China Eastern's B-5689

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery their second 737NG within the past two weeks with B-5689 (c/n 41512, l/n 5154). The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES299, and will overnight at HNL. This their first new-build 737-89P in their new livery. It's taxiing out for departure to MAJ.

Hainan's B-1726

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1726 (c/n 39217, l/n 5155) today. The 737-84P, their third in three weeks, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1726, and will overnight at HNL. It's next flight segment will take it to SPN, then TSN.

SlikAir's 9V-MGH

SilkAir is taking delivery of their eighth 737-8SA today, with 9V-MGH (c/n 44224, l/n 5148). It's making its delivery flight as SLK8880, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto GUM.

China Southern's B-1717

China Southern Airlines  is taking delivery of B-1717 (c/n 38924, l/n 5146) today. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1717, and will overnight at HNL. It's second leg will stop through  PNI.

N942F

Our November edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to February 1999, with this IPEC Aviation / Independent Air Freighters DC-9-33, N942F (c/n 47408, l/n 467). It was stopping through HNL as it was being ferried from MEL to MZJ (via BNE, NAN, PPG, and CXI), after it was acquired by Ventures Acquisition Company LLC, and leased to Evergreen International Airlines.

47408 was originally ordered as DC-9-33CF, by Universal Airlines [UV/UTQ] as N916U, but was not taken. In March 1969, it was delivered to Overseas National Airlines (ONA) [OV] as N936F "Island Queen". In May 1975, it was acquired by Inex-Adria Airways [JP/ADR] (Yugoslavia) as YU-AJP. In June 1982, it was delivered to IPEC Aviation [IPA] (Australia) as VH-IPF "Spirit of Endeavour".  IPEC joined forces with Independent Air Freighters [IDP], and changed the fuselage titles. After Evergreen acquired VH-IPF, and flew with the airline until9:33 it was put into storage at MJZ in August 2001. Sadly, reports are that N942F has since been scrapped.

Lion's PK-LPI

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LPI (c/n 38299, l/n 5134) today. The 737-9GPER is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make its brief fuel stop before continuing onto MAJ (above).

China Eastern's B-5817

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5817 (c/n 39739, l/n 5121) this morning. The 737-79P, clad in the orange peacock livery, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES599, and will overnight at HNL. This is the first new-build 737NG to wear the new China Eastern logo on the tail and winglets, and seen above after arriving from BFI.

FedEx's 777-FS2 N863FD

FedEx's N863FD (c/n 37734, l/n 998) was substituted for the normal MD-11F on FedEx's regularly scheduled MEM-HNL flight, FDX948, on October 26.  It then spent almost 24 hours here in HNL so that the local FedEx employees can get familiarized on handling the 777-FS2.  N863FD then left today, October 27, as FDX1800 to OAK.

This training comes in time for the increased flights FedEx has during the holiday season and should mean that HNL will see FedEx's 777-FS2 more frequently.

Air Japan Changes Flight Numbers

Air Japan, the All Nippon Airways subsidiary, changed the flight numbers from today. Their NRT-HNL flight is now AJX182/181 (was AJX1052/1051), and their HND-HNL flight is now AJX186/185 (was AJX 1062/1061).

Aloha Air Cargo's Newest 737/LAX Operation

Aloha Air Cargo's 2nd 737-330SF has been delivered. N302KH (c/n 27905, l/n 2705) was first delivered to Lufthansa as D-ABEW in March of 1995. It flew with Lufthansa until February of this year, when it was brought by a leasing company, and converted to a freighter earlier this month.

The inaugural flight of Aloha Air Cargo's 767 west-coast LAX-HNL operation began on the 23rd of this month. Aloha Air Cargo has a lease agreement with Airborne Global Solutions subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management. Airborne Global Solutions companies also include ABX Air and Air Transport International (ATI) as well as few other businesses. N226CY (c/n 26544, l/n 412), a 767-383ER BDSF operated the first and second day of the new route.

Hawaiian's N374HA

Hawaiian Airlines recently acquired their 19th A330-243 on October 15th, after arriving from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, via Seattle. N374HA (msn1565) was named "Melemele", Hawaiian for the constellation Corvus.

Shandong's B-1731

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1731 (c/n 41619, l/n 5139) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1731, and will overnight at HNL. It seen above taxiing to its parking spot, after arriving from BFI.

Nok Air's HS-DBS

Nok Air is taking delivery of HS-DBS "Nok Thongchomphoo" (c/n 43421, l/n 5137) today. The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as HSDBS, and is making its Hawai‘i overnight stopover at KOA.

Photos from Nok Air's Twitter page as it left BFI, and after its arrival at KOA.

Kunming Orders More 737s

According to a World Airline News article, Kunming Airlines has ordered four 737-700s and six 737 MAXs, pending government approval for the Shenzhen Airlines subsidiary.

Shanghai's B-1720

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1720 (c/n 41493, l/n 5135) today. The 737-86D is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH720, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above as it taxies out for departure to MAJ.

Hainan's B-1733

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-800 within the past three days with B-1733 (c/n 41254, l/n 5132). The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1733, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above, awaiting its crew for departure to MAJ.

Alaska To Add SAN-KOA Service

Beginning in March 5, 2015, Alaska Airlines will add thrice-weekly 737-890 service between SAN and KOA.

Further details in this Alaska Airlines press release.

Hawaiian Introduces Zone Boarding

Hawaiian Airlines begins zone boarding for its flights, as a way to make boarding more proficient.

Hawaiian's announcement via its Twitter account.

KHON's news article.

Air China's B-1976

Air China is taking delivery of their second 737-89L in as many days with B-1976 (c/n 41098, l/n 5131). It's making its delivery flight as CCA74, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above climbing out from a Runway 8L departure for MAJ.

Hainan's B-1727

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1727 (c/n 39216, l/n 5128) this morning. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1727, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above, taxiing out for departure to MAJ.