United Bids Aloha ‘Oe To The 747

United Airlines flew their final Boeing 747 passenger flight today from SFO to HNL as UAL747. N118UA (c/n 28811, l/n 1201, f/n 8418) made the momentous flight filled with a mix of United employees, passengers, and media. There was a huge pre-boarding event at the United Terminal at SFO, and employees lined up alongside the airliner, waving as it pushed out on to the taxiway. Following take-off, it made a pass over the Golden Gate Bridge, before crossing the Pacific Ocean. 

United used Gate 33 for the arrival, which was decorated with commemorative large banners, a giant thank you card for UAL747's passengers and crew, HNL Station employees, and anyone else wanting to wish the 747 farewell. N118UA's approach into HNL was preceded by a pass above Maui with views of Hawai‘i Island, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, and Kaho‘olawe. Minutes before landing, rain showers enveloped HNL, and the 747-422 landed on Runway 8L with a Hawaiian blessing. The rain lasted until the ground crew draped a bright orange lei around the front of the Boeing Jumbo Jet.

Everyone deplaning received an orchid lei fro HNL Station employees, and there was a Hawaiian music group and hula dancers who performed for the passengers. There was also a cake to commemorate the 747's farewell. Speeches were made by Hawai‘i Governor David Ige, State Senator Lorraine Inouye, and Boeing's Bruce Dickenson among others.

After the celebration was done, N118UA was towed across the airport, from Gate 33 to the United Airlines Hangar, where it was parked at the opening of the hangar, for an employee party that was held inside the hangar.

N118UA is scheduled to return to SFO tomorrow, and will be ferried to VCV on Thursday, where it will be placed into storage.

photos to follow ...

Aloha Air Cargo's N399CM

Aloha Air Cargo is wet-leasing N399CM (c/n 25451, l/n 498), a 767-323ERF, from Cargo Air Management. It's been ferried from ROW [Roswell, NM] to ILN [Wilmington, DE] before making its way to HNL. The 767, using the Air Transport International flight coding [8C/ATN], was ferried to LAX to begin service this past Sunday, where it made the first flight to HNL yesterday as ATN7001. It will make its return to LAX this evening as ATN7002.

According to Skyliners, Cargo Air Management's holding company Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) is leasing three 767-300ERFs to Northern Air Cargo Group on seven-year contracts. One will be going to Aloha Air Cargo, another to Strat Air [Florida], and the third to Northern Air Cargo. There is also an option for a fourth 767-300ERF.

25451 was originally delivered to American Airlines in May 1993 as N382AN (f/n 382). In January 2010, it had Blended Winglets installed, and flew with American until November 2016. Cargo Aircraft Management acquired this 767-323ER in March 2017, and had it converted to a freighter in Tel Aviv, Israel, the next month.

Okay Airways' B-1337

Okay Airways is taking delivery of B-1337 (c/n 63618, l/n 6663) this morning. This 737-8KF is making its delivery flight from BFI as OKA1337, and will overnight at BFI.

SilkAir 9V-MBB

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MBB (c/n 44240, l/n 6589) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at LIH.

Air China's B-1397

Air China is taking delivery of their first 737 MAX 8 this morning. B-1397 (c/n 60872, l/n 6490) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA47, and will overnight at HNL.

Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 90-1058

In honor of Veteran's Day (November 11th), our November edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to October 2004, and the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's C-130H2 Hercules, 90-1058 (msn 382-5241), as it was on static display at the "Blues On The Bay" air show at Marine Corps Air Field Kāneʻohe Bay. This C-130H2 was assigned to the 204th Airlift Squadron "Nā Manu Ikaika" / 154th Wing at the time.

90-1058 was originally delivered to the Georgia Air National Guard in the early 1990s. It was re-assigned to the Hawai‘i Air National Guard in the mid-1990s, where it served until 2006, when the 204th transitioned to the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III. The fate of 90-1058 is unknown, if it was reassigned, or if it's sitting in storage at AMARG.

Dehong South Asian Airlines' B-5818

Dehong South Asian Airlines' B-5818 (c/n 43826, l/n 4593) has made a stop at HNL. The 737-73W (BBJ) arrived from KMG [Kunming, China] (via GUM) arrived this evening.

Xiamen Air's B-1305

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1305 (c/n 63684, l/n 6650) this morning. This 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8399, and will overnight at HNL.

Kunming Airlines' B-1329

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-1329 (c/n 44395, l/n 6646) this morning. This 737-7LY is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1329, and will overnight at HNL.

China Airlines Launches A350 Service To Hawai‘i

Today marked the first time that a A350-941 operated a revenue flight to Hawaii. Taipei's national carrier China Airlines, will now utilize the newest offering from Airbus on it's TPE-HNL-TPE (CAL1, CAL2) route.

Although the first revenue flight arrived today, it was not the first time that a A350 has visited Hawaii. On Friday evening, China Airlines' B-18901 (msn 049) arrived carrying Taipei's President and the CEO of China Airlines. It will remain in Hawaii while President Tsai Ing-wen is visiting the South Pacific region.

The tour of the South Pacific segment will be flown by B-18660 (c/n 41349, l/n5815) . The 737-8SH was ferried from Taipei via Guam and Majuro.

10 Tanker Air Carrier's N522AX

10 Tanker Air Carrier's DC-10-30, N522AX (c/n 48315, l/n 436), is making a fuel stop at HNL while transiting from OSC [Osceola, FL] to YSRI [Richmond, NSW, Australia] to position for Australia's summer forest fire season. It also made stops at ABQ, SBD, and PPG.

C-FRXH

Air Kiribati is taking delivery of a Dash8-100 C-FRXH (msn 388), under lease from Avmax Aircraft Leasing [Calgary, AB]. It's flying from YYC to TRW [Tarawa] via, GTF [Great Falls, MT], CCR [Concord, CA], and HNL.

Hawaiian Airlines' N202HA

Hawaiian Airlines is taking delivery of their first A321-271N(neo), N202HA (msn 7917), today. It's making its delivery flight from XFW [Hamburg, Germany] to PAE, via JFK. The XFW-JFK leg was flown as HAL9975, and the JFK-PAE leg was flown as HAL9976. At PAE, the A321neo will have some of the in-flight entertainment system installed before coming home to HNL.

Urumqi Air B-1325

Urumqi Air is taking delivery of B-1325 (c/n 60170, l/n 6649) today. The 737-8LP is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUH1325, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1318

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1318 (c/n 63764, l/n 6647) this morning. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

San Diego State Aztecs Team Charter

The San Diego State University Aztecs football team has chartered Sun Country Airlines for their road game against the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. N821SY (c/n 39952, l/n 5217) is making the trip as SCX8659 from SAN to HNL. The team will return to SAN following Saturday evening's game as SCX8658.

Hainan Airlines' B-1498

Hainan Airlines is also taking delivery of their second 737-800 in eight days with B-1498 (c/n 43427, l/n 6637). The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1498, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1406

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1406 (c/n 63246, l/n 6642) this morning. The 737-81B, their second delivery in eight days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1406, and will overnight at HNL.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3194

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of RP-C3194 (msn 2790), an A319-111 formerly with Cebu Pacific Air. It's making its flight from CAN to the mainland, with stops at GUM, and HNL. It will be re-registered as N333NV once it arrives at Allegiant's base.

N214TE

N214TE (c/n 28407, l/n 161), a 737-809, is ferrying from TPE to MZJ, via GUM and HNL. It arrived at HNL this evening.

28407 was originally delivered to China Airlines in December 1998 as B-18609. It had Blended Winglets installed in 2007, and was recently withdrawn from service this past May. It was acquired by Contrail Aviation Support earlier this month as registered as N214TE.