Willis Lease Finance Corporation

Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) leases commercial aircraft jet engines, regional engines, APUs and aircraft, and provides engine maintenance, parts and asset management services. It was founded in 1985 by Charles F. Willis IV, who had the idea of leasing jet engines to commercial airlines, and is headquartered in Coconut Creek, Florida, with offices and operations across the United States, Europe and Asia. The company says it is the largest independent lessor of commercial aircraft jet engines.

Leasing and engine programs

• Engine leases, engine pools and engine financing, sale leasebacks, forward purchases and finance leases
• Engine types from all major manufacturers
• ConstantAccess: on-demand lease access to a worldwide portfolio of engines
• ConstantThrust: replacement of a removed engine with a serviceable engine from WLFC assets, covering the cost and risk of heavy maintenance
• 24/7 AOG support

Parts and engine material

Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. (Willis Aero) provides a parts locator service and a changing inventory of engine and airframe material. The owned and consigned engine fleet includes over one hundred powerplants, from JT8-200 to PW4000, plus CFM56 and CF6 engines. Many of them are in stages of disassembly and parts sales. Airframes include Classic Boeing 737 and A320 aircraft.

Maintenance and repair

• Willis Engine Repair Center: EASA/FAA Part 145 facilities with dual release in Coconut Creek, Florida and Bridgend, Wales
• Maintenance on its owned engine portfolio and third-party assets
• Teesside International Airport, UK: aircraft maintenance, storage, disassembly, and ground and cargo handling, with UK CAA, EASA, TCCA, 2-Reg and Cayman approvals on A320 family and Boeing 737NG aircraft, and A320neo approval listed as coming in 2026
• Jet Centre by Willis at Teesside, an FBO with ground handling for business, private, military and cargo flights

Consulting and logistics

WLFC provides shop visit forecasting and management, aircraft transitions, consultancy, Part 145 on-wing support and fleet management programs. It is a CAA validated Known Consignor, with customs warehousing and inward processing relief procedures.

Company facts

• Founded: 1985
• Management team: the company cites more than 250 years of combined industry experience
• Phone numbers are listed for offices in the USA, Europe and Singapore