Island Air Says Aloha ‘Oe To JHM

Island Air bid farewell to JHM today. MKU514 made the last in-bound flight that arrived at 1633HST, and MKU515 departed JHM at 1712HST. As the Dash8 fleet is being replaced by their new ATR72s, and with no ATR42s on the horizon, the airline decided to close their Kapalua Airport Station, and will concentrate their Maui operations at OGG.

US Air Force's E-4B

One of the four E-4Bs operated by the U.S. Air Force, arrived this afternoon. 75-0125 (c/n 20949, l/n 257) was captured on its way taxiing to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Shenzhen's B-5736

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5736 (c/n 39132, l/n 4470) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ901.

Mahalo to team member Je89 W for the photo.

Fiji Airways DQ-FJG

Fiji's flagship airline, Air Pacific will re-launch as Fiji Airways starting in June 2013 to coincide with the delivery of three new A330-243s. Air Pacific's fleet of 737s have begun to receive the new livery.

Seen above is a freshly painted 737-8X2, DQ-FJG (c/n 29968, l/n 275) departing as FJI823 to Cassidy International (PLCH/CXI), Kiritimati (Christmas Island).

Batik's PK-LBO

Batik Air is taking delivery of PK-LBO (c/n 38731, l/n 4463) today. The 737-9GPER made an early morning stopover at HNL this morning as BTK1.

Team member hal763 got the photo above at HNL, and team member Drewski2112 got a photo of PK-LBO at BFI.

Shandong's B-5728

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-5728 (c/n 40020, l/n 4466) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG5728. It was originally ordered by parent company, Air China, but was allocated to its subsidiary, hence the Air China Boeing Customer Code.

China Southern's B-5741

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5741 (c/n 38945, l/n 4464) today. This is the fourth 737-81B for the airline this month, and is making its delivery flight as CSN481.

Skymark's JA73NT

Skymark Airlines is taking delivery of JA73NT (c/n 41264, l/n 4460) today. The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as SKY73NT (above). Its second leg is scheduled to go from HNL to GUM.

N799AL's New Home

N799AL's new home is now at the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point on the west end of JRF. Presently, it's parked near the row of former US Navy jets. It will be a "living display", as the the DC-8-62CF is still airworthy, and the museum will work to keep it so.

The Hawaii DC-8 Display has their own Facebook page.

HNL RareBirds extends a big mahalo to the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point for the opportunity to photograph N799AL.

more photos to follow ...

ASA843 Diversion To HNL

After a report of a blown tire after takeoff from SEA, Alaska Airlines decided to divert flight ASA843 to HNL, and deal with the problem instead of continuing to its original destination, KOA. The aircraft, N512AS (c/n 39043, l/n 2711) a 737-890, in the Dreamliner livery, stopped on the taxiway after exiting the runway, and was met by HNL ARFF. The passengers were off-loaded from the aircraft on the taxiway to Wiki-Wiki buses, taken to the terminal, and then continued to KOA on another Alaska aircraft as ASA843.

Link to the story on the KHON2 website

Japan Airlines 767-346ER's Gets Winglets

Japan Airlines announced last month, that it ordered the Blended Winglet retro-fit kits from Aviation Partners Boeing for six of its 767-346ERs. Seen above, is JA616J (c/n 35813, l/n 954) wearing its new winglets.

Xiamen's B-5752

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5752 (c/n 38404, l/n 4461) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA5752. It's seen above, taxiing out for departure to MAJ.

UPS 767-34AF With Winglets

UPS has begun to install Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets on its 767-300ER freighter fleet. One of those already fitted has shown up at HNL. N337UP (c/n 37858, l/n 986) flew in as UPS2967 from ONT (via OGG and KOA) and departed HNL for SAN as UPS2968. The winglets are painted the same gray color found on UPS's fleet of MD-11Fs and 747-400Fs.

Vision Airlines' N743VA

Vision Airlines' N743VA (c/n 25262, l/n 2088), a 737-46B, stopped through HNL on a ferry flight from TNA to OKC. It also made stops at GUM, MAJ, and OAK. Skyliners.de's news notes that it underwent freighter conversion at TNA, and is owned by Macquarie Air Finance.

Sorry, we weren't able to get a photo of N743VA.

ATI's N799AL

Air Transport International (ATI) [8C/ATN] is donating one of their DC-8s to the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point. N799AL (c/n 45922, l/n 335), a DC-8-62CF, made its final flight from HIK to JRF as ATN799. It's seen above after arriving at JRF.

A screenshot of the FlightAware routing of ATN799.

45922 was originally delivered to SAS Scandinavian Airlines in February 1968 as OY-KTE "Skjold Viking". During its time with SAS, it leased to a number of airlines (with the same registry): Scanair "Turid Viking" [DK/VKG] (October 1979 - January 1983); Arista International Airlines (AIA) "Maro" [RY/---] (January 1983 - November 1983); Northeastern International Airways [--/---] (December 1983 - September 1984); and Thai Airways International [TG/THA] (October 1984), and was re-registered as HS-TGQ. The Royal Thai Air Force was the next owner as it was registered as 60-112, in September 1985. International Air Leases (IAL) acquired 45922 in 1989 registered it as N799AL, and leased it to Arrow Air [JW/APW] in September, then to Hawaiian Air in December. In September 1991, Air Marshall Islands [CW/MRS] was the next lessee, with crews from Hawaiian (September 1991 - August 1992) and Arrow until October 1996. Zantop International Airlines [--/ZAN] was the next lessee from October 1996 - August 1997. ATI was the next and last lessee from July 1998, until today's final flight. Cargo Air Management was the last owner of N799AL.

Mahalo to blog fan Hiroshi for the photos!

Aloha Air Cargo's Temporary Home

On May 14th, Aloha Air Cargo held a ground breaking ceremony for its new cargo facilities adjacent to the Ewa hardstands. The construction kicks off the major part of the modernization of the inter-island concourse.

The current ramp that Aloha was using has been blocked off for the construction of the new facilities. Accommodations have been made for their 737-200Cs to utilize Gates 31-34 after the morning rush of arrivals and departures. Their SAAB 340AFs have been allocated to the corner of the inter-island ramp next to Elliott Street and Nimitz Highway.

Qantas' VH-TJL

Another former Qantas Airways 737-476 is bound for VCV for storage from MEL. VH-TJL (c/n 24437, l/n 2176) is making a stop at HNL as QFA6027.

VH-TJL was originally delivered to Australian Airlines in November 1991, and transferred to the Qantas fleet in October 1993.

Lucky Air's B-5805

Lucky Air [8L/LKE], a Hainan Air Group subsidiary, is taking delivery of B-5805 (c/n 39199, l/n 4447) today. The 737-74P, originally ordered by parent Hainan Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B5805.

China Southern's B-5742

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-81B in the past 11 days. B-5742 (c/n 38946, l/n 4454) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN805.

Garuda's PK-GFX

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of their second 737-800 in the past six days. PK-GFX (c/n 39928, l/n 4453), a 737-8FX leased from Lombard Aviation, is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will overnight at HNL. Like last week's delivery flight for PK-GMY, the next leg will go to PNI instead of MAJ.