Transair Hawaii's N737CS

Transair Hawaii (flying as Rhoades Aviation) will be ferrying N737CS (c/n 23273, l/n 1089) to TNN, via MAJ and GUM, for a C-check before it can resume scheduled cargo operations. This 737-2T4C is the first of two 737-200Cs that the inter-island cargo airline will send to TNN for a C-check. N737CS flew a test flight yesterday.

20 November 2025 UPDATE

N737CS departed for TNN today as RDS737, and will make stops at MAJ and GUM.

UPS and FedEx Temporarily Ground Their MD-11F Fleets

In the wake of the UPS2976, both UPS Airlines and Federal Express have voluntarily grounded their MD-11F fleets for a safety stand-down. UPS currently has 36 MD-11Fs, and FedEx currently has 29 MD-11Fs in operation that will be temporarily grounded, for safety and inspections.

Both carriers have been using MD-11Fs to fly to/from HNL, and it's uncertain what the impact will be, but both airlines will substitute other airliners in their place.

In a brief statement by Boeing, it also recommends that Western Global Airlines temporarily grounds their fleet of 15 MD-11Fs.

Further information in this Fox Business article, and this UPS press release.

Three MD-11Fs have been grounded at HNL. FedEx's N643FE "Kennedy" (c/n 48486, l/n 509, f/n 643) last flew from OAK to HNL on the 7th as FDX1875, and both UPS's N288UP (c/n 48504, l/n 611, f/n 288) and N254UP (c/n 48406, l/n 547, f/n 254)  last flew from SDF to HNL as UPS5966 and UPS2252 respectively on the 6th.

Cargojet Airways' C-GXAJ

Cargojet Airways' C-GXAJ (c/n 25196, l/n 422, f/n 639) is making a stop at HNL from YVR early this morning, as it transits from YHM to SYD. This 767-323ERF's stop at HNL is a brief one, and is flying as CJT3399.

San Diego State Aztecs Team Charter

The San Diego State Aztecs is chartering an Alaska Airlines 737-9 for their road trip to play the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. N967AK (c/n 67419, l/n 8577, f/n 967) is flying the Aztecs in today as ASA9676.

08 November 2025 UPDATE

N936AK took back the Aztecs to SAN as ASA9676, following their 38-6 loss to the Rainbow Warriors.

Washington Huskies Team Charter

The Washington Huskies have chartered a Hawaiian Airlines A330-243 for their road trip to MSN, to face the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday. N374HA "Melemele" (msn 1565) departed BFI as ASA9682, and will remain at MSN to bring back the Huskies as ASA9683.

HNL One Of 40 Airports Affected By Shutdown

The US Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have listed 40 airports to reduce service due to the government shutdown. Citing safety and flight delays, the 40 airports will be required to cut domestic traffic by 10% at 40 of the largest airports in the US by 14 November.

Further information in this FAA press release.

17 November 2025 UPDATE
Following the end of the government shutdown, the FAA has rescinded the flight reductions.

Hainan Airlines' B-225U

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-225U (c/n 63420, l/n 9330) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as CHH2257.

UPS Airlines' N259UP Crash

N259UP (c/n 48417, l/n 467, f/n 259), a UPS Airlines MD-11F, crashed after takeoff at SDF. It was departing for HNL as UPS2976, with a crew of three, who perished. This MD-11F was loaded with cargo and 38,000 gallons of jet fuel for the eight and half hour flight. UPS2976 was scheduled to depart at 15:00EST, departed at 15:41EST, and was scheduled to arrive at HNL around 19:00HAST. There are reports of casualties on the ground as well. The FAA and the NTSB will take the lead on the investigation of this accident.

An eyewitness video on AirNavRadar's Facebook page shows the number one engine on fire during its takeoff roll.

Further information in this Fox News developing story.

48417's History:

Jly 1991: Delivered to Thai Airways as HS-TME "Pathun Wan".

Feb 2006: Withdrawn from service, and stored at BKK.

Jun 2006: Acquired by UPS Airlines as N259UP, and converted to a freighter.

The above photo is the only one we have in our library, taken in May 2008, as it was being towed to the UPS ramp for loading.

The HNL RareBirds™ team extends our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the families of the lost.

VH-TQM

VH-TQM (msn 604), a white-tail Dash8-315 owned by the Avmax Group is being ferried from ASP to YYC, with stops at CNS, MAJ, and HNL. It departed ASP on 27 October, and is making its overnight stop at HNL tonight.

604's History:

Nov 2000: Delivered to Eastern Australia Airlines as VH-TQM to operate for QantasLink.

Nov 2015: Operated for Jetstar Airways.

Jly 2021: Operated for QantasLink, and named "Merimbula".

Aug 2025: Withdrawn from service, and stored at TMW.

Sep 2025: Acquired by the Avmax Group, and ferried to ASP for storage.

Aeronautica Militare's MM62191

A C-130J from Aeronautica Militare's 50º Gruppo, 46 Brigata Aerea (Italian Air Force's 50 Squadron, 46 Air Brigade) will be making a stop at HIK today. MM62191 (msn 5531, f/n 46-57) departed PSA [Pisa International Airport, Pisa, Italy] on 30 October, with stops at TER, ADW, and SUU.

Luftwaffe's 54+12 And 54+35

A pair of A400M Atlas from the Luftwaffe's Lufttransportgeschwader 62 (Air Transport Wing 62), is making a stop at HIK. 54+12 (msn 059) and 54+35 (msn 105), departed from ETNW [Wunstorf Air Base, Lower-Saxony, Germany] as GAF101, on 30 October, with stops at TER [Lajes Air Base International Airport, Terceira Island, Praia De Vitoria, Azores], CHS, and OAK. They are bound for OHA, via NAN, for an exercise with the New Zealand Defence Forces.

Further information in this NZDF website post.

04 November 2025 UPDATE

54+12 and 54+35 departed HNL today for NAN as GAF101.

N661AZ

N661AZ (c/n 29384, l/n 784), a 767-304ER owned by Amazon Services LLC, is being ferried from MZJ to QPG, with stops at PHX, HNL, and GUM, for freighter conversion.

29384's History:

Feb 2000: Delivered to Britannia Airways as G-OBYJ, under lease from ILFC.

Jan 2001: Subleased to Garuda Indonesia for three months.

Jan 2003: Subleased to Garuda Indonesia for two months. 

Nov 2005: Airline rebrands as Thomsonfly.

May 2009: Airline rebrands as Thomson Airways.

April 2011: Leased to Arkefly as PH-OYJ.

Oct 2013: Airline rebrands as Arke.

May 2014: Acquired by AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Apr 2015: Leased to Jetairfly as OO-JNL "Sunshine".

Oct 2016: Airline rebrands as TUI fly Belgium.

Dec 2022: Leased to TUI fly Netherlands as PH-OYJ "Sunshine".

Nov 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SAW.

Feb 2025: Ferried to MZJ for storage as N29384.

May 2025: Acquired by Amazon Services LLC.

Aug 2025: Re-registered as N661AZ.

Korean Air's HL7638

Korean Air is substituting their 747-8i from today to Monday on KAL53/54. The newly repainted HL7638 (c/n 60408, l/n 1531) is making today's service between ICN and HNL.

Lucky Air's B-227V

Lucky Air is taking delivery of B-227V (c/n 62952, l/n 9311) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to KMG, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, flying as LKE9541.

Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors Team Charter

The Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors football team is flying commercially aboard a Hawaiian Airlines A321-271N for their Saturday game against the San José State Spartans. N204HA "‘Ōhi‘a Lehua" (msn 7959) is flying the team from HNL to SJC as ASA892. This is the first Rainbow Warriors team flight under the Alaska Airlines flight code.

02 November 2025 UPDATE

The Rainbow Warriors returned home aboard N205HA "Kalo" (msn 8092) today, following their 45-38 loss to the Spartans.

KOA Closed Due To Runway Cracks

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation-Airports (HDOT-A) has closed KOA due to cracks in the asphalt on Runway 17/35. KOA is scheduled to re-open at 10:00.

If you have a flight in or out of KOA, please check with your airline for its status.

11:00, 30 October 2025 UPDATE

KOA's closure is now to re-open at 14:00.

Hawaiian Airlines Flight Codes And Call-Sign Retired

With the single operating certificate, the Hawaiian Airlines call-sign was officially retired today with HAL866 arriving at HNL from PPT early this morning. From today on, all of the Hawaiian Airlines flights now have Alaska Airlines' IATA / ICAO flight designators, and radio call-sign.

ASA800 and up are domestic and international TransPacific flights, ASA1000 and up are inter-island flights, and ASA2600 and up are the Amazon Prime Air flights.

The Hawaiian Airlines designators may have been retired, but not the spirit of the employees and the culture that the airline has.

LiveATC recording on Brandon Farris' Instagram post.

Further information in this Alaska Air Group news release.

Rhoades Aviation's Inter-Island Focus

According to an application for Certificate of Conveyance and Public Necessity filed with the US Department of Transportation, Rhoades Aviation / Transair Hawaii, noted their main cargo operations focus will be on the inter-island market. The airline plans to return to service this December, after it was cleared to resume operations by the FAA in April 2025.

In order to return to service, two Rhoades Aviation 737-200Cs currently listed as active, must undergo C-Checks. N306AL (c/n 23066, l/n 992), N326TR (c/n 20917, l/n 344), N737CS (c/n 23272, l/n 1093),  and N809TA (c/n 23796, l/n 1420) are the remaining 737s, but no two airframes were specified in the application.

Since Rhoades grounded their 737-200Cs in July 2021, they spend time in storage outside the Transair Hawaii maintenance hangar, though N306AL has been seen towed to the Transair Hawaii operations ramp, and has taxied out to Taxiway R for engine run-ups within the past few months.

Air Canada And WestJet Airlines Resumes YVR Day Flights

Air Canada resumed its seasonal day flight between YVR and HNL today, ACA517/518, operated with their 737-8 fleet. 

WestJet Airlines also resumed their seasonal 737-8 day flight between YVR and HNL today, WJA1862/1863, today.

Both airlines also resumed service to OGG, and these seasonal services will run through the end of April 2026.

Life Flight Network's N661LF

Life Flight Network is ferrying one of their PC-12/47Es, N661LF (msn 1505), from VGT to ITO, via SMX today. This PC-12 will be based at ITO, along with an Airbus Helicopters H145, as Life Flight Network as part of its air ambulance operations on Hawai‘i Island.