Aircraft leasing giant AerCap said it added 100 jobs in Shannon and Dublin over the past year as it showed off the latest addition to its 1,300-strong fleet.
The first of nine new Airbus A350 long-haul jets that Aer Lingus will lease arrived at Dublin Airport from the manufacturers in Toulouse yesterday and was welcomed by Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe.
The airline plans to use the new A350, with 42 business-class and 223 economy seats, to expand its long-haul services.
Aer Lingus chief Stephen Kavanagh said the move represents the growth of the Irish aviation business.
He praised what he said had been "policymakers in successive government administrations and the proactive regulators that have enabled Ireland to become the true centre of the global leasing industry".
The new jets will allow his company to "realise the ultimate ambition of continued profitable growth", he added.