N294AL

A former Air China 737-3Z0, N294AL (c/n 27047, l/n 2357), is being ferried to MZJ from CTU (via GUM, MAJ, and KOA). It was recently acquired by Air Lease Corp. N294AL arrived last night from MAJ, and left this morning for MZJ.

27047 was originally delivered to China Southwest Airlines in September 1992 as B-2586. Air China transferred this 737-3Z0 into their fleet when they acquired China Southwest in March 2004.

American Airlines 767-323ER In New Livery

American Airlines' new livery has shown up in HNL.  The 767-323ER used on today's American Airlines flight AA123 from DFW, N368AA (cn 25195/404), is shown here painted in the new livery.

My impression of the new livery is mixed.  The forward part of the fuselage with the new logo and American titles looks fine.  As for the tail section, it just doesn't look right.  When I saw the vertical stabilizer cut off by the AA 757, like the cropped picture below, I thought it actually looked good.  The alternating color gradient of the blue stripes looks really nice.  But, when I saw the entire tail section with the red/white/silvery gray stripes continue past the vertical stabilizer, it looks gaudy instead.

N278WA

A former World Airways MD-11, N278WA (c/n 48746, l/n 597), is making its way to CGK from VCV, via HNL. It arrived yesterday, and parked on the North Ramp. N278WA is owned by the Boeing Capital Corporation.

This MD-11 was originally delivered to World Airways in March 1996. Over the years, N278WA has been leased to Philippine Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, Avianca Colombia, Air Asia, Garuda Indonesia, and SonAir.

N278WA is destined for Avient Cargo of Zimbabwe, after some maintenance work at CGK.

Royal Jet's A6-DFR

One of Royal Jet's BBJs, A6-DFR (c/n 30884, l/n 747), a 737-7BC, is paying a visit to HNL.

30884 was originally delivered to the Jordanian Government as VP-BFA in January 2004. It was re-registered as VP-BFE in October 2007. The Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight acquired the BBJ and registered as the current A6-DFR in November 2007. Royal Jet added to its fleet in June 2010. The BBJ is outfitted with a VIP interior.

Malaysia's 9M-MSC

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-8H6 in the past ten days. 9M-MSC (c/n 40145, l/n 4405) is making its delivery flight from BFI as MAS5473, and will overnight at HNL before continuing onto MAJ tomorrow (above photo).

Qantas' VH-XZD

Qantas' newest 737-838 is making its way across the Pacific. VH-XZD (c/n 39368, l/n 4400) wears the name "Moranbah" and will continue on to Australia as QFA6024 tomorrow morning.

Aloha's N743AL Now With Southwest

A former Aloha Airlines 737-76N, N743AL (c/n 28654, l/n 986), that was leased from GECAS, has been acquired by Southwest Airlines, and will be registered as N7811F (f/n 7811). This is one of two former Air Berlin 737-700s that Southwest is picking up. Both are currently at BFI, in its former carrier's livery, awaiting their new livery.

After it's three-year-plus stint with Aloha (January 2002 - December 2005), this 737-76N was leased to Air Berlin as D-ABBS from December 2005 to March 2013.

N743AL is seen above in this August 2005 photo, seconds from touching down on Runway 26R, completing another west coast run. This would be one more ETOPS 737-700 in the Southwest fleet.

Mahalo to Joe G. Walker for the information.

Hainan's B-5289

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their first 737-74P today. B-5289 (c/n 39198, l/n 4395) is making its delivery flight from BFI as B5289. It's seen above clearing Taxiway C, for its South Ramp Hardstand parking spot.

Hainan has three 737-76Ns leased from GECAS, but they were absorbed into the parent fleet from their subsidiaries.

MSP RareBirds

Heading home from MSP on March 17th. Here are some of the Delta airliners that we don't see at HNL taken at Concourse G.

Delta's A320-212, N337NW (msn 358, f/n 3237), parked at Gate G13.

Delta's 757-232, N694DL (c/n 29726, l/n 831, f/n 694), being loaded at Gate G15, wears "The Spirit of Freedom" special markings on the nose section.

Delta's MD-90-30, N908DA (c/n 53388, l/n 2117, f/n 9208), starting its engines after being pushed out from Gate G19.

While taxiing out for departure on Runway 17, we passed by this former Northwest Airlines DC-9-31, N960N (c/n 47256, l/n 326, f/n 9910), that's now a fire/rescue trainer for the MSP ARFF.

Northwest's N239NW

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classics" features Northwest Airlines' DC-10-30, N239NW (c/n 48290, l/n 435, f/n 1239), seen above on Taxiway RT, in May 2004. It had received the final NWA livery a month prior to this photograph being taken.

48290 was originally delivered to Thai Airways in December 1987, as HS-TMB. In April 1998, Northwest acquired this DC-10-30, and registered as N239NW. In October 2006, Omni Air International acquired, and registered it as N612AX. Since February 2012, it has been in storage at GYR.

In July 2003, I rode N239NW from SEA to HNL, when it wore the tri-color "bowling shoe" livery.

March 2013 Deliveries

These were the nine 737NG deliveries for March 2013:
4370 | B-5719 | 38940 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [03.08.13 CSN805]
4372 | B-5726 | 38883 | Shandong Airlines | -85N [03.12.13 CDG5726]
4375 | B-5707 | 38399 | Xiamen Airlines | -85N [03.13.13 CXA5707]
4368 | 9M-LNF | 38687 | Malindo Air | -9GPER [03.13.13 MLO1]
4379 | B-5720 | 38941 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [03.19.13 CSN520]
4381 | B-5713 | 39197 | Hainan Airlines | -84P [03.20.13 B5713]
4385 | 9M-MSB | 40144 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [03.25.13 MAS5473]
4388 | B-5721 | 38942 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [03.26.13 CSN201]
4383 | B-5756 | 39724 | China Eastern Airlines | -89P* [03.29.13 CES599]

-800: 8
-900ER: 1

China: 7
Malaysia: 1
Indonesia: 1

EWR RareBirds

Here are some of the photos from EWR on March 11th from Terminal B. We definitely do not see these birds at HNL ...

 Porter Airlines' Dash8-Q402, C-GLQD (msn 4138, f/n 803) at Gate 51.

 American Airlines' MD-83, N9413T (c/n 53188, l/n 2119, f/n 4WW) at Terminal A.

 Jet Airways' A330-202, VT-JWN (msn 932) on Taxiway RC.

United Express' (Shuttle America) ERJ-170SE, N865RW (msn 17000122) on Taxiway B, wearing the final pre-merger United livery.

British Airways' 777-236, G-ZZZB (c/n 27106, l/n 10) on Taxiway A, as seen from Seat 11D aboard N761ND.

China Eastern's B-5756

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of their third Yunnan Peacock-liveried 737-800 today. B-5756 (c/n 39724, l/n 4383), a 737-89P, is making its delivery flight as CES599. It's seen above shortly after landing on Runway 4R.

As noted by the marking below the Skyteam logo, B-5756 is also the 1,000th Boeing aircraft delivered to the People's Republic of China.

ATL RareBirds

Here are some of the photos I took at ATL on March 11th prior to our flight to MSP via EWR. While they may be regulars there, these are birds we definitely don't see at HNL ...

Delta's MD-90-30, N918DH (c/n 53553, l/n 2165, f/n 9218) being pushed out of Gate T5.

Delta's MD-88, N910DE (c/n 53419, l/n 2036, f/n 9010), taxiing down Ramp 1.

Spirit Airlines' A319-132, N522NK (msn 2893) "Spirit of Las Vegas", in the old livery on Taxiway L.

US Airways' ERJ-190AR, N954UW (msn 19000139, f/n 954), on Taxiway L.

United Express' CRJ-700, N716SK (msn 10180, f/n 716) on Taxiway L. This CRJ-700 is operated by SkyWest Airlines.

airTran's 717-2BD, N994AT (c/n 55138, l/n 5104, f/n 766), on Taxiway M, bound for departure on Runway 9L.

N293AL

KOA had a rarebird stop through today. N293AL (c/n 27046, l/n 2252), a 737-3Z0, owned by Air Lease Corporation (ALC), is ferrying the aircraft from China to MZJ. It's making an overnight stop from MAJ.

27046 was originally delivered to China Southwest Airlines as B-2530 in April 1992. Air China acquired China Southwest in March 2004, and transferred B-2530 into their fleet. ALC bought the 737-3Z0 from CCA this past February.

China Southern's B-5721

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-81B this month. B-5721 (c/n 38942, l/n 4388) is the making its delivery flight as CSN201. It's actually their third 737 in the past 18 days.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of B-5721 at HNL.

Malaysia's 9M-MSB

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MSB (c/n 40144, l/n 4385) today. The 737-8H6 is flying from BFI as MAS5473, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above taxiing onto the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

Hawaiian Signs A321NEO Purchase Agreement

With all of the unions on-board with the A321NEO additions, Hawaiian Airlines signed the purchase agreement with Airbus for 16 A321NEOs, and purchase rights for another nine aircraft.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

LAX RareBirds

Here are a few shots I did manage to get during our LAX stopovers. The three photos below were taken on March 9th, upon arrival at LAX.

Air Pacific's 747-412, DQ-FJL (c/n 24062, l/n 722) at the West Remote Hardstands, as we taxi from North Complex to Terminal 5, on Taxiway AA.

United Airlines' A320-232, N447UA (msn 836, f/n 4247) on Taxiway H, waiting to cross Runway 25R at Taxiway P.

Delta Connection's (SkyWest Airlines) N625CA (msn & f/n 10113), on Taxiway H, about to follow us to Terminal 5.

This photo was taken from DAL1454, N373DA, as we taxied to Runway 25R for departure to ATL.

American Airlines' 777-223ER, N755AN (c/n 30263, l/n 354, f/n 7BP) is holding on Taxiway C. 

The photo below was taken on March 17th.

The Fry's Electronics 727-281 "Super 27", N724YS (c/n 21474, l/n 1378) and the Dubai Air Wing's 747-412F, A6-GGF (c/n 28032, l/n 1224) on one of LAX's FBO ramps.

Atlas Air's N853GT

Atlas Air's first 747-87UF/SCD is seen above making a stop in Honolulu after arriving from Cincinnati [CVG], before it heads out to Sydney [SYD] as PAC242. N853GT (c/n 37572, l/n 1467) wears a hybrid scheme combining Polar Air Cargo titles and a DHL tail.