AWAS

Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services was established by News Corporation and TNT, co-owners of Ansett Transport Industries, in 1985. It was a separate company from Ansett Transport Industries and not included in the sale of Ansett to Air New Zealand in 1996.

Ansett Worldwide was sold to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in February 2000 for US$600 million. At the time of sale, AWAS had a leasing portfolio of 105 aircraft valued at US$4 billion, with 47 airlines. The Ansett name was retained as it was instantly recognisable in the global aviation industry. Under Morgan Stanley ownership the company was renamed simply Ansett Worldwide, the Aviation Services being omitted. The Ansett Worldwide fleet was combined with the Morgan Stanley Aircraft Leasing fleet, resulting in a combined fleet size of 180 aircraft by 2003.

In 2004 Ansett Worldwide was rebranded as AWAS. A company media release issued to coincide with the rebranding stated that the company had outlived its association with a failed airline, hence the dropping of the Ansett name. In the industry it was known that some customers had shown a reluctance to deal with Ansett Worldwide, perceiving that the aircraft available were ex-Ansett Airlines aircraft that had been sitting idle since the airline had ceased operations, despite assurances from the lessor that this was not true.

In 2006, Morgan Stanley sold AWAS to Terra Firma Capital Partners with management and operations relocated to Dublin. In 2007, AWAS acquired Pegasus Aviation Finance Company.

In August 2017, AWAS was acquired by DAE Capital and the brand retired.