Aviation Capital Group, the Newport Beach aircraft lessor with roughly 500 planes in its portfolio, signed long-term lease agreements with Canadian carrier WestJet covering 13 Boeing 737-10 aircraft, the company announced Wednesday, July 15.

The deal reinforces ACG's position as the largest lessor customer for the 737-10, a variant Boeing has not yet certified. CEO and President Thomas Baker said the two companies together have more than 140 of the jets on order.

"ACG and WestJet share a strong commitment to the Boeing 737-10, with over 140 aircraft on order between us," Baker said in a statement. "This makes ACG the leading lessor customer for the type and WestJet one of the largest airline customers."

ACG held firm orders for 50 Boeing 737-10 aircraft as of March 2026, according to its most recent fleet plan. WestJet, Canada's second-largest carrier based in Calgary, has its own firm orders for 60 more of the jets plus options on 25 additional planes.

The lease follows ACG's delivery of two smaller Boeing 737-8 aircraft to WestJet in February 2026.

Newport Beach roots run deep

ACG has been headquartered in Newport Beach since its founding in 1989. The company relocated to new offices at 520 Newport Center Drive in June 2026, a move Baker said reflected the firm's continued growth as the largest full-service aircraft lessor headquartered in the Americas.

The firm, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation, leases planes to about 90 airlines across roughly 50 countries. In January 2026, ACG placed a fresh order for 50 Boeing 737 Max jets (25 Max 8s and 25 Max 10s), bringing its total 737 Max order book to 121 aircraft with delivery positions stretching through 2033, according to FlightGlobal.

Baker said the WestJet agreement "demonstrates the strategic value of ACG's Boeing orderbook and our ability to support WestJet's future growth."

What comes next

WestJet expects to take delivery of its first 737-10 by the end of 2026, according to WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, who spoke ahead of the IATA Annual General Meeting in June. That would make WestJet the launch operator of the type.

But passengers shouldn't expect to fly on one right away. Von Hoensbroech cautioned the aircraft is unlikely to enter revenue service before 2027 because of a lag between FAA certification and Transport Canada's own sign-off process.

No financial terms for the 13-aircraft lease were disclosed.