Lion's PK-LPH

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of PK-LPH (c/n 39878, l/n 5096) today. The 737-9GPER, their second in two weeks, is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make its brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto PNI.


Update 10.01.14
On the 29th, PK-LPH returned to HNL about half-way into its flight to PNI, due to a possible maintenance issue. It left this morning for PNI.

1 Million Page Views

According to statistics kept by Google Analytics, HNL RareBirds has passed the 1,000,000 page views mark tonight!

The HNL RareBirds team members extend a big mahalo to our readers and fans for making this site what it is, since it began in January 2006.

Hainan's B-1735

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1735 (c/n 41269, l/n 5097) this morning. The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1735, and will overnight at HNL.

Blue Angels To Perform This Weekend

The US Navy's Blue Angels will perform at this weekend's "Wings Over The Pacific" air show at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The event will include static displays on the JBPHH flight line.

C-FBXT

C-FBXT (msn 405), a former UNI Air Dash8-Q311, is making its ferry flight from TPE to YYC (via SPN, MAJ, HNL, and CCR), as the airline phases out their Q300 fleet.

It was formerly registered as B-15225, and delivered to Great China Airlines [GC/GCA] in June 1995. Three years later, it was transferred to the UNI fleet as Great China Airlines and Taiwan Airlines merged.

Trans Air's N809TA

Trans Air has taken delivery of their third 737-200F, with N809TA (c/n 23796, l/n 1420). The 737-209F/Adv, arrived from BKI [Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia], via GUM and MAJ.

23796 was originally delivered to China Airlines in July 1987 as B-182. In January 1997, it was sold to Transmile Air Services [TH/TSE] (Malaysia) as 9M-PMZ. During its time with TSE, it was leased to Mandala Airlines [RI/MDL] as PK-RIV in June 1997, for a year; then Bayu Indonesia [DD/BYU] in June 2001 for a year as PK-BYA; it then went to Kartika Airlines [KAE] as PK-KAR. In September 2010, it was converted to a freighter with TSE, still as PK-PMZ.

Thai Lion's HS-LTO

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of their second 737-9GPER this month with HS-LTO (c/n 39824, l/n 5088). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

N558MS

N558MS (c/n 28567, l/n 2971), a 737-36NF owned by GECAS, is making a ferry flight from TUS to a new lessee somewhere in the Pacific or Asia. It's making a stop at JRF (above), after arriving from OAK yesterday.

28567 was originally leased to Varig in December 1997 as PP-VPU. In December 2002, it was leased to Garuda Indonesia as PK-GGU. In July 2009, it was leased to Viking Airlines [4P/VIK] (Sweden) as SE-RHV. In November 2010, it was leased to Webjet Linhas Aereas [WH/WEB] (Brazil) as PR-WJV, until the airline ceased operations two years later. Since then, it has been in storage, and recently underwent freighter conversion at SJO [Juan Santamaria International Airport, San José, Costa Rica]

Arashi Chartered Makani Kai A-Stars

The Japanese boy band, Arashi, chartered both of Makani Kai Helicopters' AS-350BAs, to take them from HNL to their Ko Olina concert site, where the helicopters landed behind the massive staging. N6077H (msn 2693) [top] and N9511 (msn 1324) [above] had the Arashi Blast in Hawaii decals affixed to the fuselage.

SilkAir's 9V-MGF

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MGF (c/n 44222, l/n 5089) today. The 737-8SA is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above taxiing out for departure to MAJ.

Shandong's B-1988

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1988 (c/n 41097, l/n 5087) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1988, and will overnight at HNL. This is their second 737 delivery flight within the past five days, and is seen above departing from Runway 8L for MAJ the next day.

Kunming's B-1991

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-1991 (c/n 41112, l/n 5093) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1991, and will overnight at HNL.

Additional Flights For Arashi Concert

Almost resembling the additional flights from Japan for the New Year's holiday, or the Honolulu Marathon, four airlines have added flights from KIX and NRT to bring fans for the Arashi concert, that's being held tonight and tomorrow at Ko Olina. United Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, and China Airlines have added an extra daily flight since Wednesday.

Arashi is Japan's most popular boy band, are on their 15th anniversary tour, and was formed here in Hawai‘i. An estimated 15,000 people are expected for the two shows.

Aloha Air Cargo To Start HNL-LAX Service

Aloha Air Cargo announced that they will be starting service between HNL and LAX on October 23,  2014.  The service will be five-times-weekly, and will be using a 767-300F.

The press release below doesn't mention where the 767-300F is coming from, but with the close start date, it would suggest an ACMI arrangement.

Press release: Aloha Air Cargo Launches Los Angeles to Honolulu Flight

Virgin Australia's VH-YIW

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-YIW "Mona Vale Beach" (c/n 40700, l/n 5085) today. The 737-8FE is making its delivery flight from BFI as VOZ9940, and will overnight at LIH.

China Eastern's B-1703

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of their second Yunnan Peacock-liveried 737-89P within the past six days, with B-1703 (c/n 41486, l/n 5080). It's making its delivery flight from BFI this morning, as CES299, and it will overnight at HNL.

We are also waiting to see which 737NG will get the new livery that their new 777-39PER, B-2001 (c/n 43269, l/n 1232) has been painted in. It seems that the a large majority of their most recent 737NG deliveries have been in the Yunnan Peacock livery.

Hawaiian Creates Memorial Wall At OGG

Hawaiian Airlines has created a memorial to commemorate Captain Jimmy Hogg, the man behind Kahului Airport's three-letter IATA code, OGG.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Shandong's B-1986

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1986 (c/n 41618, l/n 5082) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1986, and will overnight at HNL.

Lion's PK-LPF

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-PPF (c/n 39880, l/n 5081) today. The 737-9GPER is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1. Unlike it's normal two-hour fuel stop, PK-LPF will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Jetstar To Switch To 787

Jetstar Airways announced that they will switch from their A330-200s to their 787-8s on February 19, 2015. The airline had stated earlier that the changed would be made, once the airline received a sufficient amount of 787s. They currently have seven in service, with four more on order.

Jetstar will be the second airline to offer scheduled 787 service to HNL.

Jetstar's VH-EBD is seen above on Taxiway D, on its way to Runway 26L.