Willis Lease Finance Corporation operates as a lessor and servicer of commercial aircraft and aircraft engines worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Leasing and Related Operations, and Spare Parts Sales. The Leasing and Related Operations segment engages in acquiring and leasing commercial aircraft, aircraft engines, and other aircraft equipment, as well as the purchase and resale of commercial aircraft engines and other aircraft equipment, and other related businesses. The Spare Parts Sales segment purchases and resells after-market engine parts, whole engines, engine modules, and portable aircraft components. The company also focuses on engine management and consulting business. It serves commercial aircraft operators, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul organizations. As of December 31, 2021, it had a total lease portfolio of 304 engines, 12 aircraft, one marine vessel, and other leased parts and equipment, and with 76 lessees in 40 countries; and managed a total lease portfolio of 475 engines, aircraft, and related equipment for other parties. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Coconut Creek, Florida.
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Here are 1-2 brief analogies to describe Willis Lease Finance (WLFC):
- Ryder for aircraft engines.
- Prologis for aircraft engines.
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Aircraft Engine Operating Leases: Provides short-term and long-term operating leases for commercial aircraft engines to airlines, cargo carriers, and maintenance providers worldwide.
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Aircraft and Aviation Equipment Operating Leases: Offers operating leases for various types of aircraft and other aviation-related equipment.
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Aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Services: Through its subsidiary, provides comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aircraft engines and related components.
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Sale of Aviation Assets: Sells used aircraft engines, aircraft, and serviceable spare parts from its lease portfolio or inventory.
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Willis Lease Finance (symbol: WLFC) sells primarily to other companies.
The company's customer base is diversified across the aviation industry, and no single customer accounted for more than 10% of its total revenues in 2023, 2022, or 2021. Therefore, specific "major" named customer companies are not disclosed.
Willis Lease Finance primarily serves the following categories of companies:
* **Commercial Airlines:** Airlines around the globe that lease aircraft engines, aircraft, and related aviation equipment for their fleet operations.
* **Aircraft Manufacturers:** Companies involved in the production of aircraft.
* **Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities:** Facilities that require engines and other parts for servicing and maintaining aircraft.
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- General Electric (GE)
- RTX Corporation (RTX)
- Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (RR.)
- Safran S. A. (SAF)
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Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Austin C. Willis has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Willis Lease Finance since April 2022 and has been a Director of the company since 2008. Prior to this, he was the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Willis Lease Finance. He founded and was CEO of JT-Power LLC, a privately held aviation parts and leasing company, which was later sold to Willis Aeronautical Services. He also served as the CEO of Aviation Management LLC, an aviation consulting firm. Mr. Willis served as a 'Green Beret' in the 20th Special Forces Group.
Scott B. Flaherty, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Scott B. Flaherty joined Willis Lease Finance in June 2016 and serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. His financial background includes serving as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Colt Defense LLC from May 2009 to March 2016. He was also a Managing Director at Banc of America Securities LLC and an investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston. Earlier in his career, he worked as an Engineer at the Pratt & Whitney division of United Technologies Corporation from 1987 to 1995.
Charles F. Willis, IV, Founder and Executive Chairman
Mr. Charles F. Willis, IV is the founder of Willis Lease Finance Corporation, which was incorporated in 1985. He served as the Chief Executive Officer from 1996 to 2022 and as President until July 2011, assuming the role of Executive Chairman in April 2022. Prior to Willis Lease Finance, he was the President of Charles F. Willis Company, which was the predecessor to Willis Lease Finance and involved in purchasing, financing, and selling large commercial transport aircraft. He also held positions in flight operations, sales, and marketing at Alaska Airlines and was Assistant Vice President of Sales at Seaboard World Airlines.
Brian R. Hole, President
Mr. Brian R. Hole joined Willis Lease Finance in August 2014 and was promoted to President in April 2016. Before joining the company, he was the owner and president of Aviation Opportunity Management LLC, where he provided advice to banks, private equity firms, and alternative investment funds on investments in large commercial aircraft engines. Previously, he served as counsel for Pratt & Whitney and IAE International Aero Engines AG, where he was involved in various aviation business activities.
Dean M. Poulakidas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Mr. Dean M. Poulakidas joined Willis Lease Finance in September 2011. He currently serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. Before his current role, he was Senior Counsel for Willis Lease Finance. Previously, Mr. Poulakidas was Vice President and Corporate Counsel with International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), where he managed various aviation transactions.
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The key risks to Willis Lease Finance (WLFC) primarily revolve around its financial structure, the cyclical nature of the aviation industry, and operational constraints.
- High Leverage and Capital Needs / Interest Rate Risk: Willis Lease Finance operates with substantial debt, making it a capital-intensive business highly susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. The company has significant debt obligations, with reports indicating a high net debt to EBITDA ratio. Rising interest rates directly increase finance costs, which can strain margins and negatively impact profitability, as evidenced by a reported 39% year-over-year jump in finance costs. The company also faces persistent negative free cash flow, necessitating continuous investment and potentially increasing its reliance on debt to fund growth.
- Cyclical Demand / Long-term Demand Changes: While currently benefiting from strong demand for leased engines due to delays in new aircraft deliveries, the aviation industry is inherently cyclical. A downturn in air travel, a decrease in oil prices, or an eventual catch-up by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in new airplane production could lead to reduced demand for WLFC's leasing services. This could result in lower lease rates, decreased utilization of its engine portfolio, and potential asset impairments. Additionally, advancements in engine technology and stricter emissions regulations pose a long-term risk of obsolescence for older engines in the company's portfolio, making them harder to lease or sell.
- Capacity Bottlenecks / Operational Limitations: Despite robust demand for engine maintenance and leasing, Willis Lease Finance has encountered operational bottlenecks, particularly concerning engine test cell capacity. This limitation can hinder the company's ability to fully capitalize on market opportunities and may require significant capital expenditures for facility expansion, such as a new facility in Florida. While the company is actively mitigating these issues, these capacity constraints can impact turnaround times for engine shop visits and limit further growth.
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The advancement and increasing adoption of predictive maintenance and AI-driven engine health monitoring technologies. These technologies, being developed and implemented by engine manufacturers and airlines, aim to significantly improve the predictability of engine maintenance, reduce unscheduled engine removals, and optimize maintenance schedules. If successful, this trend could decrease the overall demand for spare engine leases by reducing the need for a large buffer of readily available spare engines, thereby potentially eroding a part of Willis Lease Finance's core market.
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Willis Lease Finance (WLFC) operates in several addressable markets related to commercial aviation.
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Aircraft Engine Leasing: The global aircraft engine leasing market size was valued at approximately USD 9.79 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow with a CAGR of 4.81% in the forecast period.
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Aircraft Leasing (including full aircraft): The global aircraft leasing market size was estimated at USD 183.13 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach around USD 397.21 billion by 2034, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.05%. Another estimate places the global aircraft leasing market at USD 183.23 billion in 2024, projected to grow to USD 401.67 billion by 2032 with a CAGR of 11.1%. North America held a significant share of this market, valued at over USD 75.08 billion in 2024.
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Aircraft Parts Market: The global aircraft parts market is estimated to be valued at USD 723.81 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 1,060.62 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 5.6%. North America is a dominant region within this market, projected to hold a 35.6% market share in 2025. More specifically, the global aircraft aftermarket parts market size was valued at USD 48.71 billion in 2024 and is projected to increase to USD 93.52 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.0%. Another source indicates the global aircraft aftermarket parts market is projected to grow from USD 27.92 billion in 2024 to USD 56.64 billion by 2035.
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Here are the expected drivers of future revenue growth for Willis Lease Finance (WLFC) over the next 2-3 years:
Expected Drivers of Future Revenue Growth for Willis Lease Finance (WLFC)
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Robust Demand for Lease Engines and Portfolio Expansion: Willis Lease Finance expects continued strong demand for lease engines in the aviation market. The company is actively expanding its lease portfolio through strategic purchases of engines and, to a lesser extent, aircraft. This growth in its core leasing business is a primary driver of revenue.
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Expansion of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Services and Shop Visit Avoidance Strategies: WLFC is enhancing its MRO capabilities and integrated service offerings, including new hangar capacity. This expansion supports airlines seeking "shop visit avoidance strategies" amid rising engine maintenance costs, generating increased revenue from maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.
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Growth in Spare Parts and Equipment Sales: The company has seen significant increases in spare parts and equipment sales. This trend is driven by strong demand for surplus materials as airlines extend the operational lives of their current generation fleets, contributing to overall revenue growth.
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Strategic, Modest Expansion into Aircraft Leasing: While primarily focused on engine leasing, Willis Lease Finance is strategically and modestly expanding its aircraft leasing capabilities. This initiative acts as an add-on to its core engine business, broadening its service offerings and contributing to new revenue streams.
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Deployment of Expanded Capital for Growth Initiatives: Willis Lease Finance has secured and expanded its revolving credit facilities, providing substantial capital. This financial flexibility allows the company to fund its strategic growth initiatives, including further portfolio expansion and development of its service platforms, thereby driving future revenue growth.
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Share Repurchases
- In December 2024, the Board of Directors renewed a common stock repurchase plan, authorizing repurchases of up to $60.0 million of the company's common stock through December 31, 2026.
- As of December 31, 2024, approximately $39.6 million remained available under this repurchase plan.
- No shares were repurchased under the plan during 2023 or 2024.
Share Issuance
- The number of common stock shares outstanding increased from 6,393,323 as of March 12, 2024, to 6,814,154 as of October 31, 2025.
- The company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) allowing employees to purchase common stock through payroll deductions, up to 1,000 shares or $25,000 annually.
Inbound Investments
- Willis Engine Structured Trust VIII (WEST), a subsidiary of WLFC, closed an offering of $596 million in fixed-rate notes on June 18, 2025, which are secured by 62 aircraft engines and two airframes. These proceeds are intended for debt repayment and general corporate purposes, including aircraft acquisitions.
- The joint venture Willis Mitsui & Co. Engine Support Limited (WMES), in which WLFC holds a 50% interest, secured a new $750 million five-year revolving credit facility on October 31, 2025, to support general corporate purposes and strategic growth initiatives.
Outbound Investments
- In February 2025, WLFC announced plans to exercise purchase rights for 30 additional LEAP engines from CFM International to enhance its long-term leasing portfolio.
- During 2024, WLFC acquired nearly $1 billion in engines and aircraft assets.
- In the third quarter of 2025, the company purchased 16 engines and six aircraft, including 12 engines from Air India Express and six Dash-8-400 aircraft, totaling approximately $136.4 million for its lease portfolio.
Capital Expenditures
- WLFC's total owned portfolio expanded to $2.82 billion as of March 31, 2025, and its lease portfolio was $2,888.5 million as of September 30, 2025.
- Capital expenditures decreased by over 50% in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024, although the company continues to have negative free cash flow due to high capital expenditures for new leasing equipment.
- In October 2025, WLFC signed a 250-year lease for an additional 50 acres at Teesside International Airport to expand its aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services capacity.
