convention, an international agreement that has played a major role in underpinning the financing, leasing and sale of aircraft objects around the world.
Adopted in 2001 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and UNIDROIT, the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol created a legal framework for the registration and recognition of international interests in aircraft objects, including airframes, aircraft engines and helicopters.
At the heart of this framework is the International Registry of Mobile Assets, a secure electronic system that allows individuals and organisations to register financial interests in aircraft objects. By recording these interests in one global registry, the system helps establish priority between competing interests and provides greater certainty for owners, lenders, lessors, airlines and legal professionals.
This certainty is particularly important in a global industry where aircraft assets can move across jurisdictions and where financing structures often involve multiple parties. By creating a clear, internationally recognised system, the Cape Town framework has helped reduce risk, support access to finance and strengthen confidence in aviation transactions.
Ireland has played an important role. As one of the early supporters of the Cape Town Convention, Ireland has contributed to the development of a system that supports the international aviation finance sector. Aviareto, a joint venture between SITA and the Irish Government, was selected by ICAO to establish and manage the International Registry.
Since its launch in 2006, the Registry has become an important part of the global aviation finance infrastructure. Used by lessors, airlines, banks, corporations, legal firms and private individuals, it provides a trusted electronic record of financial interests in aircraft objects.
The 25th anniversary of the Cape Town Convention is an opportunity to recognise the value of international cooperation, legal certainty and secure digital infrastructure in supporting global aviation finance.
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, the principles behind the Convention remain as relevant as ever: clarity, confidence, transparency and trust.
Aviareto has managed the International Registry of Mobile Assets since 2006, giving effect to this framework in practice.