29 April 2017

OE-IFK

OE-IFK (msn 2023), an A319-132, is ferrying from CRK [Clark Field Airport, Angeles City, Luzon, Philippines] to TUS, via GUM and HNL.

2023 was originally purchased by CIT Aerospace Leasing, and leased to Royal Brunei Airlines [BI/RBA] in August 2013 as V8-RBP. In April 2016, it was leased to R Airlines [RCT] (Thailand) as HS-RCD. It was stored at CRK in February 2017, and sold to Avolon Leasing as OE-IFK.

Kamaka Air's N231H To Go To Museum

Kamaka Air is readying their last Beech E18S, N231H (msn BA-281), to be shipped to an air museum in Oregon. It was last flown a couple of years ago, and had sat on their ramp, until recently, when it was decided to donate the 60-year-old aircraft.

Donghai Airlines' B-1575

Donghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1575 (c/n 61274, l/n 6181) today. The 737-83Z is making its delivery flight from BFI as EPA294, and will overnight at HNL. It was built in November 2016, accepted by the airline in December, but its delivery was deferred.

28 April 2017

Alaska's N493AS

Alaska's special livery 737-990ER arrived today from Seattle. N493AS (s/n 41727, l/n5738) wears a vibrant paint scheme to commemorate Alaska's acquisition of Virgin America.   

27 April 2017

Daniel K Inouye International Airport

In the latest Airport Diagram published by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Honolulu International Airport has been renamed as the Daniel K Inouye International Airport. The IATA Code HNL, and ICAO Code PHNL will remain unchanged, as well as the air traffic control call sign of "Honolulu". The old tower building has the Honolulu International Airport signage removed on the side facing the Interstate H1 freeway.

The airport was named for the late US Senator, who served in Congress for almost 50 years. He passed away five years ago.

Hawaiian's LAX-LIH Service To Go Daily

Hawaiian Airlines announced today that it will upgrade its seasonal service between Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i and Los Angeles to daily, year-round service beginning on May 26th. The airline will use their 767-300 fleet for the flights.

The airline will also restart summer seasonal service between Līhu‘e and Oakland, and Kona and Los Angeles that same week.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Shandong Airlines' B-7809

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7809 (c/n 61432, l/n 6374) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG7809, and will overnight at HNL.

26 April 2017

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPC

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-ZPC "Cabarita Beach" (msn 19000170) from BNE to BNA, via APW, HNL, and VNY, as it has been withdrawn from service by the airline (which is phasing out its E190 fleet). This E190 is making its ferry flight as VOZ9901.

China Southern Airlines' B-1585

China Southern Airlines' second 737-81B delivery flight today, is B-1585 (c/n 63242, l/n 6270). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1585, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan Airlines' B-7379

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-7379 (c/n 44391, l/n 6371) today. The 737-84P, leased from  is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH7379, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1582

B-1582 (c/n 63237, l/n 6319), is the first of two China Southern Airlines' 737-81B delivery flights today. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1582, and will overnight at BFI.

25 April 2017

China Eastern Airlines' N7858A

China Eastern Airlines has ferried N7858A (c/n 29361, l/n 1694) to Southwest Airlines. The 737-79P, leased from AerCap, was ferried from KMG to PAE, via GUM and HNL, where it will go through cabin re-configuration and re-painting. 

29361 was delivered to China Eastern in April 2005, under lease from ILFC, as B-5095. In January 2012, the green Yunnan peacock feather was applied to the forward section of the fuselage. In May 2014, it was sold to AerCap, and remained with China Eastern, until it was removed from service in February 2017.

Island Air & Jin Air Interline Agreement

Island Air and Jin Air have signed an interline agreement where passengers can book travel through both airlines' route networks. This partnership will give tourists from South Korea easier access to inter-island flights, and Neighbor Island residents easier access to travel to South Korea and beyond.

Air China's B-1416

Air China is taking delivery of B-1416 (c/n 43423, l/n 6369) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA47, and will overnight at HNL.

18 April 2017

Island Air's N339NG

Island Air is taking delivery of N339NG "Poʻokela" (msn 4339). This Q400 Next Gen, leased from NAC-Nordic via Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, made its delivery flight from GTF [Great Falls International Airport, Great Falls, MT], via CMA [Camarillo, CA], as SXA373. This is the first of two second-hand Q400 Next Gen that Island Air will lease. Po‘okela means "striving for the highest summit" in Hawaiian. It will be registered as N685WP before entering service.

4339 was originally delivered to Colgan Air in December 2010 as N339NG (f/n 827), and wore the United Express livery. When Colgan Air shutdown in September 2012, its Q400 fleet, this one included, was taken up by Republic Airlines, and continued to fly for United Express. Republic Airways sold N339NG to NAC-Nordic in June 2015, and withdrew it from service in March 2016. It was supposed to be leased to Flybe [BE/BEE] (UK), but was not taken up.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPI

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-ZPI "Seven Mile Beach" (msn 19000202) from BNE to BNA (via APW, HNL, and VNY) for storage, as it has been withdrawn from the airline's fleet. The E190-AR is making the flight as VOZ9901, and will overnight at HNL.

Virgin Australia's VH-YFX

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-YFX "Mackenzie's Bay" (c/n 41013, l/n 6330) today. The 737-8FE is making its delivery flight from BFI as VOZ9940, and will overnight at LIH.

15 April 2017

B-77777

B-77777 (msn 3363), an A318-112ACJ Elite owned by the Minth Group and operated by EVA Airways, has made a stop at HNL from AGU [Lic. Jesus Teran Peredo International Airport, Aguascaliente, México].

3363 was originally delivered to Comlux Malta in January 2009 as 9H-AFL. In November 2013, it was acquired by the Minth Group as B-77777.

14 April 2017

Hainan Airlines' B-7398

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-7398 (c/n 60702, l/n 6354) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH8398, and will overnight at HNL.

13 April 2017

Asia Pacific Airlines' N888LT

Asia Pacific Airlines has taken delivery of N888LT (c/n 25441, l/n 446), a 757-230F. Their second 757-200F made its delivery flight from BQK [Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, Brunswick, GA] to HNL, via GYR as MGE901.

25441 was originally delivered to Condor in April 1992 as D-ABNN. In July 2002, it was transferred to the Thomas Cook Airlines fleet. In October 2004, it was acquired VIM Airlines as RA-73014, and in December 2010, VIM Airlines modified its livery from pink to red. It was withdrawn from service in December 2014, then acquired a month later by the Bank of Utah, and converted to a freighter earlier this year.

12 April 2017

China United Airlines' B-1426

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1426 (c/n 61696, l/n 6350) today. The 737-89P, their second delivery within the past six days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA426, and will overnight at HNL.

11 April 2017

Kalitta Air Begins 747-400F Flights

Kalitta Air launched 747-400F flights that replaced the 747-200BFs this morning. They also have a logo jet with Pacific Air Cargo titles to go along with the new aircraft. N976BA (c/n 25275, l/n 874), a 747-4B5F made its first flight out of LAX to HNL as CKS368 this morning.

25275 was originally delivered to Korean Air in September 1991 as HL7483. It was converted to freighter in May 2008, and transferred to their cargo division, and served until February 2013. Seven months later, it was acquired by Boeing Aircraft Holdings. In July 2016, it was leased to Kalitta Air as N976BA, and recently painted to the Pacific Air Cargo livery.

TransAir Receives Charter Approval

The US Department of Transportation gave TransAir approval to begin domestic and international passenger and cargo charter flights. The airline purchased N413JG (c/n 23148, l/n 1059), a 737-2Q8/Adv in July 2015, and applied for charter approval a year ago. In the above photo taken today, this 737 is seen on the TransAir ramp, and not anther hangar. No word was given as to when charter flights will begin.

Further information in this CH-Aviation article.

09 April 2017

Boeing 737 Celebrates 50 Years

Fifty years ago today, the first Boeing 737-130, N73700 (c/n 19437, l/n 1), made its maiden flight from BFI. That launched Boeing's most successful airliner, with over 9,400 models built, many of which are still in service. From the -100 to the -900ER (except for the -600), HNL has seen every variant of the 737 pass through. The new MAX variants to start delivering later this year, beginning with the Lion Group.

In Hawai‘i, Aloha Airlines was the first airline to fly the 737 in March 1969. Up until its closure in March 2008, the airline operated the -100, -200, -300, -400, -700, and -800 variants during the 39 years it flew the "Baby Boeing".

Currently, Aloha Air Cargo flies the -300SF, and TransAir flies the -200F out of HNL, for inter-island cargo runs.

From North America, Hawai‘i's airports have 737 flights by: Alaska Airlines (-800s & -900ERs), Delta Air Lines (-900ERs), United Airlines (-800s & -900ERs), and WestJet Airlines (-700s & -800s). Miami Air International and Sun Country Airlines have -800 charter flights to HNL for government and sports clients.

Before its closure in 2008, ATA Airlines had 737-800 flights between the West Coast and HNL.

The US Air Force has a C-40B (737-7DM BBJ), 01-0015 (c/n 32916, l/n 979), based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam for the Pacific Command's top officer. Marine Corps Air Field Kāne‘ohe Bay will see P-8A squadron detachments based there from time to time. Foreign military 737s have stopped through HNL and HIK, with the RAAF's BBJ, E-7 Wedgetail, and P-8As, the Indian Navy's P-8I, and the Royal Thai Air Force's BBJ2.

Fiji Airways also flies their -700s and -800s to HNL.

Every so often, a BBJ can be seen parked at one of the FBOs on the South Ramp.

From it's beginnings, 737s bound for Oceania and Asia have used Hawai‘i airports (mostly HNL) as their first stopping point on their delivery flights, as they island hop across the Pacific to reach their new homes. Most recently, was Shandong Airlines' B-7808.

08 April 2017

Kalitta Air Ends 747-200F Operations

Kalitta Air has ended 747-200F operations on its LAX-HNL flight [CKS368/369] today. N793CK (c/n 23736, l/n 673), a 747-222BF, made the last flight, ending the 747-200F era at HNL. It will leave this afternoon on its farewell voyage. Kalitta will begin 747-400F flights on April 11th.

23736 was originally delivered to United Airlines in March 1987 as N151UA. In July 2000, it was acquired by Northwest Airlines as N645NW (f/n 6745), and converted to a freighter. After the Northwest Airlines / Delta Air Lines merger in October 2008, it was transferred over, but was withdrawn from service and stored at MZJ three months later. Kalitta Air acquired this 747-222BF in September 2010 as N793CK.

The last three -200Fs to fly for Kalitta, and flew the HNL-LAX route, were: N793CK, N794CK (c/n 23737, l/n 675), and N795CK (c/n 23111, l/n 594).


06.16.17 Update
N793CK has been sold to The Cargo Airline [TZS] (Republic of Georgia) as 4L-GEL.

Shandong Airlines' B-7808

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7808 (c/n 60163, l/n 6349) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG7808, and will overnight at HNL.

06 April 2017

Lucky Air's B-1587

Lucky Air is taking delivery of their third 737-8AL within two days. B-1587 (c/n 61779, l/n 6299) is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1587, and will overnight at HNL.

China United Airlines' B-1425

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1425 (c/n 61686, l/n 6302) this morning. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA425, and will overnight at HNL.

05 April 2017

Ruili Airlines' B-1595

Ruili Airlines is also taking delivery of B-1595 (c/n 61326, l/n 6153) this evening. This 737-84P was also in storage at BFI after it was built and tested. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as RLH1595, and will overnight at HNL.

Ruili Airlines' B-1593

Ruili Airlines is taking delivery of B-1593 (c/n 61325, l/n 6122) this evening. It's the first of two 737-84Ps that were in storage at BFI since they were built and tested, and is making its delivery flight from BFI as RLH1593, and will overnight at HNL.

Lucky Air's B-1586

Lucky Air's second 737-8AL delivery today, is B-1586 (c/n 61778, l/n 6278). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as B1586, and will overnight at HNL.

Lucky Air's B-1588

Lucky Air's B-1588 (c/n 61780, l/n 6323) is the first of two of 737-8ALs making their delivery flight  from BFI today. It's flying as B1588, and will overnight at HNL.

01 April 2017

Kamaka Air's N231H

Our April edition of "HNLRareBirds Classic" goes back to November 2005, where Kamaka Air's Beech 18, N231H was temporarily painted in the above livery for its appearance in the ABC Television series "Lost". Using Tempra paint and floor wax, this livery was applied over a few days for in-flight scenes of a similar crashed Beech18. After the scenes were filmed, the livery was removed, and N231H was put back into service.