N763AG

N763AG (c/n 27630, l/n 2848), a former Asiana Airlines 737-48E, is making its way back to the mainland, as its lease with ILFC has expired. It appears that the Aviation Capital Group has acquired N763AG. While awaiting its ferry flight back to the mainland, it was stored at CAN. It has stopped through GUM and MAJ, before arriving at HNL in the wee hours of this morning, and parked on the north ramp. As seen above, it still wears the current Asiana livery, but with the titles painted over. N763AG is destined for storage at VCV.

27630 was originally delivered to Asiana as HL7511 in January 1997, under lease from ILFC.

Mahalo to team member Aeros for the photo.

*** 02.14.13 Update ***
N763AG departed for VCV this morning.

Lion Air's PK-LKR

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of third 737-8GP in less than two weeks. PK-LKR (c/n 38686, l/n 4332) is making its delivery flight today as LNI1, and will make it's brief fuel stop at HNL later today.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of PK-LKR at HNL, though team member Drewski2112, got it at BFI during its test phase.

Nok Air's HS-DBK

Nok Air [DD/NOK] (Thailand) is taking delivery of HS-DBK (c/n 37774, l/n 4328) today. This 737-86J was originally ordered, and built for AirBerlin [AB/BER] (Germany). It was to have been registered as D-ABMM, but was not taken up. HS-DBK, as seen above, still has the AirBerlin-liveried rudder and winglets. This aircraft will be named "Nok Sabai" after it's painted in the Nok livery.

We had no idea that this flight was headed here, but we were waiting for Solaseed's JA805X arrival.

Solaseed's JA805X

Solaseed Air [LQ/SNJ "NewSky"] is taking delivery of JA805X (c/n 38035, l/n 4327) today. The GECAS-leased 737-86N is flying as SNJ05X (above), and will overnight at HNL.

January 2013 Deliveries

These were the 12 737NG deliveries that stopped through Hawai‘i during the month of January:
4300 | B-5715 | 38936 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [01.11.13 CSN715]
4306 | B-5706 | 38399 | Xiamen Airlines | -85C [01.16.13 CXA5706]
4301 | B-5296 | 41091 | Air China | -79L [01.16.13 CCA51]
4307 | B-5716 | 38937 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [01.16.13 CSN805]
4304 | B-5711 | 39195 | Hainan Airlines | -84Pº [01.16.13 B5711 - ???]
4303 | B-5731 | 40951 | China Eastern Airlines | -89P* [01.17.13 CES299]
4311 | B-5723 | 39329 | Shandong Airlines | -8FZ [01.18.13 CDG5723]
4310 | JA73NQ | 39432 | Skymark Airlines | -81D [01.19.13 SKY73NQ]
4314 | PK-LKP | 38685 | Lion Airlines | -8GP* [01.23.12 LNI1]
4317 | 9M-MXO | 40142 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [01.23.13 MAS5473]
4313 | B-5730 | 39302 | Shanghai Airlines | -86D [01.25.13 CSH730]
4320 | PK-LKQ | 38727 | Lion Airlines | -8GP [01.25.13 LNI1

-700: 1
-800: 11

China: 8
Indonesia: 2
Japan: 1
Malaysia: 1

N88ZL

The February edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to April 2004, with N88ZL (c/n 18928, l/n 457), a 707-330B, owned by Lowa Ltd., that paid a visit on HNL's South Ramp.

18928 was originally purchased by Lufthansa, and was delivered in December 1965 as D-ABUF "Hanover". From April 1978 to February 1981, Lufthansa leased this 707 to its subsidiary Condor Flugdienst. In March 1985, it's current owner, Lowa Ltd., purchased 18928, and had it re-configured to a VIP interior, as well as registering it as N88ZL. Since this 707 has been with Lowa, it has been through four different liveries. The first was from 1985 until the late 1990s. With its second livery (which lasted only a few years), also came the hush-hitted JT3Ds (as seen above). The third livery (above), lasted from about 2003 until 2011. N88ZL has been parked at OPF since late 2011, and painted in its fourth livery.

This 707-330B has been used as a concert tour charter for music acts like Pearl Jam, Bryan Adams, Beyoncé, and Bo Jovi.

N18622

Another former United Airlines 737-524, N18622 (c/n 27526, l/n 2669), is making its way toward Indonesia to join the Sriwijaya Air fleet.

N18622 was originally delivered to Continental Airlines in December 1994, and assigned the fleet number 622. In 2008, N18622 had Blended Winglets™ installed. When Continental merged with United in 2010, N18622 was transferred in with a new fleet number, 0622.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of N18622 at HNL.

B747-8 Experimental

Primer only

BOE524 from KPAE on 01/25/13, a B747-8 Freighter Experimental on the South Ramp at KOA.  They will be on the ground overnight only on a quick turn test flight.  There's no paint, no frills on this one.  It's all business.

This 747-8KZF is bound for Nippon Cargo Airlines as JA14KZ (c/n 37394, l/n 1469), and is flying as BOE524 during its pre-delivery test flights.

B747-8 Freighter Experimental

40,000 ft at Mach .8 is tough on Decals

Shanghai's B-5730

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-5730 (c/n 39302, l/n 4313) today. The 737-86D is flying out of BFI as CSH730, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above taxiing onto to its parking spot.

Lion Air's PK-LKQ

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of PK-LKQ (c/n 38727, l/n 4320) today. It's their second 737-8GP being delivered in as many days. PK-LKQ is flying as LNI1, and will tech stop at HNL. It's seen above being prepped for its next leg to MAJ on the Castle & Cooke ramp.

Korean Adds NRT-HNL

Korean Air is jumping back into the NRT-HNL route beginning March 31, 2013. They will operate this daily service with their A330-300s, KAL001 will originate from ICN, then make a stop at NRT, before arriving at HNL. KAL002 will make the return flights to NRT and ICN.

More information in this KHON article, and this Airline Route article.

Malaysia's 9M-MXO

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MXO (c/n 40142, l/n 4317) today. The 737-8H6 is making its delivery flight as MAS5473. It made its initial leg out of BFI five hours late, and arrived at HNL in the early evening. It's scheduled to depart HNL for MAJ tomorrow morning (above).

Hawaiian Airlines "Blast From The Past!"

Time for another HNL Rarebirds "Blast from the Past". Above, is a Hawaiian Airlines DC-3 flying over Kāne‘ohe Bay in the late 1940's. The windward side of O‘ahu is as beautiful then, as it is today. And the DC-3 is as beautiful as ever.

Lion's 80th 737NG

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of their 80th 737NG today. PK-LKP (c/n 38685, l/n 4314), a 737-8GP, has a commemorative dark green tail with "80th 737 Next Generation", and is making its delivery flight as LNI1. It made its brief two-hour fuel stop, then continued onto MAJ.

N657AG

N657AG (c/n 28657, l/n 2859), a 737-36Q, is making a ferry flight from VCV (via OAK), and stopped off at HNL. It's owned by the Aviation Capital Group (ACG), and appears to be headed for another lessee in the western Pacific. We've been told this 737 is a white tail. It will also make stops at MAJ and GUM, before reaching ICN.

28657 was originally purchased by Boullion AS, and leased to China Xinhua Airlines as B-2982. In mid-2003, it was repainted into the standard Hainan livery, but retained the China Xinhua titles. It never received the 2007 Hainan Group livery.

Skymark's JA73NQ

Skymark Airlines is taking delivery of JA73NQ (c/n 39432, l/n 4310) today. The AWAS-leased 737-81D is making its delivery flight as SKY73NQ, and is seen above, taxiing to the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

N218AW

A former Shenzhen Airlines 737-33A, N218AW (c/n 27463, l/n 2831), is making its way from China to the US mainland, as its lease with AWAS has expired. The flight originated from SZX, and will go to TUS. It made stops at MNL, GUM, HNL, and OAK.

27463 was delivered to AWAS in November 1996 to Shenzhen Airlines as B-2972. In 2008, it was painted in the 2007 Shenzhen livery.

Alaska Airlines Hijack Prank

Apparently someone called in a hijack prank the Honolulu FBI Field Office, last night, regarding Alaska Airlines' flight 819, from KOA to SEA. A pair of F-15s were scrambled, and escorted the 737-890 into SEA. The suspected passenger was cleared, but the hunt is on for the caller.

Further information in this KING5 (Seattle) report.

Shandong's B-5723

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-5723 (c/n 39329, l/n 4311) today. The 737-8FZ, leased from Babcock & Brown, is flying as CDG5723. It's seen above taxiing onto is parking spot on HNL's South Ramp.

China Eastern's B-5731

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5731 (c/n 40951, l/n 4303) today. The 737-89P is flying from BFI as CES299. It's seen above, shortly after arriving from BFI, on the AirService Hawaii ramp.