All Nippon Airways' JA383A

All Nippon Airways is inducting its third A380-841, JA383A "Lā" (msn 266) into service today. The "orange honu" is making its first revenue flight from NRT to HNL as ANA182. It will return to NRT as ANA181.

JA383A had been the airline's training A380, that made quarterly flights around NRT since it was delivered four years ago. It will join the rotation with their other two A380-841s, JA381A and JA382A.

ANA'S Flying Honu Returns

All Nippon Airways is resuming their Airbus A380 service between NRT and HNL (ANA184/183) today. The ANA184/183 will operate only on Fridays and Saturdays from today until October 29th. JA381A "Lani" (msn 262) is seen above returning to NRT.

Further information in this ANA press release.

Airbus To Terminate A380 Production

Airbus EADS announced today, that they will end their A380 production in 2021, once all of the orders are delivered. Citing lowered demand for very large airliners, and a few key order cancellations, the European aviation conglomerate will terminate the "Super Jumbo".

Airbus' F-WWDD (msn 004), their A380-861 testbed/demonstrator paid a visit to HNL in December 2012 as part sales call to Hawaiian Airlines, and ground training for Swissport.

All Nippon Airways is still scheduled to convert one of their 787-9 flights to the Honu-liveried A380 in May.

Further information in this ATW Online article.

HNL To Build A380 Gates

Civil Beat is reporting that HDOT will spend $30million to convert two gates to accommodate Airbus A380 flights, specifically All Nippon Airways' decision to use the Super Jumbo on its NRT-HNL flights. This will include adding jet bridges for the A308's upper deck, widening of the parking stands, and terminal improvements. The article did not mention which gates will be modified for ANA's A380 operations, though KHON reports that Gates 29 and 34 will be the gates to be converted to handle A380s.

Presently, Gates 29 and 34 have guidelines for A380s, but are only used to handle an A380 on an emergency basis. Qantas Airways A380s have made medical and technical stops at HNL.

With ANA based in the Diamond Head Concourse, and the A380 gates will be on the ‘Ewa Concourse, it appears that ANA will need to move across the airport.

Hawaiian Airlines To Order A380s?

In a Bloomberg Technology article today, it intimated that Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley is mulling over the possibility of ordering Airbus A380s for its HNL-LAX, HNL-LAS, and HNL-NRT flights. There will be a several second-hand "Super Jumbos" to hit the market, as Singapore Airlines is set to return some of their leased A380 fleet, and leasing companies have several to offer.

The airline is also looking at further route expansion to the east coast US, and Asian destinations as they anticipate delivery of the six A330-800neos. Europe is mentioned as a possibility as well, depending on the range and load specs when the A330neos are built.

Hawaiian Airlines would have to limit the amount of A380 movements at HNL, as only two gates on the ‘Ewa Concourse are currently rated to accommodate the A380, though only via the main deck.  HNL has reinforced taxiways to handle the "Super Jumbo" as well. 

In December 2012, F-WWDD, an A380 demonstrator paid a three-day visit to HNL. Hawaiian Airlines hosted the visit, which included touch-and-go landings at KOA. It was also used as a training plane for Swissport, who handles Qantas A380 flights, when they stop here for medical diversions.

QFA94 Diversion

Qantas Airways' QFA94 [LAX-MEL] made a diversion to HNL with a medical emergency early this morning. The A380-842, VH-OQA "Nancy Bird-Walton" (msn 014), arrived at HNL shortly after 01:00HST, and departed before 03:00HST.

QFA12 Diversion To HNL

Qantas Airways' VH-OQL "Phyllis Arnott" (msn 074) made a medical diversion at HNL early this morning. The A380-842, flying as QFA12, from LAX to SYD, landed at HNL around 01:00HST, and departed for SYD three hours later.

QFA11 VH-OQF A380

 

Qantas flight QFA11, an A380-842 (VH-OQF "Charles Kingford Smith", msn 029), with direct service between Sydney International Airport (YSSY/SYD) and Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX), was diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance early this morning. The aircraft was in HNL for just over an hour, and continued on to LAX. This is now the second Qantas A380 diversion into HNL within a month.

QFA12 VH-OQH A380

 

Qantas flight QFA12, an A380-842 (VH-OQH "Reginald Ansett", msn 050), with direct service between Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX) and Sydney International Airport (YSSY/SYD), diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance early this morning. The aircraft was in HNL for two hours, and continued on to SYD.

FlightAware's QFA12 flight info.

QFA93 VH-OQJ A380

Qantas flight QFA93, an A380-842 (VH-OQJ "Bert Hinkler", msn 062), with direct service between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (YMML/MEL) and Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX), diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance early this morning. The aircraft was in HNL for just over an hour, and continued on to LAX. This is now the third Qantas diversion into HNL this month, and of those three, the second A380 this month.

FlightAware's QFA93 flight info.

QFA12 VH-OQD A380

Qantas flight QFA12, an A380-842 (VH-OQD "Fergus McMaster", msn 026) with direct service between Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX) and Sydney International Airport (YSSY/SYD) diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance early this morning. The aircraft was in HNL for just over an hour and was parked at gate 29. Today's flight, however, will continue onto BNE instead of SYD due to the crew's flight duty time limitations would have exceeded the acceptable time allowed.

Apologies on the picture quality as I only had my cell phone available.

FlightAware's QFA12 flight info.

Au Revoir F-WWDD

After, its Hawai‘i stopover, F-WWDD departed from Runway 8R today, for HKG as AIB101. 

There was quite a turnout at the Lagoon Drive General Aviation lot, as a few dozen people showed up to catch a glimpse of the "Super Jumbo". The parking lot was almost full, as the departure time approached. As F-WWDD taxied along Taxiway RB, people rushed to line up along the fence line, or stood on their cars to get their photo of the A380. As soon as the big bird made its turn to heading 155°, the lot emptied within a couple of minutes. 

A380 Demonstrator (F-WWDD)

F-WWDD landed at HNL at about 2:20pm this afternoon, en route to HKG.  These pictures were shot from Ewa Beach Park as it was on approach to Runway 8L.  This is the first time the A380 has made a scheduled visit to HNL; Qantas A380s have previously landed here for medical diversions while flying LAX-SYD.

A380 To HNL 9 December

Just in case you all don't know this already, an A380 is supposed to arrive at about 1430 on Sunday, 9 December. Not sure if it will RON nor where it will park. Anyone know more? Surely Mark Dunkerley isn't thinking of acquiring one! :-) But oh my, she'd be oh so pretty painted in Pualani colors.

QFA94

Qantas 94, with direct service between Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX) and Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (YMML/MEL) diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance. VH-OQK, a A380-842 (c/n 63), was unloaded and towed to the hardstands after determining that the crew's flight duty time limitations would exceed the acceptable time allowed. The flight is due to depart for MEL later tonight.

The top photo shows VH-OQK at a rainy Gate 29, and the above photo was taken a few hours later on the North Ramp Hardstands.

Mahalo to team member NAugusta for this front view of VH-OQK.

Hawai‘i Express' N380HE

It seems the SkyLiners website was either pranked, or is pulling an April Fool's Day prank on everyone when it listed a Hawai‘i Express A380-841, N380HE (msn 002), was to have been delivered today from TLS. It appeared on their new registration page.

The photo above, is a snapshot of that SkyLiners news page, taken with my iPhone4.

There was an actual airline called The Hawai‘i Express, it was an airline in the early 1980s that flew between LAX and HNL. It was among one of the first airlines to start the fare war in the LAX and HNL route in the early days of airline deregulation. Unfortunately, the airline lasted for only 16 months (August 1982 - December 1983).

The actual A380-841, F-WXXL (msn 002), is currently being outfitted with a VIP interior, as it's destined for Kingdom Holdings (Saudi Arabia). It was originally the cabin systems prototype for Airbus. Currently, it's at TLS, and the Airbus house livery has been painted over.

Qantas A380-800

Some pictures from this morning of the first A380 in HNL.

QFA94

Qantas flight QFA94, an A380-842 (VH-OQE "Lawrence Hargrave", msn 027) made an emergency stop at HNL from LAX early this morning. QFA94 normally flies between LAX and MEL. According to sources, an on-board medical emergency caused the super-jumbo to stop at HNL. Sources have told me as well, that HNL Fire/Rescue trucks were standing by along Runway 4R as the A380 landed. Today's flight, however, will continue onto SYD instead of MEL.

This is the first appearance of an A380 at HNL, especially since it's not designed to handle one on a regular basis, but Gate 29 is designated as the gate to handle the Airbus should an emergency arise.

FlightAware's QFA94 flight info.