Willis Lease Finance Corporation Signs ConstantThrust® Agreement with Asia Pacific Flag Carrier, Nauru Airlines
Rhea-AI Summary
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) announced a purchase and leaseback with Nauru Airlines for seven CFM56-7B engines, providing ConstantThrust® support for the carrier’s Boeing 737-700/800 fleet for more than six years. The program supplies exchanged, fully serviceable engines and MRO, spare parts, and technical management support. Deal terms are extendable to cover future aircraft deliveries and aim to support Nauru’s growth across the Central and South Pacific.
Positive
- Purchase and leaseback of seven CFM56-7B engines
- Six-plus year ConstantThrust® support commitment
- Program provides seamless engine exchanges at major maintenance intervals
- Spare parts, MRO and technical management bundled under ConstantThrust®
- Deal terms are extendable to accommodate new aircraft deliveries
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
WLFC was down 0.46% while key rental & leasing peers were mixed: CTOS -1.36%, PRG -1.06%, HTZ +3.2%, VSTS +1.95%, RCII 0%, pointing to stock-specific factors rather than a broad sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | Leadership appointment | Positive | +4.3% | Hiring Head of Investor Relations & Capital Markets for Willis Aviation Capital. |
| Jan 20 | Dividend declaration | Positive | -4.3% | Board declared quarterly <b>$0.40</b> per share cash dividend. |
| Jan 06 | New asset manager | Positive | +2.4% | Launch of Willis Aviation Capital to manage third-party aviation asset portfolios. |
| Jan 05 | Leasing partnership | Positive | +5.8% | Strategic engine leasing partnership with Blackstone Credit & Insurance to deploy capital. |
| Dec 23 | Debt financing | Positive | +2.8% | Closing of <b>$392.9M</b> fixed rate notes secured by engine and airframe portfolio. |
Recent corporate and financing announcements have generally seen positive share reactions, with one notable divergence on a dividend declaration.
Over the past months, WLFC has reported several growth-oriented developments. It launched Willis Aviation Capital to manage third-party engine and aviation assets, including a $1 billion Blackstone partnership and an up to $600 million Liberty Mutual strategy, and later detailed a separate engine leasing partnership to deploy over $1 billion. The company also closed $392.9 million of fixed rate notes secured by 47 engines and 2 airframes. A regular $0.40 dividend and the appointment of a new Head of Investor Relations & Capital Markets rounded out this period. Today’s ConstantThrust® deal fits into this broader engine-focused, asset-management expansion.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement adds a new ConstantThrust® purchase and leaseback agreement for 7 CFM56-7B engines with Nauru Airlines, reinforcing WLFC’s focus on long-term engine leasing and service programs. It follows recent milestones including over $1 billion in engine partnerships, an up to $600 million Liberty Mutual mandate, and a $392.9M fixed note financing secured by 47 engines and 2 airframes. Investors may watch for additional ConstantThrust® wins, asset-management mandates, and subsequent SEC filings to gauge execution and capital deployment trends.
Key Terms
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AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Feb. 04, 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, today announced a purchase and leaseback agreement with Nauru Airlines (“Nauru”) for seven CFM56-7B engines. The agreement will provide Nauru with reliable ConstantThrust® support for the airline’s entire modern fleet of CFM56-7B engines powering Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft for six plus years.
Under WLFC’s ConstantThrust® program engines are seamlessly exchanged for fully serviceable replacements as they reach major maintenance intervals. ConstantThrust® leverages WLFC’s global expertise in spare parts provisioning, technical management, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services to ensure uninterrupted operational performance for airlines and lessors worldwide. This program will play a key role in supporting Nauru’s continued growth and its critical role in providing reliable air transportation across the Central and South Pacific region.
“Our partnership with Nauru Airlines underscores the global reach and adaptability of the ConstantThrust® program,” said Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer of WLFC. “Nauru Airlines operates in a uniquely demanding and remote environment as an island country in the Pacific Ocean. We are excited to support their continued growth and leadership in regional aviation with our investment.”
“Working with a global lessor like WLFC will bring us the operational leverage we need,” said Honorable Minister Asterio Appi, Minister for Nauru Air Corporation, Government of Nauru. “We are thrilled to be leveraging the Willis ecosystem.”
The deal terms are extendable to accommodate new aircraft deliveries.
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®, Jet Centre by Willis and Willis Aviation Services Limited, 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 |
FAQ
What did WLFC (NASDAQ: WLFC) announce on February 4, 2026 regarding Nauru Airlines?
How will the ConstantThrust® program announced Feb 4, 2026 affect Nauru Airlines' operations?
What is the duration and scope of WLFC's engine support for Nauru Airlines under the Feb 4, 2026 agreement?
Does the Feb 4, 2026 WLFC deal with Nauru Airlines allow for future fleet expansion or new deliveries?
