Willis Lease Finance Corporation Partners with CFM International on Program to Extend Operational Life of CFM56 Engines
Rhea-AI Summary
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) partnered with CFM International to launch an industry-first program to extend the operational life of CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines by restoring core components rather than fully disassembling engines.
The agreement lets WLFC perform shop visits in its own and third-party shops; an initial group of engines has been inducted and WLFC intends to expand participation over time.
Positive
- First commercial lessor partnership with CFM on CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B lifecycle program
- Program extends engine operational life by restoring core components instead of full disassembly
- Ability to perform shop visits in both WLFC-owned and third-party shops
Negative
- No financial terms, expected cost savings, or quantified impact disclosed
- Initial participation limited to an identified group of engines with unspecified scale or timeline
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, WLFC gained 1.10%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
WLFC was up 3.32% with light volume. Several rental/leasing peers like CTOS (+4.25%), HTZ (+5.59%) and VSTS (+4.21%) also rose, but the momentum scanner did not flag a coordinated sector move.
Previous Partnership Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 | Leasing partnership | Positive | +5.8% | Blackstone partnership to deploy over $1B in engine and aircraft assets. |
| Dec 18 | Credit partnership | Positive | -0.2% | Liberty Mutual partnership providing up to $600M to fund WLFC’s credit strategy. |
| Nov 03 | JV credit facility | Positive | -1.8% | WMES joint venture securing new $750M five-year revolving credit facility. |
| Jul 09 | Maintenance partnership | Positive | -0.9% | WASL expanded base maintenance partnership with Jet2.com at Teesside facility. |
| Jan 27 | Maintenance partnership | Positive | -3.9% | Long-term base maintenance agreement between WASL and TUI Airways for 737NG fleet. |
Across the last five partnership-tagged releases, four saw negative next-day moves despite being collaboration or financing announcements, with only one producing a clearly positive reaction.
Recent partnership history for WLFC shows a mix of financing and long-term service deals. A Blackstone engine-leasing partnership to deploy over $1 billion in assets saw a +5.79% reaction, while agreements with Liberty Mutual (up to $600 million) and a $750 million WMES credit facility coincided with small declines. Maintenance partnerships via WASL with Jet2.com and TUI Airways also saw modest negative moves. Today’s OEM collaboration on CFM56 life extension fits this pattern of strategic partnerships.
Historical Comparison
Partnership-tagged news has averaged a -0.19% move over 5 events, so today’s +3.32% reaction to the CFM56 life-extension deal stands out as stronger-than-usual.
Prior partnerships centered on financing and maintenance agreements; today’s news adds a direct OEM collaboration to extend CFM56 engine lifecycles within WLFC’s portfolio.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details an OEM-backed program with CFM International to extend operational life for CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines by restoring core components instead of full teardowns. It builds on WLFC’s pattern of partnerships spanning financing, credit facilities and long-term maintenance. Investors following the story may focus on how many engines are ultimately inducted, the impact on utilization and maintenance economics, and how this complements prior capital partnerships with Blackstone and Liberty Mutual.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Feb. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and a global provider of aviation services, announces the establishment of an industry-first program developed in collaboration with CFM International, (“CFM”) with the goal of extending the operational life of CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines.
The program enables WLFC to keep CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines in service longer by restoring core components rather than fully disassembling the engine. WLFC is the first commercial aircraft engine lessor to partner with the OEM on this type of initiative for CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines, reflecting the Company’s commitment to extending engine lifecycles.
“This program represents a meaningful evolution in how we manage engine assets,” said Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer of Willis Lease Finance Corporation. “By using this program to perform shop visits in our own shops as well as others, we expect to offer our customers a high quality product at a reasonable price.”
“With this agreement, WLFC will benefit from OEM material to service their CFM56 engines,” said Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International. “CFM56 engines have set standards for reliability and time on wing—benefits which this contract will extend well into the future for WLFC’s customers.”
WLFC has identified and inducted an initial group of engines for participation and will seek to grow it across additional assets over time.
About Willis Lease Finance Corporation
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Additionally, through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Willis Aviation Services Limited, and Jet Centre by Willis, the company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are subject to change in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed, either expressly or implicitly, in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and natural disasters; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors, as well as the impact of new or increased tariffs; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
| CONTACT: | Lynn Mailliard Kohler |
| Director, Global Corporate Communications | |
| (415) 328-4798 | |
| lkohler@willislease.com |
FAQ
What did WLFC announce with CFM International on February 9, 2026 regarding CFM56 engines?
How does the WLFC–CFM program keep CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines in service longer?
Will WLFC perform the CFM56 program work in its own shops or use third-party shops?
Has WLFC started using the CFM56 lifecycle program and will it expand across its fleet?
Does the WLFC announcement include financial terms or expected cost savings for shareholders (WLFC)?
