The global Airbus fleet is one of the most active in commercial aviation, with the A320 family alone accounting for a dominant share of narrow-body operations worldwide. The Airbus auxiliary power unit is a mission-critical component on every one of those aircraft, and when a unit requires unscheduled removal, the operator's ability to source a serviceable replacement quickly determines how long that aircraft stays on the ground. Choosing the right leasing and exchange partner before an AOG event occurs is one of the most consequential decisions a fleet procurement team can make.
Here are six companies Airbus operators should know in 2026.
1. Aero-Shield Capital
Aero-Shield Capital, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a commercial aviation asset management and trading company specializing in APUs, main engines, and commercial aircraft for global airlines and MROs. Led by Richard Bulanda, a two-time aviation company founder with over 30 years of aftermarket experience, Aero-Shield Capital maintains a diversified inventory of Airbus auxiliary power unit models, including the Pratt & Whitney APS3200 for the A320 family and the APS5000 for the Boeing 787. The company operates with a direct, accountable model, owning and managing assets rather than brokering them, and structures every lease and exchange program around the customer's specific operational and financial priorities.
What sets them apart:
- Direct asset owner, not a broker or intermediary.
- FAA/ASA-100 compliance and full documentation standards on all inventory.
- APS3200 and APS5000 inventory supporting A320 family and wide-body programs.
- Purchase-leaseback programs that unlock capital from existing fleet assets.
- Single point of contact for technical, commercial, and logistics support.
2. GA Telesis
GA Telesis, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is one of the most diversified aviation aftermarket companies in the world. The company's dedicated Power Solutions division manages APU asset trading, leasing, and exchange programs across all Airbus and Boeing platforms, covering both Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney models.
What sets them apart:
- Dedicated Power Solutions team with APU-specific trading and leasing expertise.
- Global inventory across a 19-country operational footprint.
- Same-day exchange capability for urgent Airbus AOG situations.
3. TurbineAero
TurbineAero, based in Chandler, Arizona, is one of the longest-standing APU MRO and leasing companies in commercial aviation. TurbineAero's leasing and exchange programs cover the APS3200 used on the Airbus A320 family, as well as the Honeywell GTCP331-350 fitted to the A330 and A340. The company holds FAA-145 repair station certification and maintains Designated Engineering Representatives on staff, giving it the in-house capability to certify repaired components without outsourcing to third parties.
What sets them apart:
- 45+ years of APU-specific MRO and leasing experience.
- FAA-145 certified with DERs on staff for in-house component approval.
- Covers APS3200 and GTCP331-350 for A320 and A330/A340 fleet support.
4. TAG Aero
TAG Aero, operating under Precision Aviation Group and based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, specializes exclusively in auxiliary power units across buying, selling, leasing, exchange, and MRO services. The company has built a reputation as a high-volume APU trading and leasing operation, reportedly purchasing more APUs than any other independent company in the market. Their MRO platforms cover the GTCP131 series used on the A320neo and the GTCP331 series used on the A330.
What sets them apart:
- Exclusive focus on APUs across the full program spectrum.
- High-volume purchasing model creates strong APU parts and unit availability.
5. Willis Lease Finance Corporation
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC), headquartered in Coconut Creek, Florida, is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: WLFC) independent lessor of commercial aircraft engines and auxiliary power units with over 45 years of operating history. The company leases APUs alongside engines and aircraft to airlines, OEMs, and MROs worldwide. WLFC explicitly covers Airbus A320 family APU programs as part of its broader leasing platform.
What sets them apart:
- 45+ years of commercial aviation engine and APU leasing experience.
- APU leasing integrated with engine and aircraft programs for multi-asset flexibility.
6. Regional One
Regional One, headquartered in Miami, Florida, and a subsidiary of publicly traded Exchange Income Corporation, is a distributor of aircraft, engines, and aftermarket parts serving more than 150 regional and commercial airline operators globally. The company maintains APU inventory across Airbus and Boeing platforms and has built a quality management system accredited to ISO 9001:2015, AS9100-D, and FAA AC 00-56B voluntary distributor accreditation standards, making it one of the more documentation-rigorous options in the independent aftermarket.
What sets them apart:
- ISO 9001:2015, AS9100-D, and FAA AC 00-56B quality accreditation.
- Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA) member with documented supplier audit processes.
How to Choose the Best APU Leasing Partner for Your Airbus Fleet
When evaluating suppliers, Airbus fleet teams should verify the following:
- Inventory specificity: Confirm the supplier holds the exact APU model your aircraft requires, not a related variant, with serviceable status verified at the time of inquiry.
- Documentation completeness: Every unit should arrive with a Certificate of Conformity, non-incident statement, full AD compliance records, and an unbroken trace to the last airline operator or OEM source.
- LLP limiter transparency: Request the current LLP limiter value upfront and verify it meets your minimum acceptance criteria before committing to a lease term.
- Quality system credentials: Confirm the supplier operates under ASA-100 or an equivalent recognized quality management system, with a documented counterfeit parts prevention protocol.
- Single point of contact: A supplier who routes technical and commercial questions through separate departments adds time to every transaction. Confirm you will have one accountable contact from RFQ to delivery.