SCHEDULE I - Parent Company Information - Condensed Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 11,688	$ 7,052
Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation		1,673,135	1,342,571
Maintenance Rights		14,763	14,763
Equipment held for sale		789	34,172
Receivables, net of allowances		23,270	18,848
Spare parts inventory		48,874	16,379
Deferred income taxes		45,561	35,713
Investments		47,941	50,641
Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation		27,679	26,074
Intangible assets, net		1,379	1,727
Other assets, net		15,164	50,932
Total assets	[1]	1,934,943	1,603,431
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		42,939	22,072
Deferred income taxes		135,818	113,910
Debt obligations		1,337,349	1,085,405
Maintenance reserves		94,522	75,889
Security deposits		28,047	25,302
Unearned revenue		5,460	8,102
Total liabilities	[2]	1,598,602	1,295,050
Redeemable preferred stock ($0.01 par value, 2,500 shares authorized; 2,500 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		49,554	49,471
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 20,000 shares authorized; 6,176 and 6,419 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		62	64
Paid-in capital in excess of par			2,319
Retained earnings		286,623	256,301
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income tax benefit		102	226
Total shareholders' equity		286,787	258,910	$ 196,260	$ 209,223
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and shareholders' equity		1,934,943	1,603,431
Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		5,302	2,860
Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation		618,167	662,162
Maintenance Rights		3,296	3,296
Equipment held for sale		701	34,084
Receivables, net of allowances		3,468	7,980
Spare parts inventory		483	11,643
Due from affiliates, net		14,877	18,439
Deferred income taxes		13,896
Investments		47,941	50,641
Investment in subsidiaries		141,792	50,047
Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation		15,077	15,238
Intangible assets, net		271	271
Prepaid deposits		1,383	36,455
Other assets, net		10,766	8,385
Total assets		877,420	901,501
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		27,128	15,686
Due to affiliates, net		40,187	2,300
Deferred income taxes			7,456
Debt obligations		434,053	508,350
Maintenance reserves		27,329	36,809
Security deposits		10,692	17,795
Unearned revenue		1,690	4,724
Total liabilities		541,079	593,120
Redeemable preferred stock ($0.01 par value, 2,500 shares authorized; 2,500 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		49,554	49,471
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 20,000 shares authorized; 6,176 and 6,419 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		62	64
Paid-in capital in excess of par			2,319
Retained earnings		286,623	256,301
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income tax benefit		102	226
Total shareholders' equity		286,787	258,910
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and shareholders' equity		$ 877,420	$ 901,501

[1] Total assets at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 include the following assets of variable interest entity’s (“VIE’s”) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of the VIE’s: Cash, $656 and $130; Restricted Cash $70,261 and $40,272, Equipment, $1,032,599 and $657,333; and Other, $1,075 and $20,090 respectively.

[2] Total liabilities at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 include the following liabilities of VIE’s for which the VIE’s creditors do not have recourse to Willis Lease Finance Corporation: Debt obligations, $903,296 and $577,056, respectively.