University of Nevada Team Charter

The University of Nevada Wolf Pack football team is chartering a Hawaiian Airlines A321-271N for their Saturday evening road game against the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. N226HA is making the trip from RNO, with a stop as OAK, as HAL771. The Wolf Pack will return following the game as HAL772.

Tigerair Australia's VH-VNO

Tigerair Australia is returning VH-VNO (msn 4053) to GECAS. This A320-232 is ferrying from MEL to SBD, via PPG and HNL.

4053 was originally delivered to Tiger Airways [Singapore] in October 2009 as 9V-TAL, under lease from GECAS. In March 2010, it was transferred to Tiger Airways Australia as VH-VNO. In July 2013, the airline rebranded as Tigerair Australia. VH-VNO was sold to Avolon, and the lease continued with Tigerair Australia. Due the China Corona Virus pandemic, it was withdrawn from service, and stored at MEL.

Conair's C-GVFK

Conair's C-GVFK (s/n E2268, l/n 391) is making it's annual trip South for the Australian Summer Fire season.

Boise State Team Charter

The Boise State University Broncos is chartering a Hawaiian Airlines A330-243, N382HA, for their Saturday night road game against the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. N382HA is flying from BOI as HAL769, and will return the team to BOI as HAL770.

Southwest Airlines Announces Long Beach Service

As part of an announcement of new routes, Southwest Airlines will add service between LGB [Long Beach, CA] and HNL, that will start on March 11, 2021. The airline was awarded more slots at LGB after jetBlue Airlines surrendered all of their slots. This new service will compete against the two flights that Hawaiian Airlines has out of LGB.

Further details in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Allegiant Airlines' N286NV

Allegiant Airlines is taking delivery of its next A320-214, N286NV (msn 4447, f/n 286). It's making its delivery flight from HKG to BQN [Aguadilla, PR], via GUM, MAJ, HNL, and TUS. It's making an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

4447 was originally delivered to Cebu Pacific in October 2010 as RP-C3260. In 2016, it was painted into the current livery, and flew with CEB until May 2020, then stored at CAN from July to October, when it was flown to HKG to repaint into the Allegiant livery.

FAA Clears The 737 MAX To Fly

Today, the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the way for airlines to resume 737 MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 10 service. All US carriers must update their flight crew and maintenance trainings before the airliners return to service. Many delivered and undelivered 737 MAXs have been in storage for the past 18 months following the two fatal accidents. In the US, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines currently have MAX variants. Alaska Airlines has MAX9s on order.

The European Union and Canadian aviation safety agencies are next up to re-certify the 737 MAX.

Boeing will also remove the MAX name from the 737, and each variant will be known as the 737-7, 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10.

Further information in this FAA news release, Boeing Mediaroom release, and Airways Magazine report.

Antonov Airlines' UR-82029

Antonov Airlines' An-124-100, UR-82029 (c/n 19530502630, l/n 02-10), is making a stop tonight at HNL from NTL [Newcastle, Australia] via BNE as ADB3581. It will continue onto YMX.

Korean Air To Acquire Asiana Airlines

In a move to bolster South Korean commercial air travel, Korean Air announced today that they acquiring rival Asiana Airlines for over $1.6B USD. This merger would put the new Korean Air in the top ten in terms of airline size. The move by Korean Air's parent company Hanjin KAL, was partially due to the effects of the China Corona Virus pandemic on the airline industry as a whole. Prior to the pandemic, Asiana was experiencing financial troubles, and the current state of affairs made their situation much worse. This move should ensure the survivability of the South Korean airline industry, especially when it comes to international routes. The combined fleet will be over 250 aircraft with many common types.

Further details in this SamChui.com article.

Qantas' 100th Anniversary

Qantas Airways celebrates its 100th anniversary today. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up in white and red LEDs as their 100th anniversary-liveried 787-9, VH-ZNJ (c/n 66074, l/n 929), made a pass above the bridge.

Video footage from SamChui.com.

Qantas has been a mainstay at HNL for decades from SYD.

Hawaiian Airlines To Keep 717-200s

Hawaiian Airlines plans to keep the 717-200 as the backbone of its inter-island fleet until at least mid-decade, or into the latter part of the decade. In an article at SimpleFlying.com, the airline said the 717 is the best airliner for the operation, and with the current environment, the airline has not begun to look for a replacement.

Starlux Airlines Proposes A TPE-HNL Route

Starlux Airlines, Taiwan's newest airline, was granted new international routes with A350-900s and A350-1000s possibly beginning in 2022. One of the routes announced was Honolulu. Service would be with A350-900s, and would be competing with China Airlines' A350-900s.

Further information in this CH-Aviation.com article.

Northern Air Cargo's N379CX

Northern Air Cargo is ETOPS testing one of its 767-300ERFs, N379CX (c/n 25199, l/n 433) from MIA as NAC9001/9002.

India Navy's N490DS

The Indian Navy is taking delivery of their eighth P-8I Neptune (737-8F.V), N490DS (c/n 64890, l/n 7757). It's making its delivery flight from BFI to India as BOE231, and is making an overnight stop at HNL

Interjet's VP-BJT

VP-BJT (msn 7358), a former Interjet A321-211 leased from BOC is ferrying from VCV to SIN, via HNL and GUM, similar to sister-ship VP-BJK. It delivered to Interjet in October 2016 as XA-GEO, and was returned to BOC in March 2020.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Hawaiian Airlines!

Hawaiian Airlines celebrates its 91st anniversary of its first flight today.

Hawaiian Flies New Mexico Team Charter

Hawaiian Airlines is flying the team charter for the University of New Mexico Lobos football team for their game on Saturday, in Honolulu against the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. N393HA "Lehuakona" (msn 1422, f/n 393) is making the trip from LAS to HNL, and the A330-243 is flying as HAL767, due arrive this evening. The team will return to LAS following the game, late Saturday night as HAL768.

Due to a surge of COVID cases in Albuquerque, NM, the Lobos have relocated to Las Vegas to practice, and play home games at the Sam Boyd Silverbowl for this season.

11.08.20 UPDATE

N393HA made the return trip to LAS.

Aloha Air Cargo's N361NC Flown To OPF

Aloha Air Cargo, and it's parent company Saltchuk Corporation, has ferried N361NC (c/n 23260, l/n 1146) from HNL to OPF, via OAK. This 737-301SF is being ferried for storage, as it's being put up for sale.

Mitsubishi Suspends SpaceJet Program

CH-Aviation.com reports that the Mitsubishi SpaceJet (formerly the MRJ) program will be suspended until mid-decade partially due to the China Corona Virus pandemic and the certification process. Mitsubishi hopes to restart program in 2024.

Delta Air Lines' N837MH

Our November edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back December 2005 with Delta Air Lines' 767-432ER, N837MH (c/n 29710, l/n 820, f/n 1813), wearing the "Colors In Motion" livery, departing Runway 22L.

N837MH was delivered to Delta in December 2000, and continues to fly for the airline. In spring 2010, it was painted to the current livery.