Willis Lease to Buy 12 Aircraft, 13 Engines in Asset Deal
The transaction strengthens the company’s aftermarket and leasing capabilities across the aviation asset lifecycle.
**Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) agreed to acquire 12 commercial aircraft and 13 aircraft engines** in an asset-purchase transaction designed to expand its portfolio and customer base. The deal, subject to customary closing conditions, does not carry a disclosed value.
The acquisition targets a mix of airframes and engines that Willis Lease said would complement its existing leasing, technical, and aftermarket services. No per-asset pricing or premium to book value was disclosed.
**The transaction is intended to deepen Willis Lease’s ability to support customers throughout the aviation asset lifecycle**. In particular, the deal is expected to bolster the ConstantThrust® engine-based programs that the company offers to lessees and operators. “This transaction provides an opportunity to grow our portfolio as well as customer base,” said Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer of WLFC. “It also strengthens our aircraft leasing business, where we can create additional value through engine-based programs such as ConstantThrust®”.
Willis Lease Finance is a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and a provider of aviation services, including engine maintenance, aircraft disassembly, and aftermarket parts distribution. The company’s asset-management platform has grown through partnerships with institutional investors; in January 2026 it announced a $1 billion engine-leasing joint venture with Blackstone Credit & Insurance.
Consolidation in the aviation aftermarket has seen similar bolt-on asset deals. In October 2024, VSE Corporation acquired Kellstrom Aerospace to expand its engine-aftermarket footprint, and in October 2025 it added Aero 3 to strengthen its wheel-and-brake MRO network. Those transactions, like the Willis Lease deal, were structured as asset purchases rather than corporate takeovers.
The Willis Lease transaction is expected to close after customary conditions are satisfied. No shareholder vote or regulatory approvals beyond standard filings were disclosed.