YZ 789

The Boeing 787-9 is Yangtze's choice for the next gen widebody aircraft. The airline ordered 15 of these jets, and took delivery of the first one in 2016. However, the 787 was a problem child for Yangtze since Day 1. The inaugural flight for the 787-9 was scheduled for 9AM on July 8th, 2016, operating flight YZ789 from SHA to PEK, a flagship ChinaExpress flight. However, B-7801, the aircraft scheduled for the flight, experienced mechanical issues before departure and was grounded. The airline ended up substituting in a 777-300ER, making the special flight number and timing an embarrassing reminder of what could've been. The 787 finally entered into revenue service a week later, but no celebration happened. In summer of 2017, the Rolls Royce engine issue grounded all 5 Yangtze 787s. Yangtze Airlines ended up wet-leasing a Sierra Pacific 767-300ER, N446SP, to fill in the hole the 787 grounding caused. The aircraft was painted in a hybrid livery, and operated Yangtze flight numbers under the Sierra Pacific callsign by Sierra Pacific flight crews. This arrangement was not a popular one. Passengers expecting the modern technology and comfort of the 787 were confused in an aging 767 with American crew members; Sierra Pacific crews were stuck flying Chinese domestic routes they weren't used to flying, and spending extra time in China away from their family; Yangtze 787 crews had to fly on board the 767s, serving as translators for the American flight attendants who faced a difficult language barrier; and Yangtze dispatch had to coordinate with Sierra Pacific dispatch, deal with one singular American-registered aircraft in their fleet and scheduling another airlines' pilots. The lease lasted 5 months, and the 767 was returned to Sierra Pacific in October. Luckily, Yangtze and Boeing were able to work out the issues with the 787, and now the airline operates a healthy fleet of 15 787-9s.

Aircraft Pictured:
B-7801, Boeing 787-9 "Boston", delivered to Yangtze Airlines in 2016, operated by the Shanghai branch.
N446SP, Sierra Pacific Boeing 767-300ER, leased to Yangtze Airlines May-Oct 2017, pictured in "hybrid" livery.