Shanghai's B-6866

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-6866 (c/n 42056, l/n 6011) today. The 737-89P, originally ordered by China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN9761, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-7967

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7967 (c/n 43888, l/n 6010) today. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN967, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong's B-7976

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7976 (c/n 61428, l/n 6007) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG7976, and will overnight at HNL.

Thai Lion's HS-LTV

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTV (c/n 38306, l/n 6006) today. The 737-9GPER, the first to stop through HNL this year, is making its delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

Hebei's B-1560

Hebei Airlines is taking delivery of B-1560 (c/n 42969, l/n 5996) this morning. The 737-8LW is making its delivery flight from BFI as HBH1560, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen's B-7849

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7849 (c/n 42932, l/n 6005) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA7849, and will overnight at HNL.

Malaysia Orders 25 737 MAX8s

Malaysia Airlines has placed an order with Boeing for 25 737 MAX8s, and hold the option for 25 more MAX8s or MAX9s. No date was given for delivery of their first MAX8.

Okay Airways' B-6997

Okay Airways is taking delivery of B-6997 (c/n 61401, l/n 5989) this morning. The 737-8KF is making its delivery flight from BFI as OKA6997, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan's B-7616

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-7616 (c/n 41388, l/n 5997) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH7616, and will overnight at HNL.

Sky Lease Cargo's N950AR

Sky Lease Cargo's N950AR (c/n 48461, l/n 475) has made a cargo flight from MIA to HNL. The MD-11F made the flight as KYE541.

48461 was originally delivered to China Eastern Airlines under lease from GECAS in November 1991 as B-2170, and was transferred to China Cargo Airlines [CK/CKK], when the airline was re-branded. Sky Lease Cargo [GG/KYE] (USA) acquired this MD-11F in May 2010 as N950AR, and operates it for Centurion Cargo.


*** 07.26.16 Update ***
N950AR departed for MCO today as KYE540.

Omega Air Tanker's N707MQ

Omega Air Tanker's N707MQ (c/n 21368, l/n 925) is participating in this year's RIMPAC exercise, refueling US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft. The 707-368C is flying as OMEGA71, and arrived from NKX [Miramar MCAS, San Diego, CA] on the 23rd.

Shandong's B-7975

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7975 (c/n 61427, l/n 5995) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG7975, and will overnight at HNL, and weather Tropical Storm Darby.

Hawaiian Launches NRT Service

Hawaiian Airlines launched daily A330-243 service between HNL and NRT today with HAL821, and an early afternoon departure. N380HA is making today's inaugural flight.  The return flight, HAL822, will arrive at HNL in the morning along with the other flights from NRT.

Shenzhen's B-7749

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-7749 (c/n 61118, l/n 5986) this morning. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ903, and will overnight at HNL. This their first 737-87L delivery for 2016.

Hawaiian To Add Two More 717s

Hawaiian Airlines announced today that they will lease two 717-200s that will be delivered in early 2017. These two airliners will come from the Volotea Airlines [V7/VOE] (Spain) fleet, as they transition to the A319. Koa‘e Kea (white-tailed tropic bird) and ‘Akiapola‘au (Hawaiian honeycreeper) will be the Hawaiian names for the two 717s, and the airline has reserved N494HA and N495HA.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

China Eastern's B-7875

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7875 (c/n 41494, l/n 5991) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

Urumqi's B-1568

Urumqi Airlines is taking delivery of B-1568 (c/n 41179, l/n 5760) today. The 737-8EH is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1552, and will overnight at HNL.

This 737-8EH was originally ordered by GOL Transportes Aéreos as PR-GYE, but was not taken up. It was acquired by the Bank of Utah as N724AC in February 2016, and stored at CWF [Lake Chennault International Airport, Lake Charles, Louisiana]. Urumqi Air acquired it this month.

9 Air's B-1552

9 Air is taking delivery of B-1552 (c/n 61354, l/n 5985) this morning. The 737-86X is making its delivery flight from BFI as JYH1552, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-7848

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7848 (c/n 42931, l/n 5988) this morning. The 737-85C is makings delivery flight from BFI as CXA7848, and will overnight at HNL.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Boeing!

The HNL RareBirds Team wished the Boeing Aircraft Company a Happy 100th Birthday!

Boeing aircraft began flying to Hawai‘i with the Boeing 314 Clippers, with Pan American Airways. As more airlines began serving the Hawaiian Islands, the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser made trans-Pacific flights from the mainland by United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and Pan Am. 

Ushering the jet age, a Qantas Airways 707-138 made the first passenger jet flight to HNL, and opened the door Pan Am, Trans World Airlines, Western Airlines, Continental Airlines, and American Airlines, to serve HNL with 707 flights. South Pacific Island Airways and AeroAmerica were the last airlines with 707 service.

The 717-200, formerly the MD-95, is represented in Hawai‘i with Hawaiian Airlines.

Continental's Air Micronesia was the only airline to have passenger 727 service that lasted until the late 1990s.  Currently, Asia Pacific Airlines has 727-200 freighters serving HNL.

At the time, Aloha Airlines was the the only inter-island carrier to bring the Boeing 737 to Hawai‘i. Beginning with the -100, the airline had -200s, -300s, 400s, and -700s in their fleet until its closure in 2008. Continental began 737-800 service with their "Air Mike" routes to replace aforementioned 727 flights. Presently, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, WestJet Airlines, and Fiji Airways have trans-Pacific 737NG flights; and Aloha Air Cargo has 737-200 and -300 cargo flights, and Trans Air has -200 cargo flights within the islands. Hawai‘i is also the first stop for Pacific island-hopping 737 delivery flights.

Pan Am and United were the first airlines to serve HNL with the 747. Continental, TWA, Northwest Airlines, Japan Airlines, China Airlines, Korean Airlines, All Nippon Airways, America West Airlines, Air Siam, and Air Hawaii, all served HNL with 747s at one time. Currently, Delta has the only 747-400 passenger service, with United bringing them in on fleet substitutions. On the cargo side, Atlas Air, Polar Air, UPS and Kalitta Air currently have 747F service to HNL.

The 757 has been a staple for US carriers for flights from the west coast. America West, American, Continental, Delta, Allegiant Air, Northwest Airlines, Omni Air International and United all served Hawai‘i with the 757. Presently, America, Delta, Allegiant, and United have passenger flights, and Asia Pacific Airlines has cargo flights with their 757-200F. China-bound 757 delivery flights used to make HNL a stopover point from BFI.

The 767 replaced many tri-jet and 747 flights.  American, Delta, Hawaiian, All Nippon, Omni, Japan, and UPS all have 767 flights currently serving Hawai‘i. When they were in service, TWA and Continental had 767 flights serving HNL. Qantas and Air New Zealand had 767-300 service but has since replaced them.

When the 777 was introduced in the mid-90s, United was the first airline to serve HNL with their -200s. Currently, United and Japan have 777-200 service, and Korean has 777-300 service to HNL.

The new 787 Dreamliner has five airlines serving HNL: Air New Zealand, All Nippon, Japan, JetStar Airways, and United.


On the military side, the Hawai‘i Air National Guard has the KC-135R Stratotanker in the 203rd ARS, and the C-17A GlobemasterIII in the 204th AS. Omega Air Tanker 707-320Bs occasionally stop through HNL while re-fueling transiting US Navy and US Marine Corps fighters across the Pacific.


There are also a couple of Boeing Stearman bi-wing training aircraft from the 1940s that are owned on O‘ahu.