Lessor SMBC sees travel demand trumping geopolitical challenges

Sumitomo

26/01/2026 13:11

DUBLIN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Air travel demand remains fundamentally strong regardless of challenges the industry cannot ignore such as geopolitical uncertainty, the head of aircraft leasing giant SMBC Aviation Capital said on Monday.

"There are challenges around geopolitics, challenges around the environment. But demand, I think, is fundamentally strong," Peter Barrett told the Airline Economics conference, pointing to economies such as India, Mexico and those in Southeast Asia and Latin America that continue to grow strongly.

 (Reporting by Padraic Halpin
Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

 ((padraic.halpin@thomsonreuters.com; +353 1 500 1504; Reuters Messaging: padraic.halpin.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))