YZ RNG A320

Inspired by Nomadic Aviation Group's Cockpit Casual Series. Watch the latest episode where the crew brings a China Eastern A320 into retirement.

In 1999, Yangtze Airlines became the first airline in China to operate the Airbus A320, marking a significant milestone for the carrier. This came as part of a bulk order placed in 1995, with Yangtze Airlines taking delivery of 20 A320s between 1999 and 2002. The airline named the new fleet "Xinhua" to symbolize the dawn of the new century. Initially, the Xinhua jets were stationed across Yangtze's bases in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing. Both passengers and crew quickly grew fond of the A320s, preferring them over the cramped and noisy Boeing 737 Classics that had previously dominated the airline's short-haul fleet.

By 2002, following the completion of the initial Xinhua deliveries, Yangtze Airlines placed another significant order for 15 A319s, 50 A320s, and 20 A321s. Along with this, the airline relocated all of its existing Xinhua jets to its Shanghai hubs, while its aging 737s were reassigned to other bases. This trend continued as more A320 family aircraft joined the fleet. By 2006, both of Yangtze’s Shanghai hubs—Hongqiao and Pudong—operated exclusively with A320 family aircraft for short-haul routes, marking a complete transition away from the 737, while no other Yangtze hubs would operate A320s.

In 2018, Yangtze Airlines welcomed the more fuel-efficient A320neo into its fleet, and a year later began phasing out its older A320s. By 2022, 10 more A320s had been retired, and in 2023, the final five Xinhua jets from the initial order were officially retired. Range Aviation Group, a U.S.-based "Transactional Flight Operator," was tasked with ferrying the Xinhua jets from China to the U.S. for part-out purposes, with some aircraft going to Roswell, New Mexico, and others to Brunswick, Maine.

On August 3, 2023, B-2936, the last A320 from Yangtze's inaugural order, was ferried to Brunswick under the registration N319FH, operating as flight RNG234. The aircraft, which had never been repainted in Yangtze’s updated livery during its 21 years of service, made its first and last Pacific crossing, with stops in Guam, Oahu, and Phoenix, before reaching its final destination in Brunswick. While its younger counterparts continue to serve Yangtze passengers across China, B-2936 has found its final resting place.

Aircraft Pictured:
N319FH, Northeast Aircraft Solutions Airbus A320. Former Yangtze Airlines B-2936 (2002-2023), retired and sold to Northeast Aircraft Solutions for scrapping in 2023.