Shipping industry has been doing this for years. (I used to be a Merchant Mariner) although it's alot difficult though to see who actually owns the vessel as it's leased, subleased, chartered and maned by any number of agents and companies. However in the Shipping Business at the moment lease companies are making BIG bucks on older vessels. The price for scrap steel in India and Bangladesh has risen along with the price of virgin steel throughout the world. 20 + years ago when the lease companies vessel was built steel may have been around $200 dollar a tonne, scrap merchants in India are currently offering $350+ a tonne on vessel anything up to 80,000 tonne!!
Don't think its the same for old aircraft though
Whatever business you in there seems to be a good case for leasing, whichever party you are.