Qantas Re-Starts MEL-HNL Service

Qantas Airways has re-started three-times weekly service between MEL and HNL tonight, as QFA105/106. The A330-301 service is scheduled to arrive at HNL tomorrow morning. VH-QPG "Mount Gambier" (msn 603) is making the relaunch flight.

Alaska Airlines Shifts Flights To Hawaiian Airlines

In a move to consolidate services as part of the merger with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines has reduced its service to Hawai‘i, while Hawaiian has increased service on those routes.

Hawaiian's new flights to/from the west coast fly with the HAL6xx flight code. Alaska still has flights to/from SEA, SAN, ANC, and PDX.

On a related note, both airlines are consolidating terminal operations on the mainland.

FedEx Feeder's N776FX

Corporate Air has ferried their second C408F, N776FX (msn 408-0040), from VGT to HNL, via SMX, to operate in their inter-island FedEx Feeder operation. It making the ferry flight today, and will arrive this evening. This SkyCourier was delivered to Corporate Air, under lease from FedEx, in December 2024.

06 May 2025 UPDATE

N776FX entered service today as CPT8670 to LIH.

Amazon Prime Air's N5881K

Hawaiian Airlines has taken delivery of N5881K (msn 1167) today. This A330-343F, painted in the Amazon Prime Air livery, made a pair of test flights around SBD as HAL9650. Itʻs scheduled to enter service as HAL1617, from SBD to IAH. This is the ninth A330-343F that Hawaiian Airlines leased from Altavair, to operate for Amazon Prime Air.

1167’s History:

Nov 2010: Delivered to Etihad as A6-AFC.

Sep 2018: Withdrawn from service, and stored at AUH.

Nov 2020: Acquired by Altavair Finance, and ferried to TEV for storage.

Mar 2024: Ferried to DRS for freighter conversion, registered as F-WTBH.

Mar 2025: Ferried to SBD for paint in the Amazon Prime Air livery.

Air China's N248BE

Boeing is ferrying Air China's N248BE (c/n 60938, l/n 8181) from HSN to BFI, via GUM and HNL, as BOE284. This 737-8 was not taken up by the Chinese national carrier, due to the trade tariff dispute between the US and China. It will arrive this evening from GUM, and will depart for BFI tomorrow.

N248BE ferried through KOA from BFI, on its way to HSN, on 05 April. This was the last 737-8 ferried to the Boeing China Completion Center, and the last one to ferry back to BFI.

QantasLink's C-GJWE

Sunstate Airlines is taking delivery of C-GJWE (msn 4460). This QantasLink-liveried Dash8-402Q is flying from YAM to BNE, via YYJ, HNL, and MAJ. This Q400 will make an overnight stop at HNL tonight. It will be re-registered as VH-84F, and named "Horn Island Ngurupai".

4460's History:

Dec 2013: Delivered to Westjet Encore as C-GJWE (f/n 408).

Apr 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at YYC.

Jan 2025: Ferried to YAM to prep for Sunstate Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines Looks To Acquire Chinese 737 Re-markets

Should airlines from China decide to allow Boeing to re-market their 737-8s ready for delivery, or defer their orders with the current trade disagreement going on, there is a list of airlines lining up in interest of the potential 737-8 re-markets, as well as taking over construction and delivery slots.

Malaysia Airlines expressed interest in acquiring the two Xiamen Air 737-8s that were returned to Boeing, and ferried back to BFI. The two 737-8s would need to be repainted, and have the cabin configured to Malaysia Airlines' current layout. Malaysia Aviation Group is also interested in at least ten of the remaining 22 China-bound 737-8s sitting at BFI, MWH, and VCV ready for delivery.

Air India Express acquired 55 737-8s from several Chinese airlines, as the airlines deferred deliveries after the pandemic, and the 737-8 re-certification. They currently have four of the 55 remaining to be delivered.

Further details in this Reuters article, and this CH-Aviation article.

29 April 2025 UPDATE

CH-Aviation.com reports that Air India Express has joined the list of airlines interested in the remaining China-bound 737-8s sitting in storage. CH-Aviation also reports that Riyadh Air is interested in the China-bound 787-9s, that may not be taken up.

Xiamen Air's N242BE

Boeing is ferrying Xiamen Air's N242BE (c/n 64677, l/n 7690) from HSN back to BFI, via GUM and HNL, as BOE339. This 737-8 was not taken up by the airline in response to the trade disagreement happening between the US and China. N242BE will make an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

Icelandair's TF-LLL

Icelandair's National Geographic-liveried 757-256, TF-LLL “Þríhnúkagígur” (c/n 29307, l/n 924), is making a stop at HNL as ICE1274 from IAD, via PDX.

TF-LLL was last here in March 2023.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 330002

330002 (msn 1653), an Airbus CC-330 (A330-243) Husky from the Royal Canadian Air Force's 437 Transport Squadron, is making a stop at HIK from YOW as CFC3455.

21 April 2025 UPDATE

CFC3455 departed for GUM this morning.

N578GC

Kamaka Air has acquired N578GC (msn 208B2153), and is making its delivery flight from VGT, via HII (Lake Havasu City Airport, Lake Havasu City, AZ) and SMX. This is their second C208B Grand Caravan, that will be used in the Kamaka Air Charter division.

N578GC's History:

Jun 2010: Delivered to Propel Aviation Leasing.

May 2018: Purchased by Walston Aviation LLC, and operated by Davonair, dba Tropic Air Express (Miami, FL).

Apr 2025: Acquired by Kamaka Air.

Xiamen Air's N230BE

Boeing is ferrying Xiamen Air's N230BE (c/n 64680, l/n 7439) from HSN back to BFI, via GUM and HNL, as BOE376. This 737-8 is being returned to Boeing, as Xiamen Air will not take delivery of it. It had originally ferried through KOA on 19 March.

FL360Aero.com reports of N230BE being not taken up by Xiamen Air on their Instagram post.

Alliance Airlines' N228JB

Alliance Airlines is taking delivery of N228JB (msn 19000030). This ERJ-190AR is being delivered by Southern Cross International as SXI2512. It's flying from SJO to BNE, via SDM, OAK, KOA, and MAJ, and is making an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

19000030's History

May 2006: Delivered to jetBlue as N228JB "Blue 4 U" (f/n 228) with the "Harlequin" tail livery, under lease from GECAS.

Jly 2015: Tail livery repainted in the "Tartan" design, and renamed "Big Apple Blue".

Nov 2021: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Mar 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at MCN.

Aug 2024: Acquired by TVPX Trust Services.

Oct 2024: Ferried to SJO for prep to Alliance Airlines.

China Halts Boeing Deliveries

The government of the People's Republic of China ordered their airlines not to take deliveries of any Boeing airliners due to the 145% tariff placed on imports on goods made in China. This was done in response to the trade dispute between the US and China.

Currently, Air China has four 737-8s, China Southern Airlines has eight 737-8s, China Eastern Airlines has one 737-8, Xiamen Air has four 737-8s, Shenzhen Airlines has three 737-8s, and Shanghai Airlines has one 737-8 remaining from their initial orders that have yet to be delivered.

There are also three 777-Fs for China Cargo Airlines, and two 777-Fs for Suparna Airlines on order. As for 787s, both China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines have four 787-9s on order; and Juneyao Airlines has one 787-9 awaiting delivery.

Further information in this Fox Business article, and this Aviation Week article.

Rhoades Aviation Cleared To Resume Operations

Rhoades Aviation, the 737-200F operations of Transair Hawaii, has been cleared to resume operations by the FAA. The airline stated that they are aiming for the restart in the fourth quarter of this year. Since Rhoades' operations were suspended following the crash of N810TA, and revocation of their operating certificate, the four remaining 737-200Fs sat at their hangar, or on their ramp.

The four remaining 737-200Fs are:

N306AL | 23066 | 992 | -2T4C/A

N326TR | 20917 | 344 | -210C/A

N737CS | 23272 | 1093 | -2T4C/A

N809TA | 23796 | 1420 | -209F/A

TransAir's 737-2Q8/A N413JG (c/n 23148, l/n 1059) has continued to operate as this passenger 737 is separate from the Rhoades Aviation certificate.

Further details in this CH-Aviation.com article.

FedEx Feeder's N774FX

Corporate Air, the FedEx Feeder operator in Hawai‘i, had N774FX (msn 408-0037) ferried from VGT to HNL, via SMX, as CPT1981 last night. This is their first C408F SkyCourier to operate in the islands, and joins their local fleet that also has eight C208BF Grand Caravans. This FedEx Feeder operator has a total fleet of nine C408Fs, with more on order.

Corporate Air becomes the third SkyCourier freighter operator in Hawai‘i, next to Kamaka Air and Lānaʻi Air. N774FX was delivered in November 2024 from BEC to FAR, and entered service a month later.

Federal Express owns the C408Fs, and are leased to Corporate Air.

23 April 2025 UPDATE

N774FX begins test flights, as well as ground training at LIH today.

29 April 2025 UPDATE

N774FX enters service today with flight between HNL and LIH.

N561FA

Nomadic Aviation is ferrying N561FA (c/n 36351, l/n 2077) from CGO [Xinzheng international Airport, Zhengzhou, Henan, China] to BXM [Brunswick Executive Airport, Brunswick, ME], via GUM, OGG, and DTW, as OMD124. This 737-71B was acquired by Fortress Transportation (FTAI), and is scheduled to be parted out and scrapped.

36351's History:

Oct 2006: Delivered to China Southern Airlines as B-5233 (above photo).

May 2022: Sold to CALC, and leased back.

Jan 2025: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CGO.

Mar 2025: Acquired by FTAI.

Republic Airways To Acquire Mesa Airlines

Republic Airlines is acquiring Mesa Airlines in an all-stock purchase. These two airlines don't currently serve Hawai‘i in any capacity. However, in the mid-2000s, both airlines had inter-island service. Mesa's go! launched in 2006 with CRJ-200s, and ceased operations in 2014. Republic's Shuttle America provided ERJ-170s in 2008 under the Mokulele Airlines brand, and operated for a year. Mesa's go! also partnered with Mokulele, following the Republic pull-out.

Republic Airways Holdings will be the surviving brand in the merger, as they are the larger company. Republic flies regional service for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines; while Mesa's remaining regional partner was United.

Further details in this CH-Aviation article.

Sounds Air's ZK-PLV

Sounds Air (New Zealand) is ferrying ZK-PLV (msn 400) from AMZ [Ardmore Airport, Auckland, New Zealand] to the mainland, via AKL, APW, CXI, and HNL. This Pilatus PC-12/45 arrived last night from CXI, and will overnight at HNL. It's going to its new home in Alaska.

400's History:

Apr 2001: Built as HB-FQR.

Nov 2001: Delivered to Royal Flying Doctor Service as VH-VWO.

Jan 2017: Acquired by Sounds Air as ZK-PLV.

14 April 2025 UPDATE

Acquired by Gateway Air Center, and registered as N726KP.

25 April 2025 UPDATE

N726KP departed this morning for Gateway Air Center's headquarters at MCE.

Air China's N248BE

Boeing is ferrying Air China's N248BE (c/n 60938, l/n 8181) from BFI to HSN, via KOA and GUM, as BOE284. This 737-8 will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight. It will be re-registered after its cabin completion.

Korean Air's HL8515

Korean Air's HL8515 (c/n 66878, l/n 1152), the airline's first airliner in their new livery, is making its first appearance at HNL this morning. This 787-10 is making its rotation into Korean Air's KAL53/54 flights between ICN and HNL.

N330GR

N330GR (msn 447), an A320-231 owned by Beijing Eternity Technologies, is being ferried by Nomadic Aviation as OMD382. It's being ferried from TUS to FOC [Changle Airport, Fuzhou, China], via JRF, MAJ, and GUM. N330GR is making a brief fuel stop at JRF this afternoon. According to the Instagram post from Nomadic Aviation, this A320 will become a maintenance trainer.

447's History:

Dec 1993: Delivered to Dragonair as VR-HYU, under lease from ILFC.

Aug 1997: Re-registered as B-HYU, after Hong Kong was handed over to the People's Republic of China.

Mar 1999: Leased to Transmeridian Airlines as N447TM.

Apr 1999: Subleased to Aeropostal.

Mar 2001: Leased Skyservice Airlines, and subleased to Roots Air as C-FRAR.

Jun 2003: Leased to Mexicana Airlines as N447MX "Minatitlán".

Mar 2004: Re-registered as XA-UAH.

Oct 2011: Leased to Sky Airline as CC-ADO.

Oct 2015: Leased to Danish Air Transport as OY-RUS.

Dec 2018: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SOF.

Feb 2020: Ferried to TUS for storage, and acquired by Elevate Jet as N330GR, a month later.

Oct 2024: Acquired by Beijing Eternity Technologies.

Antonov Airlines' UR-82072

Antonov Airlines' An-124-100-150, UR-82072 "Be Brave Like Kherson" (c/n 9773053359136, l/n 07-05) is making a brief fuel stop at HNL from SFO, as ADB3943, which originated at DFW. It will continue onto PPG.

Hawaiian Airlines N782HA Enters Service

Hawaiian Airlines inducted N782HA into service this morning as HAL10 to LAX, and will return later today as HAL9. The airline revealed that N782HA's fleet name in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is "Humu mā".

Lufthansa Cargo's D-ALCA

This quarter's edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Lufthansa Cargo's MD-11F, D-ALCA (c/n 48781, l/n 625), departing Runway 8R for AKL, when they flew cargo for Air New Zealand from FRA to AKL, with stops at ORD and HNL. The flight would continue westbound back to FRA.

48781's History:

Jun 1998: Delivered to Lufthansa Cargo as D-ALCA.

Aug 2021: Sold to Western Global Airlines as N781SN (f/n 781).

Dec 2022: Stored at RSW [Southwest Florida Airport, Fort Meyers, FL] for five months.

May 2023: Stored at SHV [Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport, LA].

Jan 2025: Returned to service with Western Global Airlines.

Coulson Aviation's N132CG

Coulson Aviation's C-130H, N132CG (msn 382-4338), is returning to its base at TRM, as CUL132. This aerial firefighter is ferrying from BQB [Busselton Regional Airport, Western Australia, Australia] to TRM, via XRH, PPG and KOA.