Air Lease Corp, an American aircraft leasing firm, delivered a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to China Southern Airlines through ALC's Hong Kong operation and the Nansha Bonded Port Area of Guangzhou, which is in the capital of South China's Guangdong province, on Sunday.

The deal that brought the jet marks the first case of cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangdong province in aircraft leasing, banking on the advantages of Hong Kong and the Nansha Area of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, according to a statement by Nansha district government. It will help reduce aircraft leasing costs.

According to the development plan outline released in February for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the development of a world-class airport cluster in the area requires leveraging "Hong Kong's strengths in financial and logistics services, and developing high value-added freight, aircraft leasing and aviation financing services".

In light of the plan, efforts are called for developing specialized financial services, such as ship financing and financial technologies, as well as aircraft and ship leasing, to turn Nansha into a into a demonstration zone for comprehensive cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

Air Lease Corp, an American aircraft leasing firm, delivered a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to China Southern Airlines through ALC's Hong Kong operation and Nansha Bonded Port Area of Guangzhou, which is in the capital of Guangdong province, on Sunday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]