Hawaiian Airlines Launches Service To Long Beach

Today, Hawaiian Airlines launched daily A321-271N service between Daugherty Field, Long Beach, CA [LGB] and HNL as HAL70/69. N204HA "‘Ōhia Lehua" is making the inaugural flight, that depart from Gate 59. Hawaiian held pre-boarding festivities with remarks by President and CEO Peter Ingram. N204HA is seen above departing from Runway 8R for LGB.


Our California partner, Michael Carter, also had coverage on his Aero Pacific Flightlines website.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Mokulele Airlines Holds Terminal 3 Blessing

Mokulele Airlines held a blessing ceremony and festivities for today's passengers at their new facilities at HNL's Terminal 3. Passengers were treated to remarks by Mokulele President Robert McKinney, a prayer and blessing by New Hope Legacy's Senior Pastor Makana Delovio, and entertainment by Anuhea Jenkins (accompanied by Jason Sensation).

Mokulele brought in N847MA from KOA, which was recently painted in the airline's new livery in the teal variation.

The airline, using North Ramp Hardstand 1C, can handle four Caravans at any time (Gates H1-H4), and can expand up to six if need be. They will also launch service between HNL and LUP (Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i) tomorrow, as they received the FAA's EAS contract. Mokulele also has the EAS contract to provide passenger service to HNM (Hāna, Maui).

New HNL Terminal And Gate Designations

Beginning tomorrow, 01 June 2018, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation's Airports Division has given the terminals with alphabetical designations, the gates with alpha-numeric designations, and the baggage claim numeric designations at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport. Please refer to the above illustration for the changes.

AirAsia X To Go Daily For Three Months

Airways Magazine reports that AirAsia X plans to go daily on its KUL-KIX-HNL A330-300 service from 18 August to 27 October.

Air New Zealand's ZK-OKD Diversion

Air New Zealand's 777-219ER, ZK-OKD (c/n 29401, l/n 550), flying as ANZ23 [YVR-AKL], made a diversion to HNL early this morning. The flight arrived around 0140HST, after its weather radar was knocked from turbulence. Repairs were made, and the flight to AKL resumed, but returned as the issue re-appeared. It's scheduled to continue onto AKL as ANZ6077 on Friday.

HDOT Breaks Ground On Mauka Extension

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) held a ground breaking and blessing ceremony for the new Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal (to be known as Terminal 1) at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport today. When completed (estimated to be by the end of 2020), it will be able to handle six of Hawaiian Airlines' A330-243s or 787-9s wide-bodies, or eleven 717-200s or A321-271Ns narrow-bodies.

Demolition of the Commuter Terminal and parking lot will begin on Friday, June 1st.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

News coverage by KHON.

Shanghai Airlines' B-2498

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying B-2498 (c/n 27684, l/n 849) from PVG to MZJ, via SPN and HNL. This 767-36D is making its retirement flight as CSH9765.

B-2498 was delivered to Shanghai Airlines in August 2001, and withdrawn from service in March 2018.

Mokulele Airlines Opens Terminal 3

Mokulele Airlines opens operations at the new Terminal 3 today. The inter-island airline moved its operations across the airport to the Diamond Head (east) end, as the Commuter Terminal was closed to make way for the Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal.

Fiji Airways' DQ-FJW Diversion

Fiji Airways' flight FJI811, from LAX to NAN, made a diversion to HNL after a fight broke on board between an Australian national and two passengers. Flight attendants restrained him, and the flight crew made the decision to divert, where the assailant was taken into custody by the FBI. Fiji Airways'  A330-343, DQ-FJW (msn 1692), was the airliner involved.

Further information in this Hawaii News Now article.

Centurion Air Cargo's N987AR

A new visitor on the Kona ramp today, is Centurion Air Cargo's [WE/CWC] MD-11F, N987AR (c/n 48427, l/n 471) on a flight from MIA (via LAX). It's flying for Sky Lease Cargo [GG/KYE] as KYE4855.

Lanmei Airlines' XU-963

Lanmei Airlines [LQ/MRK] (Kampuchea) is taking delivery of XU-963 (msn 3463) today. This A319-132 is delivering from TAP [Tapachula, México] to PHN [Ponchentong International Airport, Phnom Penh, Kampuchea], via HNL, GUM, and CAN as MRK3463.

Air China's B-1221

Air China is taking delivery of B-1221 (c/n 60984, l/n 6915) this morning. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA48, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-1288

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of their first 737 MAX 8, this morning. B-1288 (c/n 42956, l/n 6942) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8199, and will overnight at HNL.

According to this Boeing Mediaroom press release, B-1288 is also Xiamen Air's 200th 737 delivered to the airline.

NASA's N992NA

NASA's Gulfstream III, N992NA (msn 309), arrived at HNL today. It's mission will be to overfly the the volcanic activity on the east side of Hawai‘i Island. The G-III is equipped with NASA's UAVSAR (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar) pod mounted on the underside.

FlightRadar24.com has the flight track over the Puna side of Hawai‘i Island.

Japan TransOcean Air's JA08RK

Japan TransOcean Air is taking delivery of JA08RK (c/n 61481, l/n 6948) this afternoon. This 737-8Q3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as JTA9851, and will overnight at HNL.

Air New Zealand Wet-Leases 9H-SUN

Air New Zealand has wet-leased an A340-312 from Hi Fly Malta [5M/HFM]. 9H-SUN (msn 367) is operating Air New Zealand's ANZ9/10 (AKL-HNL-AKL) service, while ANZ's 787-9s have its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines repaired. The Telegraph reports that the FAA, EASA, and the engine manufacturer notified airlines using the Trent 1000 to limit ETOPS flights to 140 minutes away from airports. According to our sources, this lease will be for about three weeks.

367 was originally delivered to AOM French Airlines [IW/AOM] in December 2000 as F-GTUA, under lease from Flightlease. In October 2003, it was leased to SriLankan Airlines [UL/ALK] as 4R-ADE. From 2007 to 2014, Macquarie AirFinance owned this A340. Castlelake bought this Airbus in 2014, and is the current owner. SriLankan Airlines returned this A340 in October 2015. Three months later, it was leased to Hi Fly Malta as 9H-SUN, where it flies as a white tail. From June to December 2017, it leased to Corsair [SS/CRL].

China Southern Airlines' B-1241

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1241 (c/n 63262, l/n 6952) this morning. This 737-81B, their second delivery this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1241, and will overnight at HNL.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N705AA Ferried

Asia Pacific Airlines is ferrying N705AA (c/n 22462, l/n 1751) to MCI [Kansas City, MO] from GUM, via TKK, PNI, HNL, PHX and IGM [Kingman, AZ] for a "C" Check.

On another note, sister ships N319NE (c/n 21349, l/n 1289), and N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329), both 727-212Fs, had their registrations canceled by Asia Pacific Airlines, and being used for parts for 705.

Shandong Airlines' B-1273

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1273 (c/n 43909, l/n 6950) today. This 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1273, and will overnight at HNL.

Sun Country Airlines Launches HNL Service

Today, Sun Country Airlines launched its four-times-weekly service between MSP and HNL, via LAX. The MSP-LAX segment is operated SCX421/430, and the LAX-HNL segment is operated as SCX721/730.

N821SY "Lake Mille Lacs" (c/n 39952, l/n 5217) made the maiden flight from MSP to HNL, via LAX, and will be based at LAX.

Mahalo to Charlie Alfa for the photo of N821SY on final for Runway 8L.