Mele Kalikimaka!

The HNL RareBirds™ team wishes you all a very Merry Christmas!

Dead Stowaway Found At OGG

A deceased stowaway was found in one of the main landing gear wells of a United Airlines 787-10 at OGG, after it arrived from ORD as UAL202 this afternoon. N12010 (c/n 40926, l/n 948, f/n 1010) made the flight today, when ground crews discovered the body.

Further details in this KHON2 News report.

Air Premia To Launch Seasonal Service To HNL

Simple Flying reports that South Korea's Air Premia will begin scheduled seasonal service between ICN and HNL beginning in the summer of 2025. Air Premia recently flew charter flights between ICN and HNL during the winter 2023-24

UPS Airlines' N635UP

One of two former Qatar Airways 747-8Fs acquired by UPS Airlines, N635UP (c/n 61399, l/n 1535, f/n 635), is making a stop at HNL today. This 747-83QF, still wearing the base livery of Qatar Airways, is flying from SDF as UPS32, and will depart later this morning for SYD as UPS34.

The other 747-8F acquired from Qatar Airways is, N634UP (c/n 37564, l/n 1437, f/n 634), was inducted into service still wearing the base grey Qatar Airways livery as well.

61399's History:

Sep 2017: Delivered to Qatar Airways as A7-BGB.

Mar 2024: Withdrawn from service, purchased by UPS Airlines, and ferried to VCV for storage.

Sep 2024: Inducted into service.

US Air Force's 82-0007

82-0007 (c/n 22835, l/n 960), an E-3G Sentry from the US Air Force's 552nd Air Control Wing is making a stop at HIK from TIK this morning, flying as RONIN15.

22 December 2024 UPDATE

RONIN15 departed HIK for an undisclosed westbound destination.

Breeze Hints At Hawai‘i Again

In an article on AirlineGeeks.com, Breeze CEO and Founder David Neeleman again intimated about flying to Hawai‘i from west coast airports. The airline is seeking approval from the US government to become a flag carrier, in order to fly internationally. Neeleman expressed expanding eastbound service to Europe, and westbound service to Hawai‘i.

This is the second time in six months that Breeze has mentioned Hawai‘i in their potential expansion plans.

Breeze's A220-300 fleet will need to be ETOPS certified in order to fly to Hawai‘i and/or Europe. They also have over 50 A220-300s on order.

Diamond Head Classic Team Charters

The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic college basketball tournament begins on Monday, with seven teams from the mainland, and the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors.

The eight teams are:

Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors

Charleston Cougars

Charlotte 49ers

Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers

Murray State Racers

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Oregon Ducks

The Cornhuskers arrived this afternoon on Sun Country Airlines N804SY (c/n 30689, l/n 908, f/n 804). This 737-800 flew from LNK, via OAK, as SCX8435.

Sun Country Airlines' N901SY

Sun Country Airlines is taking delivery of their first 737-91MER, N901SY (c/n 40069, l/n 5150). It's making its delivery flight from CGK to MZJ, via GUM and JRF. It will be given the fleet number 901. N901SY will make an overnight stop at JRF tonight.

This the first of five former Oman Air 737-91MERs to be acquired by Sun Country Airlines. It will be put into short-term storage at MZJ, and not known when it will be inducted into service.

40069's History:

Nov 2014: Delivered to Oman Air as A4O-BI, under lease from OBALC.

Sep 2017: Sold to GOAL, and the lease transferred.

Apr 2023: Sold to Sun Country Airlines, and the lease transferred.

Aug 2024: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to CGK for storage.

Southern Airways' N95SA

Southern Airways is ferrying N95SA "The Phil LeFevre" (msn 340B-345) from HNL to SGF, via CNO as  FDY211. This Saab 340B has not flown since February 2024. It's seen above, shortly after its delivery flight wearing its previous registration.

The Hawai‘i Bowl Team Charters

The two teams participating in the 2024 edition of The Hawai‘i Bowl are the University of South Florida Bulls from the American Athletic Conference (Tampa, FL) and the San José State Spartans from the Mountain West Conference (San José, CA). Both teams will be arriving by their respective team charter flights.

The game is scheduled to be played at the Clarence TC Ching Field on the campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, on 24 December, at 15:00HAST. Both teams will return to their respective cities following the game.

Bulls Charter Flight from TPA to HNL (18 Dec 2024):

American Airlines 777-223ER N759AN (c/n 32836, l/n 376, f/n 7BU) as AAL9735 [Team].

Omni Air International 767-36NER N468AN (c/n 30115, l/n 863) as OAE2851 [Band & Cheer].

 It ferried to ITO for the duration of bowl week.

Spartans Charter Flight from SJC (19 Dec 2024):

Omni Air International 777-2U8ER N819AX (c/n 33681, l/n 479) as OAE2859.

24 December 2024 UPDATE

The Bulls are returning to TPA on American Airlines' 777-223ER, N759AN, as AAL9841, following their five overtime 41-39 win. Omni's N468AX will take back the USF band and cheerleaders back to TPA as OAE2868.

The Spartans are returning to SJC on Omni Air International's 777-2U8ER, N828AX (c/n 33682, l/n 514) as OAE2864.

Kamaka Air's N689KA Crashes

Kamaka Air's C208BF Grand Caravan, N689KA (msn 208B2308), crashed outside HNL shortly after taking off from Runway 4L on a training flight to LNY as KMK689. The C208BF reported engine and control issues, and the pilots did their best to avoid the HNL fuel farm, the Skyline guideway, and other buildings before crashing into the former SkyChefs building (now owned by HDOT). Both pilots aboard lost their lives in the accident. A fire ensued following the crash, and was put out by HNL ARFF and HFD crews. The FAA and NTSB will be investigating this accident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the two pilots, and the Kamaka Air ‘ohana.

Further details in this Honolulu Star-Advertiser article.

Juan Browne's Blancolirio YouTube channel has a video about the accident.

Air Canada To Allocate Their 737-8s To Rouge

Air Canada announced today, during the investors day event, that the airline will allocate their 737-8 fleet to their low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. A full transition is expected to be completed in 2028. This will eventually affect Air Canada's service from YVR to HNL, OGG, and KOA.

Back in May 2014, Air Canada announced their new subsidiary Rouge would take over the YVR flights to the islands with 767-300ERs in November. The Rouge service ended in late 2018 as Air Canada would take over the YVR flights with their 737-8s. Seems like things have come full-circle with Rouge.

Southern Airways' N79SA

Southern Airways is ferrying N79SA "The Phil Trenary" (msn 340B-334) from HNL to SGF [Springfield Airport, Springfield, MO], via CNO [Chino Airport, Chino, CA], as FDY205. This Saab 340B has been out of service since July 2024.

N9PF

PF Global Aviation's N9PF (c/n 37583, l/n 2869) is making a stop at HNL from FLL. This 737-7HZ BBJ is wearing a new livery since we last got it in July 2023.

18 December 2024 UPDATE

N9PF departed this morning for BNE.

US Air Force's 64-14831

64-14831 (c/n 18771, l/n T0723), a WC-135R Constant Phoenix from 45th Reconnaissance Squadron / 55th Operations Group, is making a stop at HIK as ATOM31.

17 December 2024 UPDATE

64-14831 returned to its base at OFF [Offut Air Force Base, Omaha, NE].

20 December 2024 UPDATE

According to a post on the Aviationist.com website, 64-14831 was on a deployment in the Middle East, with the US Air Force releasing photos.

GlobalX Cargo's N636WT

GlobalX Airlines Cargo is taking delivery of N636WT (msn 1636). This A321-231F, leased from Spectre Air Capital, is flying from XMN to MZJ, via GUM, MAJ, and JRF. It will make an overnight stop at JRF tonight. It will go to Spectre Air Capital prior to delivery to GlobalX Airlines.

N636WT departed from XMN on 11 November for GUM. There were two attempts to depart GUM for MAJ, on 19 November and 28 November, and both returned to GUM.

1636's History:

Jan 2002: Delivered to Asiana Airlines as HL7711, under lease from debis Air Finance.

Oct 2005: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Nov 2013: Leased to Air Busan.

Mar 2019: Sold to FTAI, and the lease transferred.

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at PUS.

Aug 2020: Ferried to GYR for storage.

Dec 2020: Re-registered as N636WT.

Jan 2023: Purchased by Spectre Air Capital.

May 2023: Ferried to XMN for freighter conversion.

Royal Australian Air Force's A39-002

One of the KC-30A MRTTs from the Royal Australian Air Force's No 33 Squadron, is assisting three of its F-35As from No 3 Squadron from the west coast. A39-002 (msn 951) is making the flight as ASY813, and will overnight at HIK, along with the three F-35As.

Royal Australian Air Force's A30-001

A30-001 (c/n 33474, l/n 1245), an E-7A Wedgetail of the Royal Australian Air Force's No 2 Squadron, is returning to NTL from SUU today as ASY66. It's making a stop at HIK tonight.

Malaysia Airlines' 9M-MVF

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MVF (c/n 66371, l/n 9008) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to KUL, via HNL and GUM, as MAS5041. It will make an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

Alliance Airlines' N203JB

Alliance Airlines is taking delivery of N203JB (msn 19000023), and is being flown by Southern Cross International as SXI2485. This ERJ-190AR flying from SJO to BNE, via SDM, KOA, and MAJ, with overnight stop at KOA tonight.

19000023's History

Mar 2006: Delivered to jetBlue as N203JB "Look At Blue Now" (f/n 203) with the "Bubbles" tail livery, under lease from GECAS.

Jun 2015: Tail livery repainted in the "Tartan" design.

Nov 2021: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Jan 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at MCN.

Jun 2024: Acquired by TVPX Trust Services.

Aug 2024: Ferried to SJO for prep to Alliance Airlines.