October 8, 2026
FTAI is buying 27 Boeing 737-700 jets from WestJet, betting older planes keep earning long after airlines retire them.
What happened
FTAI agreed to acquire 27 Boeing 737-700 aircraft from WestJet, the biggest market event of the day among a wave of deals that also touched Andersen, Construction Partners and First Majestic. It was an active session for corporate acquisitions while the broader market slipped, with prices falling even though the trend still reads constructive. First Majestic stock moved 1.2 percent, a bigger swing than 28 percent of its days over three years.
Why it matters
FTAI sits on the lessor side of aviation: it buys planes, then earns rent from airlines and cargo operators that fly them. WestJet is shedding an older fleet it no longer wants, trading owned metal for cash and simpler operations. The bet is that a 737-700 past its prime as a passenger jet still earns years of rent, especially as cargo converters line up for used fuselages. It touches WestJet's balance sheet today and FTAI's for years.
The case against
A 737-700 is an old airframe with thirstier engines and fewer seats than what flies now, so renters may only want it at cheap rates. If fuel costs rise or passenger demand cools, older jets ground first, and FTAI could be left holding planes whose resale value slides faster than the rent comes in.
What settles it
Whether FTAI places these 27 jets with paying lessees, and at what lease rates, in the quarters right after the deal closes.