30 April 2018

Where The Island Air's Q400s Ended Up

In doing a search of the PlaneSpotters.net database, here are where the former Island Air Q400s were leased to following the airline's closure, and lease returns:

N681WP "‘Ola Kūpono" (msn 4543) was bought by WestJet Encore as C-FWEW (f/n 451).

N682WP "Na‘au Pono" (msn 4546) was bought by WestJet Encore as C-GEWR (f/n 452).

N683WP "Kulana Pono" (msn 4554) has been leased by Elix Aviation Capital to JamboJet [JM/JMA] (Kenya) this past February as 5Y-JXE (f/n JJ4).

N684WP "Laulima" (msn 4328) has been leased by NAC to Spicejet [SG/SEJ] (India) in November 2017 as VT-SUX.

and

N685WP "Po‘okela" (msn 4339) has also been leased by NAC to SpiceJet in November 2017 as VT-SUY.

29 April 2018

VP-BEL

VP-BEL (c/n 29139, l/n 189), a 737-74T BBJ, owned by Orient Global Aviation, has made a stop at HNL.

It was also photographed at HNL in 2014.

Hainan Airlines' B-1387

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1387 (c/n 62196, l/n 6758) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1387, and will overnight at ITO. This is one of very few delivery flights to stop at the Hilo International Airport.

China United Airlines' B-1277

China United Airlines' second 737-89P delivery today, is B-1277 (c/n 63061, l/n 6892). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA277, and will overnight at HNL.

China United Airlines' B-1278

China United Airlines is taking delivery of two 737-89Ps today. B-1278 (c/n 63060, l/n 6905) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA278, and will overnight at HNL.

27 April 2018

Thai Lion Air HS-LSI

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LSI (c/n 42992, l/n 6816) this evening. This 737 MAX 9 is making its delivery flight as TLM1, and will make a fuel stop at HNL.

D-APGS

D-APGS (msn 3046), an A319-115CJ, owned by K5-Aviation (Germany), is making a stop at HNL.

26 April 2018

Southwest Airlines Announces Service To Four Airports

World Airline News reports that Southwest Airlines announced that they will serve all four major Hawai‘i airports (HNL, OGG, KOA, and LIH), as part of their planned 737 MAX 8 Hawai‘i service from west coast gateway cities. The airline is still mum on inter-island service, which has been heavily rumored.

China Southern Airlines' B-1236

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1236 (c/n 63259, l/n 6918) this morning. This 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1236, and will overnight at HNL.

25 April 2018

2-MSII

2-MSII (c/n 40151, l/n 4640), a former Malaysia Airlines 737-8H6, is ferrying from KUL to MZJ. It was delivered to Malaysia Airlines in October 2013 as 9M-MSI, and flew until September 2017, when it was withdrawn from service in September 2017. It was acquired by Orix Aircraft Corporation, and will be stored at MZJ.

All Nippon Airways Unveils More A380 Honu Liveries

World Airline News reports that All Nippon Airways has unveiled two additional "Honu" (Hawaiian for green sea turtle) color themes for the three A380-800s they will be using exclusively for the Tōkyo - Honolulu service, beginning in spring 2019. Initially unveiled in 2017, the honu livery featured a blue turtle. Now there will also be an orange honu, and a green honu. The blue A380 will be named "Lani" (sky), the orange A380 will be named "Ka La" (sunset), and the green A380 will be named "Kai" (ocean).

24 April 2018

Virgin Americas Brand's Last Day

Today, marks the last day of the Virgin America brand, as the airline will become solely Alaska Airlines. VRD1948 (SFO-LAX) was the final Virgin America flight this evening.

Shanghai Airlines's B-1261

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1261 (c/n 61629, l/n 6796) this morning. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH9761, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong Airlines' B-1227

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery fo B-1227 (c/n 43908, l/n 6916) this morning. This 737-85N, their second delivery within a week, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1227, and will overnight at HNL.

23 April 2018

Mokulele Airlines To Relocate To Terminal 3

On 29 May 2018, Mokulele Airlines will relocate their operations to "Terminal 3", where Hardstands 4 and 5 are currently. Their driveway will be through the security gate located between the United Airlines Cargo and Delta Air Lines Cargo facilities off of Aolele Street. Their check-in, terminal, and baggage claim will reportedly operate out of temporary structures.

WestJet Airlines' C-FRYV

WestJet Airlines has switched from their 767-338ERs to their 737 MAX 8s on their flights between Hawai‘i and the Province of Alberta. C-FRYV (c/n 60514, l/n 6819) made the first flight today from YYC to OGG as WJA1850, and was to fly to YEG as WJA1885, but the flight was diverted to HNL.

Qantas To Upguage To Seasonal 747-400

The Australian Business Traveler reports that Qantas will upguage their QFA3/QFA4 service from their A330-300s to their 747-438s for their summer travel season (07 Dec 2018 to late-April 2019).

18 April 2018

N675AN

N675AN (c/n 29425, l/n 817), a former American Airlines 757-223, is ferrying from VQQ [Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL] to SZX [Shenzhen, China], via TUS [Tuscon, AZ], HNL and GUM, headed to join the SF Airlines fleet. It will be re-registered as B-1231.

29425 was originally delivered to American Airlines in August 1998 as N675AN (f/n 5EG). It had Blended Winglets installed in 2008, and flew with American until August 2015, where it was placed into storage at ROW [Roswell, NM]. In January 2017, it was sold to Jetran, and ferried six months later to VQQ for freighter conversion. After conversion, it was acquired by SF Airlines.

17 April 2018

United To End Guam Turboprop Service

United Airlines announced that they will end their United Express (Cape Air [9K/KAP]) ATR42 turboprop service on Guam, effective May 31, 2018. United will switch over to mainline 737-824 service, beginning on June 1, 2018. This was also United Express' last turboprop service. Seen above is, N42836 (msn 200) is one of the three ATR42-320s for Cape Air, and was photographed in August 2004, as it made its delivery flight to GUM.

It's not known when Cape Air will ferry their three ATR42s to the mainland, and which route they'll take.

Further information in this World Airline News article.

N42386 was originally delivered to Bar Harbor Airlines (Continental Connection operator) [AJC] in August 1990. In July 1991, it was acquired by ExpressJet Airlines [EV/ASQ], and continued in the Continental Connection network, after Bar Harbor shutdown. In May 2004, it was sold to Cape Air (another Continental Connection operator), and ferried three months later to its island-hopping operations on Guam (f/n 836). When United Airlines merged with Continental Airlines in 2010, Cape Air and its fleet became part of the United Express network.

Kona Air Shuttle Seeks Partnership

CH-Aviation.com reports that the Kona Air Shuttle is seeking additional partners as they seek to expand members-only service between KOA and Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA. 

The current service is between KOA an OAK, is operated by a Kaiser Air [KI/KAI] 737-86N, N733KA (c/n 28643, l/n 828), as KAI99.