Kuehne+Nagel has announced its intention to acquire Eastway Global Forwarding Ltd., an aerospace logistics. The acquisition complements Kuehne+Nagel's aerospace logistics offering and supports its growth ambitions in the fast-developing aerospace industry. 

Eastway, a family-run company based in Limerick, Ireland, operates a logistics network across 130 countries and serves clients in the aerospace sector.

The company offers time critical aircraft-on-ground (AOG) services, aircraft engine logistics, aviation logistics & warehousing, and customs brokerage services. It also provides full lifecycle services for the aviation leasing industry.

The aviation lessor industry owns over 50% of the global aviation fleet and is expected to grow in value from US$187.1 billion in 2024 to 565.1 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 11.8% (CAPA, Global Market Insights).  

"Eastway is a good fit for Kuehne+Nagel. The company brings with it a proven track record of success and a strong customer base," said Yngve Ruud, member of the management board, responsible for Air Logistics. "The acquisition supports our targeted bolt-on acquisition strategy by strengthening our aerospace logistics offering globally and accelerating our growth ambitions in the fast-developing aerospace industry."  

Frank Junior McNamara, managing director of Eastway, added that by partnering with the world's leading logistics company, the company is taking its family-owned business into an exciting new chapter. "Through combining our deep expertise in aerospace logistics with the global reach and capabilities of Kuehne+Nagel, we can extend our footprint and deliver world-class supply chain solutions to clients across the aerospace industry," he said.

The partnership, McNamara added, also creates new opportunities for Eastway to enhance its service offering and explore fresh avenues for growth with our international customer base.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of 2025.

Upon closing, Eastway will become a fully owned subsidiary of Kuehne+Nagel.