AMR Files For Bankruptcy

AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. While the holding company restructures, the airline will continue to operate as usual. At some point, though, some routes and aircraft will be eliminated, and the airline operation restructured.

The website on the restructuring American Airlines.

Aloha ‘Oe Continental Airlines

Today is the final day for Continental Airlines. Tomorrow, November 30th, at 0100HST, the merger between Continental Airlines and United Airlines finalizes under a single operating certificate (SOC) owned by Continental, but using the United name. That means the CO/COA codes, flight numbers, and the "Continental" call-sign are no more, replaced by Unitedʻs coding and call-sign. UAL1 is now from IAH to HNL, which previously was COA1.

United Continental Holdings press release.

Transair Files Expansion with DoT

Transair [Trans Executive Airlines dba] (MUI) has filed a Certificate of Public Conveyance with the Department of Transportation for expansion of their cargo operations to upgrade to a 737-200C, and scheduled passenger operations with the lone passenger-configured SD360. 

The airline has purchased a 737-2B1C, N808TA (c/n 20536, l/n 289), from AerGo Capital Ltd. This 737 was originally delivered to DETA Lineas Aéreas de Moçambique in October 1971, as CR-BAC. It was re-registered as C9-BAC in October 1975. AerGo Capital Ltd acquired C9-BAC, and leased it back to Lineas Aéreas de Moçambique in 1980. TransGlobal Airways then leased the 737 in October 2006 as RP-C8015.

Transair's application and motion to the Certificate of Public Conveyance

Armée De L`Air's F-RAJB

An Armée De L`Air (French Air Force) A340-212, F-RAJB (c/n 081), arrived at HNL yesterday, and parked at Gate 34 while on a fuel stop. F-RAJB is one of two VIP transports for French government officials.

Mahalo to "HI" for the photo!

Makani Kai Awarded Kalaupapa EAS

The US Department of Transportation (DoT) awarded the Essential Air Service contract to Makani Kai Charters (a subsidiary of Schuman Aviation) to provide air service between HNL and LUP. Makani Kai will be using two of their three nine-seat Cessna 208B Grand Caravans for the flight. 

Schuman had all of their three Caravans (N687MA [c/n 208B1002, above], N865MA [c/n 208B0996], and N866MA [c/n 208B0934, a Cargomaster]) parked on the South Ramp for the past couple of months, with the termination of the Pacific Air Express venture. Only the Cargomaster (N866MA) remains parked outside the Leis Air hangar.

US Senator Daniel Inouye's press release.

Skymark Airlines' JA73NJ

Skymark Airlines is taking delivery of a GECAS-leased 737-86N today. JA73NJ (c/n 39405, l/n 3845) is making its way from BFI to HND (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as SKY73NJ. It's seen above taxiing to the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

Air China's B-5621

Air China is taking delivery of B-5621 (c/n 40030, l/n 3846) today. The 737-89L is flying as CCA51. It's seen above on the AirService Hawaii ramp.

John Travolta's N707JT

This past Sunday (11/20/11), John Travolta arrived in his 707-138B. After spending a few days in Hawaii, N707JT (c/n 18740, l/n 388) departed this evening.

Sun Country's N801SY

The producers of "Hawai‘i Five-0" chartered a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for use tonight's episode "Ki‘ilua". N801SY (c/n 30332, l/n 777), a 737-8Q8, was flown in on October 20th as SCX8603 from EFP (via SFO). Filming took place over the next two days, then N801SY flew out to PGD (Punta Gorda, FL), via SFO and ELP in the wee hours of the 23rd.

The two photos show the production crew scouting out the location and 737. Production trucks lined Kapalulu Street, but the cast trailers were in another location.

Also, in tonight's episode was N6131P (c/n 66-16093), a UH-1H Huey owned by Pacific Helicopter Tours of Kahului, Maui.

North American N752NA & N755NA at OGG

We used to see North American Airlines 757s every day from OAK. Now, they only come here as charters. Shown above are N752NA (c/n 28174, l/n 865) and N755NA (c/n 30043, l/n 925), both 757-28As

NAO62 flew in from FOE (Forbes Field, Topeka, KS) and NAO66 flew in from MEM, both stopped off at OAK. NAO62 flew in the University of Kansas Jayhawks, and NAO66 flew in the University of Memphis Tigers for the Maui Invitational men's college basketball tournament going on in Lahaina, Maui.

DAL8908 brought in the Duke University Blue Devils from RDU.

ESPN's tournament preview.

QFA6027

One of Qantas' 737-400s is headed for storage on the US mainland as QFA6027. VH-TJF (c/n 24431, l/n 1863) "Brolga", a 737-476, is pictured above on HNL's North Ramp.

This 737-476 was originally delivered to Australian Airlines in May 1990, and merged into the Qantas fleet in October 1993.

Mahalo to team member Areos for the photo!

CSN3026

The last China Southern MD-90-30 to join the Delta Air Lines fleet is making its way to the US mainland as CSN3026. B-2267 (c/n 53533, l/n 2258) has the distinction of the final MD-90 to leave China. It will become N963DN when it joins the Delta fleet.

Mahalo to team member Areos for the photo!

Shenzhen's B-5619

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-87L this month. B-5619 (c/n 39125, l/n 3841) is making its island-hopping delivery flight from BFI to SZX (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as CSZ920.

Sorry, we were unable to get an HNL photo.

China Eastern's B-5282

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of their newest 737-79P, B-5282 (c/n 37920, l/n 3840), today. It's flew out of BFI as CES5282, and just arrived at HNL. It's seen above about to embark on its second segment to MAJ.

Hawaiian Orders Five More A330s

Hawaiian Airlines announced a firm order for five more A330-243s, and has purchase rights for another three. Delivery for the five are scheduled for 2015. This firm order raises the count of Hawaiian's A330s to 22, which includes four that are leased, and all those already delivered.

Hawaiian Air's press release.

Lion Air's 737MAX Boeing Order

Indonesia's Lion Air placed an order for 380 Boeing 737s, of which 201 are the new 737MAX. The other 29 are the current 737-9GPER, and the remaining 150 are for purchase rights.

Flightglobal article.

Boeing's artist rendition of a Lion 737MAX from their Flickr page.

China Southern's B-5609

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5609 (c/n 38963, l/n 3838), a 737-81B. It will island hop across the Pacific from BFI to PVG as CSN454.

Sorry, no HNL photo.

Hawaiian Announces JFK Service

Hawaiian Airlines has announced that they will be flying daily, non-stop to JFK beginning June 4, 2012. This new service initially showed up as one of their special offers on their website hours before their press release came out.

HAL50: HNL-JFK

HAL51: JFK-HNL

The flights will be using their A330-243s. This service will be Hawaiian's first mainland destination east of PHX.

Just some history, Hawaiian was originally going to announce service to JFK in September 2001. However, the 9/11 terrorist attacks derailed those plans.

I'm not sure how long this link will work, but it will be updated once a press release comes out.

Hawaiian Air's New York Special Offer

More details on Hawaiian Air's Press Release.

Presently, the only time a Hawaiian Air 767 is spotted in New York, is for team charters for the NFL's Oakland Raiders or Seattle Seahawks. Continental (United) offers daily, non-stop service between HNL and EWR. The last airline to fly non-stop between HNL and JFK was Pan American in 1989. Though, according to some reports, American Trans Air had a JFK-HNL flight operated with an L1011-500 in the late 90s.

Mesa To Sell Off Mokulele Operations

Mesa Airlines announced that they are selling their Mokulele Airlines operations to Transpac Aviation (Scottsdale, AZ). Mesa will continue to run the inter-island CRJ service, while Transpac run the Caravan operations as Mokulele Flight Service. Though the two airlines will have separate ownerships, the go!Mokulele brand and code-share will continue on.

Yahoo! Finance article.

"Air Force 1"

President Barack Obama departed Honolulu this morning for Canberra (CBR/YSCB), then Darwin (DRW/YPDN), Australia in "Air Force 1", seen above lifting off from Runway 8L. 82-8000 (c/n 23824, l/n 679), a VC-25A (747-2G4B), brought the President here for the APEC 2011 Conference. The blue helicopter, in the background, is HPD's N504HP which carried a pair of Secret Service agents, that followed the motorcade, and landed after "Air Force 1" made its right turn south over Ke‘ehi Lagoon.

This C-32A (757-2G4W), 98-0001 (c/n 29025, l/n 783), followed "Air Force 1" as SAM (Special Air Missions) 44. It departed a few minutes after, on Runway 8L. It received its Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets in 2007.