Aircraft leasing a major engine behind Xiamen FTZ's lease trade

Xiamen Airlines receives a new Airbus aircraft in the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone. [Photo/Official WeChat account of Xiamen Free Trade Zone]

Driven by strong aircraft leasing, the leasing trade volume in the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone exceeded 3 billion yuan ($416.79 million) in the first half of this year, accounting for about 30 percent of the country's total and generating a total fixed-asset investment of approximately 2 billion yuan.

The Xiamen FTZ is the fourth largest cluster for aircraft financial leasing and the largest cluster for the secondary aircraft financial leasing in China.

In February, CMB Financial Leasing, a strategic partner of Xiamen FTZ, delivered the first Airbus A321neo for commercial leasing in the zone. This was the first Airbus aircraft acquired by Xiamen Airlines.

In the first half of this year, the Xiamen FTZ introduced six new imported aircraft for operational leasing.

The Xiamen FTZ is the fourth largest cluster for aircraft financial leasing and the largest cluster for the secondary aircraft financial leasing in China.

At present, the Xiamen FTZ's financial lease industry covers a wide range of aircraft, ships, cars, large medical equipment, engineering machinery, integrated circuits, as well as filming equipment.

A number of State-owned enterprises, listed companies, large private enterprises, and Taiwan-funded enterprises have established financial lease businesses in the zone, forming a significant national cluster for the financial leasing industry.