Delta Air Lines' N411DX

Delta Air Lines' Team USA-liveried A330-941, N411DX (msn 1991) made its first appearance at HNL today. It arrived from ATL as DAL837, then continued onto MSP as DAL313.

03 May 2026 UPDATE

N411DX returned to HNL from MSP today, as DAL312, then departed for ATL as DAL309.

Delta Air Lines Pushes Back On Merger Speculation

CH-Aviation reports that Delta Air Lines is downplaying any talk of mergers. Concerns about current fuel prices have been causing speculation of airline mergers among industry people. Delta executives say that are not in the market for a merger.

Delta Air Lines Expands Hawai‘i Service

Delta Air Lines announced today, that they will expand services to Hawai‘i for next winter. The airline will launch an MSP-OGG route, and resume the BOS-HNL route on 19 December 2026, both operated with their A330-300s. A daily SLC-KOA route, flown with their 767-300ERs, will launch on 09 November 2026.

Seasonal additions include: a second (three-times-weekly) ATL-HNL A330-300 flight, from 04 January 2027 to 31 March 2028; DTW-HNL (A330-300) to go daily from 09 November 2026; JFK-HNL (767-300ER) to go daily on 01 April 2026; and KOA-LAX to upgauge to their 767-300ERs for Winter 2026.

Further details are in this Delta Air Lines news release.

Delta Air Lines Orders 31 Airbus Widebodies

Delta Air Lines announced today that they have placed an order for 31 Airbus widebody airliners that comprises of 16 A330-900neos and 15 A350-900s. The order includes an option for 10 airliners.

Further details in this Delta Air Lines press release.

Delta Air Lines Orders 30 787-10s

Boeing and Delta Air Lines announced today that the airline has placed a firm order for 30 787-10 DreamLiners, with an option for 30 more, as part of its fleet modernization. They will be powered by the GENx series of engines. According to a Delta Air Lines Instagram post, deliveries are expected to begin in 2031. This order is in addition to the 100 737-10s Delta placed in July 2022.

Further information in this Delta Air Lines press release and this Boeing press release.

Delta Air Lines' N527DN

N527DN (msn 720, f/n 3527), Delta Air Lines' 100th Anniversary-liveried A350-941, made an appearance today at HNL as it flew the airline's second ATL-HNL flight, DAL438/962.

Delta Air Lines' Additional ATL Service

Earlier this month, on 19 December, Delta Air Lines added a second seasonal round-trip flight between ATL and HNL. DAL438/962 is flying the second flight, that began with a 767-332ER, N174DZ (c/n 29693, l/n 725, f/n 1704). This service will end on 05 January 2026.

Today, however, Delta is changing aircraft flying DAL438/962 to the A350-941, and N523DN (msn 677, f/n 3523) is making the flight. Currently, Delta is the only airline with scheduled A350 service to Hawai‘i.

Delta Air Lines' N519DN

Delta Air Lines is ferrying N519DN (msn 588) from ATL to QPG, via HNL today. This A350-941 is headed for heavy maintenance. The ATL-HNL leg is being flown as DAL9954, and the HNL-QPG leg will be flown as DAL9965.

It's been a while since Delta used their A350-941s on the ATL-HNL route.

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines celebrates its 100th birthday today. Their centennial began as an aerial crop-dusting company in Macon GA as Huff Daland Dusters on this day in 1925, and became Delta Air Lines three years later. It would not be until 1929, before Delta began passenger operations.

Delta's foray into Hawai‘i began in 1984, and increased their presence as they acquired Western Airlines. They took over Western's routes with their DC-10s. Delta eventually began flights from further east in their route network with L-1011 TriStars, which replaced the DC-10s. The TriStars were replaced by 767-300ERs and 767-400ERs. Delta's routes and fleets further expanded after their merger with Northwest Airlines was completed in 2010. Delta's current flights from Hawai‘i serve ATL, MSP, JFK, DTW, SLC, LAX, SEA, and HND. Delta's fleet service to Hawai‘i also includes 747-400s (retired), 757-200s, 757-300s, A330-300s, A330-900s, A321-200Ns, and A350-900s.

Delta Air Lines' N513DZ Diversion To HNL

Delat Air Lines' A350-941, N513DZ (msn 277, f/n 3513), made a diversion to HNL from its LAX-SYD route. The flight landed on Runway 8R around 02:55L. Because of duty times, the continuing leg to SYD was canceled, and the A350 towed to the ‘Ewa ramp until the flight can continue.

Delta Air Lines To Increase Winter Service

Delta Air Lines announced today that they will be launching seasonal daily service between BOS and HNL. This route is scheduled to begin on 21 November 2024, and run through 30 April 2025. The airline did not disclose the fleet type that will be operating this service.

Delta will also add a second daily seasonal flight between SLC and HNL from 06 November 2024 through 29 March 2025; and a third daily seasonal flight between SEA and HNL from 21 December 2024 through 29 March 2025. OGG will also get seasonal non-stop service from ATL from 21 November 2024 through 29 March 2025. Fleet types for these flights have yet to be specified.

Further details in this Delta Air Lines press release.

Delta Air Lines To Launch HND-HNL Service

Delta Air Lines announced earlier today, that they will launch daily 767-300ER service between HND and HNL on 28 October 2023 as DAL180/181. In March 2020, Delta moved the Tokyo operations from NRT to HND.

This will be the second US carrier, next to Hawaiian Airlines to have service between HND and HNL, and will add about 220 seats. Delta will be the fourth overall airline to fly between HND and HNL, along with All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines.

Further details in this Delta Air Lines press release.

Pratt & Whitney Issues GTF Inspections

Pratt & Whitney announced that their PW1100 series Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines will require inspections as micro-cracks have been discovered in this engine series. It affects over 1,200 power plants globally. These inspections are also required in the PW1200 series, that powers the A220 series and the Embraer E2 series.

Locally, both Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines A321-271Ns will be affected as airframes will need to be grounded and engines inspected. Hawaiian said that they will have their A321Ns inspected on the mainland, and will do them in increments, and adjust flight schedules as need be. Of their 18 A321Ns, Hawaiian already has two parked on their maintenance ramp awaiting replacement PW1100s. Delta has not mentioned their plans for their 37 A321Ns, though with their large fleet, other aircraft could substituted for their grounded A321Ns. Delta recently converted a majority of their west coast flights to Hawai‘i to the A321N. American Airlines, which also flies their A321Ns to Hawai‘i, is unaffected as they have CFM LEAPs powering their A321-253Ns.

Further information in this Airways Magazine article, this CH-Aviation.com article, and this KHON2 News report.

Delta Downguages West Coast To A321neos

Delta Air Lines has downguaged all but one of their west coast (SEA and LAX) flights to the islands to their A321-271NXs. The one remaining west coast flight, DAL480 (LAX), which applies to both segments, is served by their 767-300ERs.

Delta's flights from SLC, ATL, DTW, MSP, and JFK to HNL are continued to be served by their wide-body fleet.

Delta joins Hawaiian Airlines and American Airlines with A321neo service between the west coast and the Hawaiian Islands.

Lion Air’s PK-LJJ

Lion Air’s 737-9GPER, PK-LJJ (c/n 37289, l/n 3888) is being returned to its lessor, Novus Aviation Capital, as it will be leased to Delta Air Lines. It’s flying from BTH to SBD, with stops at GUM and HNL, as LNI7001.

PK-LJJ’s History:

Jan 2012: Delivered. To Lion Air, under lease from Novus Aviation Capital.

Apr 2020: Withdrawn from service, and placed into storage at SOC, then CGK.

Dec 2020: Returned to service.

Apr 2021: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CGK, then BTH.

Feb 2022: Returned to service.

Apr 2022: Withdrawn from service, and stored at BTH.

Vanderbilt University's Team Charter

The Vanderbilt Commodores football team chartered a Delta Air Lines A330 to make their road trip to play the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. N801NW (msn 0524, f/n 3301), an A330-323, made the team charter flight from BNA to HNL as DAL8912. This A330 will ferry to MSP as DAL8771 tomorrow.

Another airliner will pick up the team on Saturday night following the game.

Delta Air Lines' N501DA

Delta Air Lines is sending their first A321-271NX, N501DA (msn 10437, f/n 5001), to HNL from SEA as DAL9959. This is the aircraft's first long-distance over-water flight since its delivery flight in March, and is being used for test and proving flights, as well as ground training (especially since Delta's A321s do not fly here). It's not known when Delta will implement their A321Ns into Hawai‘i service, but the airline currently has only two in their fleet, with another 150+ on firm order.

02 May 2022 UPDATE

N501DA returned to SEA under the same flight number.

04 May 2022 UPDATE

N501DA made another trip to HNL, and will return to SEA the next day.

Lion Air's VP-CEF

The last of the 29 Lion Group 737-9GPERs acquired by Castlelake to lease to Delta Air Lines is making a stop at HNL, as it ferries from CGK to SBD, also stopping in GUM. VP-CEF (c/n 37286, l/n 3813) is the last 737-9GPER.

37286's History:

Oct 2011: Delivered to Lion Air as PK-LJF, leased from CMIG Aviation Leasing

Feb 2018: Painted in the LionParcel.com livery

Mar 2018: Acquired by Aircastle, and the lease transferred.

Jan 2021: Withdrawn from service, and stored at BTH.

Dec 2021: Ferried to CGK, and acquired by Castlelake as VP-CEF.

Jan 2022: Ferried to SBD for lease to Delta Air Lines, to registered as N931DM.

Here are the Delta Air Lines registrations of the former Lion Group 737-9GPERs:

N931DM (f/n 3931) | PK-LJF

N932DS (f/n 3932) | PK-LQU

N933DJ (f/n 3933) | PK-LJL

N934DB (f/n 3934) | PK-LSG

N935DH (f/n 3935) | PK-LHW

N936DU (f/n 3936) | HS-LTK

N937DM (f/n 3937) | PK-LJM

N938DB (f/n 3938) | PK-LJO

N939DG (f/n 3939) | PK-LKO

N940DJ (f/n 3940) | 9M-LNF

N941DJ (f/n 3941) | PK-LBG

N942DC (f/n 3942) | PK-LBM

N943DB (f/n 3943) | 9M-LNJ

N944DR (f/n 3944) | PK-LJT

N945DU (f/n 3945) | 9M-LNG

N946DC (f/n 3946) | PK-LBH

N947DC (f/n 3947) | PK-LBO

N948DJ (f/n 3948) | 9M-LNH

N949DK (f/n 3949) | 9M-LNL

N950DA (f/n 3950) | 9M-LNK

N951DA (f/n 3951) | HS-LTH

N952DJ (f/n 3952) | PK-LOF

N953DC (f/n 3953) | PK-LBJ

N954DJ (f/n 3954) | PK-LBI

N955DE (f/n 3955) | HS-LTL

N956DD (f/n 3956) | HS-LTJ

N957DR (f/n 3957) | PK-LSQ

N958DJ (f/n 3958) | PK-LPH

N959DV (f/n 3959) | PK-LPF

Delta Air Lines' N411DX

Delta Air Lines' Team USA-liveried A330-941, N411DX (msn 1991, f/n 3411), is making its first appearance at HNL with this special livery today. It arrived from SEA as DAL450, and will return tomorrow as DAL440.

Lion Air's VP-CEI

Castlelake is having VP-CEI (c/n 38301, l/n 5176) ferried from CGK to SBD, via SZB, GUM and HNL, as it will join the Delta Air Lines fleet. VP-CEI was stuck at GUM due to a maintenance issue since 20 Dec. It's making an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

38301's History:

Dec 2014: Delivered to Thai Lion Air as HS-LTP.

Apr 2020: Transferred to Lion Air as PK-LSG.

Mar 2021: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to SUB for storage.

Nov 2021: Ferried to CGK for storage.