A brand-new Airbus A320 has changed hands inside the Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, marking the Hainan Free Trade Port’s first-ever bonded aircraft leasing asset package transfer.

On October 29, Zijin International Leasing (Haikou) Company successfully transferred the aircraft to Xiajin Leasing (Hainan) Company.

The subject of the Hainan Free Trade Port’s first bonded aircraft leasing asset package transaction — an Airbus A320 aircraft.

In practical terms, this type of deal allows one lessor to sell a leased aircraft (the asset package) to another lessor while leaving the airline operator unchanged.

The structure gives leasing companies a cleaner way to recycle capital, manage portfolio concentration, and exit positions without the usual tax and customs friction that normally accompanies aircraft transfers in China.

Both companies are registered within the same bonded zone. Since the entire transaction was completed under customs bonded supervision, the aircraft remained in bonded status throughout and no import taxes were due.

The deal is seen as a practical breakthrough. Previous transactions in the Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone mainly focused on originating new bonded leases. This latest deal moves the market one step further, from simply landing leasing projects to enabling the secondary circulation of existing bonded assets.

Since the launch of the Hainan FTP’s island-wide special customs operations, high-value equipment leasing capabilities have been steadily expanding in the Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone. Aircraft, engines, and large mining equipment have already been brought under bonded leasing structures. The successful transfer of a complete aircraft asset package now adds secondary-market liquidity to that ecosystem.

Local authorities plan to continue supporting more sophisticated structures, including additional asset package transfers and other high-end equipment leasing models as they work to turn Haikou into a more active hub for aviation and large-asset finance within the Free Trade Port.