Willis Lease picks Malaysia for Asia-Pacific engine repair push
Willis Lease Finance will build an engine repair centre in Johor, Malaysia, to tap Asia-Pacific's growing maintenance market.
US aircraft engine lessor Willis Lease Finance Corp is expanding into Asia-Pacific's fast-growing engine maintenance market with a new repair facility in Johor, Malaysia. The Nasdaq-listed company announced plans in late August for its third global engine repair centre, choosing Johor over Singapore, where it already has an office and where rivals like ST Engineering and GE Aerospace operate large maintenance hubs.
Chief Executive Austin Willis said Singapore's crowded market made expansion difficult. "Singapore is a fantastic location, but it's gotten so busy over the past decade that it's hard to find space and a workforce locally," he said, adding that Johor's status as a special economic zone was an additional draw.
The move reflects a broader trend of Western aviation firms seeking footholds in a region where fleet growth is outpacing maintenance infrastructure. Citing Airbus data, Willis said Asia-Pacific off-wing maintenance demand — covering engine work — is projected to rise from $37.1 billion in 2025 to $100 billion by 2044. The region is expected to account for nearly half of all new aircraft deliveries over the next two decades.
The 33,000-square-foot facility will employ over 25 people within two to three years. It will initially handle light maintenance, or "hospital shop" visits, for CFM56 and V2500 engines used on older Airbus and Boeing narrow-bodies, before expanding to newer CFM LEAP and Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. Construction is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2027.
The centre will first serve Willis Lease's own engine portfolio and a recently signed storage and lease agreement with Pratt & Whitney, with third-party airline customers expected later. Willis noted that as supply chain constraints ease, airlines will face choices on ageing engines — either expensive full overhauls costing at least $10 million or cheaper, faster hospital-type visits, a market the company intends to serve. Beyond Malaysia, the firm plans further regional investment through acquiring and leasing more aviation assets.