Nauru Airlines Aims For HNL Service

CH-Aviation reports that Nauru Airlines is aiming for a first quarter 2027 launch to serve HNL from MAJ with their 737-800. It could also involve a code share with Air Marshall Islands.

Nauru Airlines received clearance to begin service from the US DOT, and the governments of both Nauru and the Marshall Islands in February 2024.

US-Bangla Airlines To Acquire 21 737s

As part of a fleet expansion plans, US-Bangla Airlines [Bangladesh] announced that they have placed an order to lease 15 737-8s, as well as lease six second-hand 737-800s. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2027.

Further information in articles from Reuters, and Aviation Week.

Koala Airlines To Launch With 737-8s

Koala Airlines (Melbourne, Australia) will be soon taking delivery of three leased 737-8s for their new charter operation that is slated to begin service later this year, pending governmental approvals and certifications. 

In 2019, Koala Airlines acquired Desert Air Safaris Pty Ltd, and planned to launch service based out of MEL. The airline does not plan in competing against Qantas and Virgin Australia, but as a niche-market and charter carrier.

Further information in this CH-Aviation.com article.

Hawaiian Airlines Inter-Island Cargo Operations

The Alaska Air Group announced today that Hawaiian Airlines will receive 737-800BCFs to operate dedicated inter-island air cargo flights as part of the four 737-800BCFs the air group is acquiring. It was not mentioned how many of the four will be allocated to Hawaiian. These 737s are expected to arrive in the first half of 2027 will be branded as Hawaiian Air Cargo.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines / Alaska Air Group news release.

Hawaiian Air Cargo will be the first use the 737-800F in inter-island air cargo operations, as Aloha Air Cargo uses 737-300Fs and 737-400Fs, and TransAir Hawaii uses 737-200Fs.

HISTORICAL NOTE

This would be the first aircraft in decades to have Hawaiian Air Cargo-liveried freighters. Hawaiian Airlines had a fleet of 11 L-188F Electra freighters that operated inter-island, along with a division based on the mainland. The Hawaiian Air Cargo operation was short lived, from 1976 to 1980. Zantop International Airlines acquired the Electras following the closure of Hawaiian Air Cargo.

Hawaiian Airlines' subsidiary ‘Ohana by Hawaiian had its own inter-island cargo aircraft, with three ATR72-200Fs, during the airline's run.

Hawaiian Airlines 717-200 Replacement

Hawaiian Airlines (and the Alaska Air Group) just announced that they will replace their 19-plane 717-200 fleet with 737-890s from Alaska Airlines, painted in the current Hawaiian Airlines livery. The fleet replacement is scheduled to begin in 2028, as the 717-200s, whose current average age is 24.5 years, will be retired. Alaska's 737-800 fleet average age is currently 18.3 years. The air group plans to rebrand and renovate the cabins, and will feature 30 more Premium Class seats, as well as Starlink wi-fi.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines / Alaska Air group news release.

HISTORICAL NOTE

In the late 1990s, Hawaiian Airlines once considered the 737NG series for replacement of their DC-9-51 fleet, before going the 717-200s (once known as the MD-95).

Sun Country Airlines' N839SY

Sun Country Airlines' N839SY (c/n 42083, l/n 6232, f/n 839) is making a stop at HNL, from LAX this afternoon as SCX8655. This 737-8JP is scheduled to return to LAX tomorrow as SCX8656.

Sun Country Airlines' N820SY

Sun Country Airlines' N820SY (c/n 39951, l/n 5166, f/n 820) is making a stop at HNL from POB [Fort Liberty, Fayetteville, NC], via ONT, as SCX8907. This 737-8FH was painted in the new Sun Country livery last autumn.

29 May 2026 UPDATE

N820SY has been towed to park on Taxiway F.

30 May 2026 UPDATE

N820SY departed for POB, with a stop at ONT, as SCX8924.

Sun Country Airlines' N809SY

Sun Country Airlines' N809SY (c/n 30863, l/n 1669) is making another stop at HNL, from ADW via ONT, as SCX8905. This Golden Gophers-clad 737-8Q8 arrived this afternoon, and has been moved to park on Taxiway F.

09 MAY 2026 UPDATE

N809SY was moved to the ‘Ohana ramp, then departed for KOA as SCX8954, then returned to HNL as SCX8955.

10 May 2026 UPDATE

N809SY departed for LAX this afternoon as SCX9209.

11 May 2026 UPDATE

N809SY flew from LAX to KOA as SCX8501, then returned to LAX as SCX8502.

12 May 2026 UPDATE

N809SY is returning to HNL from LAX today as SCX9209.

13 May 2026 UPDATE

N809SY departed for LIH this morning, then continued onto KOA as SCX8910.

16 May 2026 UPDATE

N809SY departed for ADW today, via ONT, as SCX8926.

Sun Country Airlines' N809SY

Sun Country Airlines' N809SY (c/n 30863, l/n 1669) is making a stop at HNL from ADW, via ONT, as SCX8900. This 737-8Q8, wearing the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers special livery arrived yesterday afternoon.

30 April 2026 UPDATE

N809SY departed for LIH this afternoon as SCX8914 (above photo), then flew to KOA as SCX9001.

01 May 2026 UPDATE

N809SY departed for LAX as SCX8502.

02 May 2026 UPDATE

N809SY returned to LIH from LAX as SCX9039, then departed for ONT then ADW as SCX8927.

Virgin Australia's VH-VUH

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-VUH (c/n 34440, l/n 2003) from BNE to MZJ, with stops at NAN and HNL, as VOZ9946. This 737-8FE is being returned to its lessor, Goshawk Aviation. Its HNL overnight stop is tonight.

34440's History:

Jly 2006: Delivered to Virgin Blue as VH-VUH, named "Lady Rebecca".

Jun 2008: Transferred to Pacific Blue as ZK-PBI "Lady Rebecca".

Dec 2011: Pacific Blue rebranded as Virgin Australia New Zealand, and airliner sold to Goshawk Aviation and leased back.

Feb 2015: Returned to Virgin Australia as VH-VUH.

N919RA

Southern Cross International is ferrying N919RA (c/n 30174, l/n 1175) from PVG to GYR, with stops at GUM and JRF, as SXI2612. This white-tail 737-809F, owned by Boeing Capital, completed freighter conversion at PVG.

30174's History:

Jly 2002: Delivered to China Airlines as B-18615.

__ 2007: Blended Winglets installed.

May 2021: Withdrawn from service, and stored at TPE for three months.

Aug 2021: Ferried to TSA for storage for three months.

Oct 2021: Ferried back to TPE for storage.

Dec 2022: Acquired by Royal Aero GmbH as N919RA, and ferried to MZJ for storage.

Apr 2023: Acquired by Boeing Capital Corporation.

Jly 2023: Ferried to PVG for freighter conversion.

Kaiser Air's N778MA

Kaiser Air's 737-8Q8, N778MA (c/n 37404, l/n 1958), is making a stop at HNL, from PDX as KAI537.

37404's History:

Jun 2006: Delivered to Sunwing Airlines as C-FTDW, under lease from Babcock & Brown.

May 2009: Subleased to Travel Service for six months.

May 2010: Subleased to Viking Airways for three months.

May 2011: Subleased to Travel Service for five months.

May 2012: Subleased to Smartwings for five months.

May 2013: Subleased to Smartwings for six months.

Jun 2015: Subleased to Smartwings for five months.

Jun 2017: Subleased to Smartwings for five months.

Apr 2019: Subleased to TUI Fly Netherlands for six months.

Nov 2020: Leased to Miami Air International as N778MA, but did not enter service.

May 2023: Leased to Kaiser Air as N778MA.

Sep 2024: Painted in the 2024 Harris/Walz campaign livery for one month.

20 March 2026 UPDATE

N778MA is departing for OAK to day as KAI52.

United Airlines' GUM Base To Switch To 737-8s

United Airlines has sent its first 737-8 to its GUM base, to begin the switch from the 737-824s to the 737-8s. N17302 (c/n 67559, l/n 8560, f/n 7302) began its ferry flight from MIA to GUM, with overnight stops at SFO and HNL. The MIA-SFO leg was flown as UAL3937, SFO-HNL as UAL3938, and HNL-GUM as UAL3939. There are 11 737-824s based at GUM, and it will be a one-for-one swap.

More 737-8s will be ferrying through HNL from next month, then the 737-824s will be ferried to the mainland.

Further information in this United Airlines press release.

Mahalo to Instagram user @palauanguy for the top photo taken at GUM.

Virgin Australia's VH-VUG

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-VUG "Jasmine Tasman" (c/n 34438, l/n 1948) from BNE to MZJ, with stops at NAN and HNL, as VOZ9946. This 737-8FE is being returned to its lessor, Deucalion Aviation. Its overnight stop at HNL is tonight.

VH-VUG's History:

May 2006: Delivered to Virgin Blue, named "Jasmine Tasman", under lease from Goshawk Aviation.

Jly 2009: Transferred to Pacific Blue Airlines.

Dec 2011: Airline re-brands as Virgin Australia.

Jan 2017: Acquired by Deucalion Aviation, and the lease transferred.

Dec 2025: Titles and logos painted over before its lease return ferry flights.

2-JVDH

Nomadic Aviation is ferrying 2-JVDH (c/n 35774, l/n 3010) from PVG to P08 for storage. This white-tail 737-86D is making stops at GUM and JRF, as OMD215.

35774's History:

Sep 2009: Delivered to China United Airlines as B-5470, under lease from CDB Aviation.

Oct 2017: Painted in the "Maritime Capital - Rizhao Fantasy" special livery.

Oct 2019: Acquired by Wings Capital Partners, and the lease transferred.

Jun 2025: Withdrawn from service, and stored at PVG.

Utah State Aggies' Team Charter

The Utah State Aggies football team is chartering a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for their road trip from LGU to HNL, via OAK, to play the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. N821SY (c/n 39952, l/n 5217, f/n 821) is flying the Aggies as SCX8411. It will remain at HNL to take the team back to LGU following the game.

10 October 2025 UPDATE

The flights were scheduled to arrive yesterday, but was delayed to today. SCX8411 is due to arrive around 12:45HAST

12 October 2025 UPDATE 

The Aggies departed after midnight following their 44-26 loss. N821SY is returning to LGU, via OAK, as SCX8411.

Virgin Australia's VH-VUJ

Virgin Australia is returning VH-VUJ "Rosebud Beach" (c/n 34443, l/n 2056) to its lessor, Aviation Capital Group. This 737-8FE is making its ferry flight from BNE to P08, with overnight stops at NAN and HNL, as VOZ9946.

VH-VUJ had been through HNL twice during the pandemic, as it was returned to its lessor, then re-leased, and returned Down Under. 

US Marshals Service's N311MS

The US Marshals Service flew N311MS (c/n 30670, l/n 1481) from VCV to HNL today. Flying as DOJ361, this 737-8Q8, is making an inmate transfer flight.

N311MS was last seen at HNL in December 2023.

10 July 2025 UPDATE

N311MS returned to VCV as DOJ364.

Virgin Australia's VH-VUI

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-VUI "Kewarra Beach" (c/n 34441, l/n 2015) from BNE to P08, via NAN and HNL, as VOZ9946. This 19-year-old 737-8FE is making its last flights, as it is headed to be parted out and scrapped at P08.

VH-VUI stopped through HNL in December 2020 during the corona virus pandemic as it was returned to lessor ACG. It stopped through again nine months later to return to Virgin Australia.

Sun Country Airlines' N839SY

Sun Country Airlines' N839SY (c/n 42083, l/n 6232) is making a stop at HNL from LAX as SCX8670, and parking on the South Ramp. This 737-8JP normally operates the Sun Country service between LAX and KOA, and only wears the Sun Country logo on the tail with a modified livery.

04 February 2025 UPDATE

N839SY is returning to LAX as SCX8671 today, and scheduled to continue onto SLC as SCX8672.