Jetstar's VH-EBR

Jetstar Airways has begun to modify the titles on their entire fleet, as seen above, the fuselage titles are all in black, and the typeface has been modified as well.

Currently, only two of Jetstar's A330-202s, VH-EBR (msn 1251) [above] and VH-EBS (msn 1258) have the modified titles.

Mahalo to team member 2003Z06 for the above photo.

JASDF's 64-3501

For a second time this week another JASDF AWACS E-767 (767-27CER) visited Honolulu. 64-3501 (s/n 27358, l/n 557) departed this morning. Sister-ship 86-3504 was seen a few days ago. This E-767 is headed to BFI for upgrades.

Viva AeroBus' XA-VIT

Viva AeroBus [VB/VIV] is taking delivery of XA-VIT (c/n 27635, l/n 2721), a 737-3K2, from CHC, that was the former Air New Zealand ZK-SJE. The ferry flight made stops at WLG, NAN. MAJ, HNL, and TIJ, before reaching its new home at MTY. It's being leased from ILFC. The flight stopped through HNL, but was not listed on any flight trackers. Skyliners.de had it listed, but was discovered this morning, probably after it had departed HNL.

27635 was originally delivered to Transavia (under lease from ILFC) as PH-TSZ in May 1995. Freedom Air International (New Zealand) [SJ/FOM] was its next lessee as ZK-SJE in October 2001. When Air New Zealand acquired Freedom Air, ZK-SJE was transferred to the ANZ fleet. It's lease with ILFC recently expired, hence the new stint with VIV.

N27610

N27610 (c/n 27323, l/n 2616, f/n 0610), a former United Airlines 737-524, is making its way toward somewhere in Asia from HOU (via OAK, HNL, ...).

It was originally delivered to Continental Airlines in May 1994 under lease from GECAS, and had UAL titles replacing the COA following the merger between the two carriers in October 2010.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of N27610 while at HNL


*** 04.08.12 Update ***
N27610's final destination of this ferry flight was to CGK. It's the first of a dozen 737-524s that GECAS is leasing Sriwijaya Airlines, and will become PK-CLC "Citra".

N596SC

Another former AirAsia 737-300 is MZJ-bound from CGK (via BIK, GUM, MAJ, and HNL). N596SC (c/n 23376, l/n 1308), a 737-3B7, was registered as PK-AWQ while with the Indonesian carrier from February 2006 to March 2012.

23376 was originally delivered to US Air as N370AU in November 1986, and was re-registered as N501AU in September 1988. In 1995, 23376 was sold to GECAS, and leased to Western Pacific Airlines [KMR] in April of that year as N947WP, and was the logojet for The Broadmoor (in Colorado Springs). In June 1998, following the closure of KMR, it was leased by Delta Air Lines as N947WP, and wore the 1997 Ron Allen livery during the seven-plus year stint at DAL.

Xiamen's B-5633

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5633 (c/n 38389, l/n 3987), a 737-85C. It's flying from BFI to XMN (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as CXA5633.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of B-5633 at HNL.

JAL's Samantha Thavasa

Japan Airline's Samantha Thavasa themed 767-346ER can be seen serving International routes out of Narita. JA615J (c/n 33850, l/n 942) is one of two aircraft that wears the Samantha Thavasa livery. The other aircraft is JA772J (c/n 27657, l/n 507) a 777-246 that flies domestic routes within Japan.

US Coast Guard's 01

This C-37A (Gulfstream V), 01 (msn 653), of the US Coast Guard is the commander's transport. It's one of two C-37As in the USCG aircraft fleet. It's been here at HNL for the past couple of days, parked at Bradley Pacific Aviation (above).

Lion's PK-LJQ

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of their first 737-8GP today! PK-LJQ (c/n 38317, l/n 3985) is the first of a dozen -8GPs that the Indonesian carrier has opted for. It's flying from BFI as LNI1, and will make its brief fuel stop at HNL later this morning, before continuing onto MAJ, BIK, and to its home at CGK.

PK-LJQ is seen above on Taxiway C after arriving landing on Runway 4R.

N834AC

A former Singapore Airlines [SQ/SIA] 747-412, N834AC (c/n 26556, l/n 1084), is headed to MZJ for storage. The flight originated from SIN, and will make a stop at HNL along the way.

26556 was delivered to SIA in July 1996 as 9V-SPJ. It was leased from IEM Airfinance, and was withdrawn from service this past February, and sold to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest.

Mahalo to team member Aeros for the above photo of N834AC, now seen devoid of the SIA titles and logos.

JASDF's 84-3504

One of Japan Air Self Defense Force's four AWACS E-767s (767-27CERs) is making its return flight to Japan after recently receiving radar system upgrades from Boeing. 84-3504 (c/n 28017, l/n 642) is based out of Hamamatsu Air Base (RJNH), and was delivered new to the JASDF in January of 1998.

Hawai‘i Express' N380HE

It seems the SkyLiners website was either pranked, or is pulling an April Fool's Day prank on everyone when it listed a Hawai‘i Express A380-841, N380HE (msn 002), was to have been delivered today from TLS. It appeared on their new registration page.

The photo above, is a snapshot of that SkyLiners news page, taken with my iPhone4.

There was an actual airline called The Hawai‘i Express, it was an airline in the early 1980s that flew between LAX and HNL. It was among one of the first airlines to start the fare war in the LAX and HNL route in the early days of airline deregulation. Unfortunately, the airline lasted for only 16 months (August 1982 - December 1983).

The actual A380-841, F-WXXL (msn 002), is currently being outfitted with a VIP interior, as it's destined for Kingdom Holdings (Saudi Arabia). It was originally the cabin systems prototype for Airbus. Currently, it's at TLS, and the Airbus house livery has been painted over.

Saudi Arabian Government's HZ-124

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features this A340-213, HZ-124 (msn 004), that was photographed while parked on HardStand 1A in October 1998. It's registered to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence and Aviation, and features a VIP cabin configuration. HZ-124 was delivered in February 1997, though it first flew in January 1992.

China Eastern's SkyTeam B-6053

For their PVG-HNL service today, China Eastern Airlines substituted their SkyTeam A340-642 logojet, B-6053 (msn 577), in place of their normal A340-343s.

Skymark's JA73NN

Skymark Airlines is taking delivery of JA73NN (c/n 39422, l/n 3975) today. The AWAS-leased 737-81D is flying from BFI as SKY73NN, and will overnight at HNL, as it makes its way to HND. It's seen above taxiing on Taxiway RT for departure to GUM.

Air Pacific's DQ-FJC

Air Pacific's 767-3X2ER, DQ-FJC "Island of Taveuni" (c/n 26260, l/n 552), is being returned to its lessor, ILFC. It was originally delivered to Fijian flag carrier in September 1994, and withdrawn from service in January of this year. It was sent to CAN for maintenance and re-paint to all-white. It's stopping through HNL as FJI2001, and will leave for ATL tomorrow afternoon as FJI2002.

Xiamen's B-5632

Today, Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5632 (c/n 38388, l/n 3973). It's their newest 737-85C that is flying from BFI to XMN (via HNL. MAJ, and SPN) as CXA5632.

UA 777-224ER N77012 (PMCO)

Today, on my way to a training session, three things about this United Airlines 777-200 caught my eye. First, it was parked at Gate 13. Second, was the registration, N77012 (c/n 29860, l/n 234). Third was the engines, GE-90 decal. This UA 777 is actually a pre-merger Continental Airlines (PMCO) 777-224ER! This aircraft is operating UAL01/02 (IAH-HNL-IAH). The UA schedule does show the flight being operated by a 777, and apparently will be operated by PMCO 777s. The aircraft for UAL01 comes in from LHR as UAL35.

Pre-merger UA (PMUA) has been regularly sending their 777-222As and 777-222ERs to HNL for many years. However, PMCO have not regularly sent their 777-224ERs to HNL since 2001/2002, when they first added a second flight from IAH.

I'm not exactly sure if I got the correct registration, as this picture was taken by my phone, but the UA flight status page shows today's aircraft number as 3012. A list of PMUA aircraft numbers show the 777 aircraft numbers being 2XXX and PMCO aircraft numbers as 00XX. Seeing that this is a PMCO 777, I am assuming that the aircraft numbers for PMCO 777s will now be 3XXX.

Virgin Australia's VH-YFI

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-YFI (c/n 41000, l/n 3963) today. Named "Porpoise Bay", this 737-8FE is making its delivery flight through LIH as VBH9080.

Team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

OGG Master Plan

A $1billion, 20-year master plan was unveiled for the future of the Kahului Airport by the state's Department of Transportation, in a meeting that was held this past Tuesday on Maui.

Airside, extending both runways, a full re-paving of Runway 2/20, and upgrading of taxiways are part of the master plan. Building-wise, expanding the main terminal, and relocating the commuter terminal are major projects of the plan.

More coverage in this Maui News article.