Miami Air International Closes Doors

It was announced today that Miami Air International has shut down its operations. The airline was not able to obtain new financing to keep the charter airline in business, during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Their employees were laid-off, and their 737-800 fleet (parked as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic) have now been returned to its lessors.

Miami Air International used to fly in and out of HNL for US Navy personnel charters, as well as Hawai‘i Department of Corrections inmate transfer flights between IWA and HNL.

Miami Air International Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Aeronewsx.com reports that US charter Airlines, Miami Air International, has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Miami Air International 737-800s are frequent visitors to HNL with charters for the State of Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety; and HIK for crew transfer charters for the US Navy.

N735MA "Arlene" (c/n 37260, l/n 3688, f/n 735), is pictured above as this 737-8K5 taxies to a hardstand on a recent DPS charter flight from the mainland.

Miami Air International's N758MA

Miami Air International's 737-8K5, N758MA (c/n 37247, l/n 3497, f/n 758), is making a stop at HNL after its flight from IWA (via OAK, and ITO) as BSK7001. This is the airline's first 737 to receive the new livery.

Miami Air International's N739MA

Miami Air International's 737-8Q8, N739MA "Ely" (c/n 30670, l/n 1481), is being wet-leased by Fiji Airways. It's making its ferry flight from MIA to NAN, via OAK and HNL as BSK555.

With both of their 737 MAX 8s grounded, as part of the global grounding by Boeing, Fiji Airways is leasing this 737-800 to make up for some service between Fiji and New Zealand.

Miami Air's N734MA

Our May edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Miami Air's N734MA "Billie" (c/n 30039, l/n 701), a 737-8Q8, that was at HNL in November 2005. It was here on an inmate transfer flight for the federal Department of Justice.

30039 was originally delivered to ILFC in October 2000, and leased to Polynesian Airlines [PH/PAO] (Sāmoa) a month later as 5W-SAM. In May 2003, it was leased to Miami Air [LL/BSK] as N734MA "Billie". In late 2007, it was painted into the current Miami Air livery, and flew with Miami Air until April 2012. Two months later, it was leased to TACV Cabo Verde Airlines [VR/TCV] (Cape Verde) as D4-CBX. In May 2014, it was sold to AerCap, and the lease was transferred, but was seized by AerCap two years later. In October 2016, it was leased to US-Bangla Airlines [BS/UBG] (Bangladesh) as S2-AJA, where it presently flies.

Miami Air BSK660

Miami Air international has leased a 757-236, N526NA (c/n 24794), from Ryan International Airlines, though there are no Miami Air titles. It arrived from ELP (El Paso, TX) as BSK660.

This 757 was chartered by New Mexico State University to bring their Aggies football team, to square off today against the University of Hawai‘i Warriors at Aloha Stadium; the Aggies marching band; and the Lady Aggies volleyball team, who faced off against the 11th-ranked UH Rainbow Wahine Friday evening. The Rainbow Wahine swept the Lady Aggies, 30-26, 30-28, and 30-22 at the Stan Sherriff Center.

It was delivered to Iberia as EC-HDG, Air Europa as EC-FEF and G-BRJH, National Airlines (2nd) as N526NA. It went to Ryan International after National ceased operations.

Update (10-28-07): The charter left HNL Sunday morning at 0132HST, returning to ELP as BSK662. Last night, the Warriors smashed the Aggies 50-13, on the Warriors' homecoming night.

Photo to be posted later ...

Miami Air's N740EH

Leading off today's HNL RareBirds hat trick is Miami Air's N740EH, a 737-8DCW (c/n 34596), which arrived later in the day as BSK524 from GUM (Agana, Guam).

Miami Air Daily Double

Miami Air International (GL/BSK) has two of their 737-800s at HNL. Parked side by side are N906MA [top] and N739MA [above].

N906MA, a 737-81Q (c/n 20952), is wearing the new colors of Excel Airways (JN/XLA) [London, UK], is being leased by GL. The UK registration is G-XLAD. JN used to be called Sabre Airways (JN/SBE), and G-XLAD was registered as G-ODMW. N906MA arrived from OAK as BSK528.

N739MA, a 737-8Q8W (c/n 30670), wears GL's current livery, and arrived from OAK as BSK524.

Miami Air's N738MA

Miami AIr International's N738MA, a 737-8Q8W (c/n 32799, "Diane") makes an appearance @ HNL. It must have recently had its Blended Winglets installed, since the other photos of it don't.

"Diane" arrived last night, and seen here this morning on the south ramp. Sorry, I forgot to log the flight info on this one, though I do know it came in from OAK.