Aquila Air Capital’s office in Fort Worth. [Photos: Aquila Air Capital]

Irish-based specialty finance platform Aquila Air Capital announced it has opened a new U.S. office in Fort Worth, calling the city “a rising player in the global aviation industry.”

Aquila is a leading engine lessor backed by funds managed by New York-based global alternative asset manager Wafra. Its announcement came against the backdrop of the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Americas conference, Aquila said, noting that Fort Worth was recently designated as the “Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas.”

“Fort Worth’s rising profile as a leading hub for the global aviation and aerospace industry is the principal reason we chose to locate our U.S. office in this area, where we can continue our growth as a leading full-service engine leasing platform,” Al Wood, Aquila Air Capital’s CEO, said in a statement.

The company’s new office is in The Crescent Offices, a new development in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. It will enable Aquila to grow its operations as part of the city’s vibrant and innovative business hub, while playing an integral part in strengthening the region’s aviation sector, Aquila said.

Aquila noted that North Texas is home to major aviation investors, lessors, operators, as well as engineering and MRO companies in the aerospace industry, including Lockheed Martin, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Embraer, Gulfstream Aerospace, and MTU Aero Engines.

The company said that Fort Worth’s transformation into a major business destination has fueled the growth of the region’s aviation cluster, expanding Texas’ footprint in the industry.

“With Aquila joining other leading aviation-focused businesses, Fort Worth is the right place to accelerate our platform’s expansion and continue successfully serving our global customer base,” Gary Lew, Aquila Air Capital’s CFO, said in a statement.

Founded in 2021, Aquila Air Capital provides aviation asset financing, as well as purchasing and leasing aircraft and engines.

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