Stratolaunch's N949SL

Stratolaunch's 747-41R, N949SL "Spirit of Mojave" (c/n 32745, l/n 1287), is making a stop at KOA from MHV as STRAT1. This 747 is a launch vehicle for the Talon-A3 hypersonic test vehicle.

32745's History:

Oct 2001: Delivered to Virgin Atlantic as G-VWOW "Cosmic Girl", under lease from Boeing Capital.

Nov 2015: Acquired by Virgin Galactic as N744VG "Cosmic Girl", as a launch platform.

Jly 2017: Project re-named Virgin Orbit.

Oct 2023: Acquired by Stratolaunch as N744VG "Spirit of Mojave".

Apr 2024: Re-registered as N949SL "Spirit of Mojave".

30 May 2026 - 16:00 UPDATE

N949SL departed for GUM this afternoon.

03 July 2026 UPDATE

N949SL returned to KOA from GUM.

05 July 2026 UPDATE

N949SL returned to MHV.

Silk Way West Airlines' 4K-SW800

Silk Way West Airlines' 747-4R7F, 4K-SW800 (c/n 2729, l/n 1189), is making a brief fuel stop at HNL this morning. It's flying from YYC as AZG9382, and will continue onto WTB [Wellcamp Airport, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia].

Pacific Air Cargo Launches HNL-GUM Service

Kalitta Air is launching a weekly 747-400F LAX-HNL-GUM service today for Pacific Air Cargo. This will be in addition to their daily LAX-HNL round-trip service. This new one-way service is flown as CKS380. N705CK "Dwight Palmer" (c/n 26413, l/n 1286), a 747-4B5F, is making the first flight today.

Kalitta Air's N740CK In-flight Emergency

The Aviation Herald reports that Kalitta Air's N740CK "Doug Kalitta Sr. 1" (c/n 24405 l/n 745) had an in-flight fire in the aft cabin, as it flew from LAX to HNL as CKS368 on 24 May. The fire was extinguished, and the flight continued onto HNL. N740CK was able to re-enter service several hours later.

Kalitta Air's N703CK Retirement

Kalitta Air's N703CK "Beti Ward 1" (c/n 24226, l/n809) is being retired by the airline. This 747-412F made its last flight into HNL on 09 Apr from GUM as CKS371, and continued onto YYZ with the same flight code. N703CK was repositioned to YIP, Kalitta's headquarters; then to OSC, Kalitta's maintenance base. Over the past couple years, the Pacific Air Cargo livery was removed, and left as a white-tail.

Kingdom of Morocco’s CN-RGA

The Kingdom of Morocco’s 747-428, CN-RGA (c/n 25629, l/n 956) is making a stop at HNL. The top photo has CN-RGA on final for Runway 8L, and the above photo has the 747 taxiing to Runway 8R to return to Morocco.

Kingdom of Morocco's CN-RGA

The Kingdom of Morocco's 747-428, CN-RGA (c/n 25629, l/n 956), is making a stop at HNL.

N373JX

N373JX (c/n 33735, l/n 1354), a 747-409 owned by Jet One X, is ferrying from TPE to VCV, via HNL. As seen above, it's still wearing the SkyTeam Alliance special livery, though the China Airlines titles have been painted over.

33735's History:

Dec 2004: Originally delivered to China Airlines as B-18211.

May 2016: Painted in the "SkyTeam Alliance" special livery.

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at TPE.

Oct 2021: Acquired by Jet One X as N373JX.

N27063

N27063 (c/n 27063, l/n 947), a 747-45EF owned by Sky One FZE, is ferrying by Jet Test, from SBD to the UAE. It's flying as JTN228, and is making an overnight stop at HNL. As seen above, on HNL's North Ramp, it still wears the Eva Airways livery. Its next segment will be CGK.

N27063 was the subject of a Sam Chui YouTube video, that documented it revival from storage to be returned to service.

27063's History:

Nov 1992: Originally delivered to Eva Airways as B-16402, under lease from GECAS.

Nov 2007: Converted to a BDSF freighter.

Nov 2016: Sold to Boeing Capital, lease transferred.

Feb 2017: Sold to Atlas Air, stored at MHV (May 2017-Jly 2021)

Mar 2021: Sold to N27063 LLC, remained in storage.

Jun 2021: Sold to Sky One FZE, remained in storage, ferried to SBD (Jly 2021).

N337JX

JetOneX is ferrying its 747-409, N337JX (c/n 33734, l/n 1353), from TPE to VCV, via HNL.

33734's History:

Dec 2004: Delivered to China Airlines as B-18210, in the "Dreamliner" livery.

Dec 2012: Painted in the standard China Airlines livery.

Dec 2019: 60th Anniversary decals applied to aft section.

Feb 2020: Withdrawn from service.

Jly 2021: Sold to JetOneX.

Qantas Retires Their 747s

Qantas Airways retired its 747 fleet today. It ends the 49-year with the "Queen Of The Skies" that began with 747-238B, VH-EBC (c/n 20011, l/n 162) in October 1971. Qantas has served HNL with four variants: -238B, -SP38, -338, and -438.

VH-OEJ "Wunala" (c/n 32914, l/n 1331) is making one last flight from SYD to LAX as QFA7474 today.

[Top]

747-338, VH-EBT "City of Wagga Wagga" (c/n 23222, l/n 602), taxiing on Taxiway RT in 2005.

[Above]

747-438, VH-OEI "Ceduna" (c/n 32913, l/n 1330), about to touchdown on Runway 8L in 2019.

Qantas Retires Their 747-400 Fleet

Accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Qantas Airways retired its remaining 747-438s. The airline had supplemental 747 flights for their SYD-HNL service for the spring schedule, but that came to a quick end. VH-OEI "Ceduna" (c/n 32913, l/n 1330) is seen above, seconds from touching down on Runway 8L.

On a related note, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also retired their 747-406 fleet this week. PH-BFE "Melbourne" (c/n 24201, l/n 763) is seen above, in a 2010 photo while on final for LAX's Runway 25L.

Wamos Air Charters

Two Wamos Air 747-4H6s, EC-KXN (c/n 25773, l/n 1023, -446) and EC-MQK (c/n 28427, l/n 1147), are making charter flights from MAD to HNL, to pick up tourists from cruise liners due to the COVID-19 global health crisis. EC-KXN is flying as PLM948P, and EC-MQK is flying as PLM946P. While awaiting their departure times, both 747s will be parking on Taxiway RH.

03.34.2020 UPDATE
EC-MQK departed this morning for FRA as PLM9461, and EC-KXN departed this afternoon for LGW as PLM9481.

Qantas Adds 747-400 Service

RoutesOnline.com reports that Qantas Airways will be adding 747-438 flights between SYD and HNL for the month of March as QFA103/104.

Singapore Airlines Cargo's 9V-SFO

Singapore Airlines Cargo's 9V-SFO (c/n 32900, l/n 1349) has made an overnight stop at HNL. This 747-412F arrived early this morning from SYD as SIA7194, and is making a fuel stop here before continuing onto ATL.

Avatar Airlines

A proposed airline, called Avatar Airlines [Boca Raton, FL], has indicated that HNL will be one of the destinations the airline would fly to/from SFO, SJC, LAX, and LAS. The airline plans to start service with 14 747-400s, and have signed a letter of intent with Boeing for an order of 30 747-8i. No service start date has been announced. It has filed preliminary paperwork with both the FAA and the USDOT.

Coverage by World Airline News and Sam Chui.com.

GE Propulsion Test Platform

General Electric's "Propulsion Test Platform" N747GF (c/n 23655, l/n 1024) is doing warm weather engine testing out of KOA during the week of 09 December 2019.

23655's History:

Mar 1994: Delivered to Japan Airlines as JA8910.

Mar 2010: Withdrawn from service and stored at HND for nine months.

Dec 2010: Acquired by AerSale, registered as N356AS, and ferried to ROW, then VCV for storage.

Jan 2011: Acquired by General Electric to use as a testbed.

Dec 2011: Re-registered as N747GF.

Qantas Ends 747-400 Service To HNL

Qantas Airways' VH-OEI (c/n 32913, l/n 1330) made the final 747-438 service between SYD and HNL today, as the Australian flag carrier winds down its 747-438 operations. A330-300s will be the replacement type for QFA3/4.

Atlas Air Launches Flexport

Atlas Air has begun Flexport 747-400F cargo service HKG and ORD and LAX, via either HNL or ANC. 

Further information in this CH-Aviation article.

Singapore Airlines Cargo's 9V-SFP

Singapore Airlines Cargo's 747-412F, 9V-SFP (c/n 32902, l/n 1364), is making a brief fuel stop at HNL this morning. It's flying from SYD as SIA7122, and will continue onto ATL.