Established on 15 January 2003 as the second cargo airline in the country after China Cargo Airlines, Yangtze River Express was majority owned by the HNA Group (85%) with Hainan Airlines Co (5%) and Shanghai Airport Group (10%) holding the remaining shares. The airline took over the entire cargo operations of Hainan Airlines, China Xinhua Airlines, Chang An Airlines and Shanxi Airlines, all members of the Hainan Air Group.
In 2006, it divested 49% of its shareholdings to a consortium of companies including China Airlines, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, Wan Hai Lines and China Container Express Lines. China Airlines became the largest foreign shareholder with a 25% stake.
The airline was rebranded as Suparna Airlines on 7 July 2017; its new name comes from the mythical bird also known as the garuda.
Livery
Boeing 737-33A(SF), registration B-2578, built 1992, serial number 25603 Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN), Xiamen, China, 8 November 2019
