Addendum
China Southern Airlines chooses Nansha leasing for its first A350-900
July 1st 2019
China Southern Airlines’ (CSA) acceptance of its first A350-900 XWB had significance for China’s lessor industry as Guangzhou Nansha Nanhang Tiandong Leasing Company, based in Guangzhou Nansha free-trade zone (FTZ), leased the aircraft to the airline. Read More »
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Aircraft lessors and FTZs have grown rapidly in China as a result of favourable government regulation and investor appetite for stable returns. The largest FTZ is Tianjin Dongjiang, where more than 1,500 aircraft are on lease, NYU Shanghai adjunct professor and an aircraft appraiser, David Yu, told Orient Aviation.
Nansha received its 100th aircraft at the end of 2018. The zone covers all industry sectors. Official figures record it has more than 2,100 lessors, but only some are in aviation, including SkyCo and CSA’s leasing arm. Air Lease Corp used Hong Kong and Nansha to deliver a 787-9 to CSA earlier this year in the industry’s first Hong Kong-Guangdong dual special purpose vehicle. In 2017, Nansha concluded its first international lease with an A321 to Cambodia’s Lanmei Airlines, which has Chinese ownership.
More aircraft destined for CSA are expected to go through Nansha as partners seek local cooperation. “While there is some competitiveness between the different FTZs each region wants to differentiate itself with its competitive edge,” Yu said. Although small, Nansha is favourably placed as Guangzhou is home to CSA, Asia’s largest airline, and is within the Greater Bay Area economic zone.
