Willis, a UK-based insurance broker and risk management firm, known for providing corporate insurance brokerage, reinsurance, and human-capital consulting services worldwide, a business of WTW, said it is re-entering the light and recreational general aviation insurance market, ending a 30-year absence from the segment.
The move follows the arrival of the Crispin Speers team, a London-based Lloyd’s insurance and reinsurance brokerage with a long track record in aviation risks.
Willis said the team’s technical depth and ready-built structures unlocked the expansion.
For the first time in decades, Willis now offers a full suite of insurance products tailored to light and recreational aviation operators. Coverage spans microlights, balloons, gliders, commercial drones, and light fixed-wing aircraft.
The firm said the build-out also extends beyond aviation. By tapping its wider network, Willis now provides commercial insurance solutions addressing non-aviation risk exposures tied to these operations.
Crispin Speers brings established, turnkey services supported by technology designed for speed and scale. Willis said the platform supports efficient handling of high-volume business without sacrificing underwriting discipline.
John Rooley, head of global aviation and space at Willis, said the re-entry fills a gap that lingered too long in the firm’s portfolio.
He said clients now gain access to end-to-end aviation insurance under one roof, supported by Willis’s global footprint.
Rooley said the expansion reflects a push to broaden capability rather than bolt on products. He framed the move as a practical response to client demand, not a branding exercise.
With the addition, Willis positions itself to cover aviation risk from entry-level recreational flying through more complex commercial exposures. The firm said the goal is straightforward.
Offer breadth, remove friction, and stay relevant in a segment that kept moving while it was gone.
