Customs officers at Ningbo airport inspect the cabin of a returned leased aircraft. [Photo by Jiang Ningning/Tide News]

In the early hours of Feb 12, an Airbus A320 bearing registration number B-1836 completed lease-return customs clearance at Ningbo Lishe International Airport before departing for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where it will be delivered to a new overseas lessee.

Unlike ordinary flights, the aircraft carried no passengers or cargo — it was both the plane and the cargo itself. The jet had been leased by a company registered in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone to China Eastern Airlines.

After the lease expired, return inspection procedures were completed in Ningbo, marking Zhejiang province's first whole-aircraft export under the category of large equipment (leased aircraft). It also represented Ningbo Customs' first cross-regional supervision of a leased aircraft entrusted by Shanghai Pudong International Airport customs authority.

The move follows a 2019 State Council policy encouraging the development of the leasing industry and allowing cross-customs supervision for large equipment imported and exported by bonded-zone leasing firms.

Through close coordination with customs at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Ningbo implemented an optimized regulatory process. The aircraft was able to depart directly from Ningbo without returning to Shanghai, reducing transfer costs, fuel consumption and crew overtime risks.

Customs officials said the innovative model improves efficiency, cuts costs and ensures safe, streamlined clearance for aviation leasing enterprises.