United Edges Out HND Slot Over Hawaiian

The US Department of Transportation has awarded the HND slot vacated American Airlines, to United Airlines, which will serve the downtown Tōkyo airport from SFO. Hawaiian Airlines also applied for a second HND route, that would have began direct service between HND and KOA.

American had won one of the four original HND slots, with service between JFK-HND. The service ended this past December.

Further details in this ATW Online article.

WestJet's C-GWSZ

Today's WJA1864/1863 flights to and from Vancouver [YVR/CYVR], WestJet Airlines' operated its newest special livery 737-8CT. C-GWSZ (c/n 37092, l/n 3164), dubbed the "Magic Plane", it wears Disney's Mickey Mouse to promote the good standing between WestJet and the Disney Theme Parks. 

Britannia's G-OBYF

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Britannia Airways' G-OBYF (c/n 28208, l/n 705). This 767-304ER paid a visit to HNL in March 2005 with a series of flights to/from SEA, and to/from PPT. G-OBYF is seen above departing for its last flight out of HNL to SEA.

G-OBYF was originally delivered to Britannia under lease from ILFC in June 1998, but later purchased the 767-304ER. During its time with Britannia, it has been leased to Garuda Indonesia for Hajj charters, with a hybrid livery. When Britannia's parent company, the TUI Group consolidated its carriers, the Britannia Airways name and brand dissolved, and became Thomsonfly, and continues today. The Garuda Hajj lease continued until 2007, including the blue Thomsonfly livery. In late 2009, G-OBYF had Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets installed, and continues to fly for Thomsonfly.

Hawaiian's N399HA

Hawaiian Airlines is taking delivery of N399HA "Kūmau" (msn 1496) today, with a delivery flight from TLS to SEA as HAL9975. This is the second A330-243 delivery to Hawaiian this year, and their 16th overall.

Hebei's B-1930

Hebei Airlines [NS/HBH] is taking delivery of B-1930 (c/n 39335, l/n 4796) today. The 737-85C, under lease from Babcock & Brown, is making its delivery flight from BFI as HBH1930, and will overnight at HNL. 

It seems that this -800 was allocated from the Xiamen Airlines order (5C Boeing customer code). Hebei's parent company is Sichuan Airlines [3U/CSC], and one of their shareholders is China Southern Airlines, whose subsidiary is Xiamen Airlines.

Allegiant Celebrates 15 Years

Allegiant Airlines celebrates 15 years of service today. The Las Vegas-based airline has grown from a small fleet of a few DC-9s to a current mixed fleet of 70 airliners, comprised of MD-80s, 757-204s, A319-112s and A320-214s.

Allegiant's 757-204 operation is based out of HNL. When they aren't in service, some of the six 757s can be seen parked on HNL's hardstands. 

N483VA Lost Near LNY

A Piper PA-31-350 Navajo owned by Maui Aircraft Leasing LLC, N483VA (msn 31-7552124), crashed about a mile from the departure end of LNY's Runway 3 last evening, after take-off. Reports are three of the six on-board perished, and the other three survived. The passengers were officials from Maui County on Lānaʻi for county meeting. The three lost were the pilot and two passengers. The three survivors were put on an AirMed King Air 200 (N911ZD) medevac flight to HNL for treatment. The FAA and NTSB will be investigating the cause of this accident.

N483VA was one of three Navajo owned by Maui Aircraft Leasing, along with N471VA (msn 31-8352015) and N35892 (msn 31-8052140).

The HNL RareBirds team expresses our condolences, thoughts and prayers to those involved and their families.

Mahalo to team member OGGturbojets for the top photo.

AirMed's N911ZD (msn LJ-1559) taxiing out to Taxiway C earlier this year.

Further details in this Maui County press release, and this American Live Wire article.

China Eastern's B-5819

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5819 (c/n 39731, l/n 4806) today. The 737-79P, in the orange Yunnan Peacock livery, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES599, and will overnight at HNL.

Qantas Announces Major Cuts And Atlas Agreement

The Qantas Group announced today that they will be reducing their fleet by 50 aircraft, as well as eliminating 5,000 jobs, over the next three years.

No word about how it will affect both Qantas and JetStar flights from Australia to HNL. One thing is certain, all of Qantas' 767-338ERs will be retired by the third quarter of FY2015. No word as to what will replace the 763s when the time comes, but it will probably their A330s. On occasion, A330s have been substituted on the SYD-HNL flight (QFA3/QFA4).

The last two 737-476s will be withdrawn, and probably ferried through HNL for storage.

Further details in this World Airline News article.

In other Qantas news, Qantas and Atlas Air also extended their agreement for the two trans-Pacific ACMI cargo flights, that the latter provides. Terms were not released. One of the two daily cargo flights makes a brief fuel stop at HNL, as QFA755x.

Further details in this World Airline News article.

Hawaiian To Suspend FUK Route

Hawaiian Airlines announced this morning that they will be suspending their 767-300ER service to Fukuoka, Japan, citing insufficient passenger growth.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

China Southern's B-1917

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-800 within the past seven days, with B-1917 (c/n 41316, l/n 4803). The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1917, and will overnight at HNL.

Shenzhen's B-1937

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-87L within the past six days, with B-1937 (c/n 37619, l/n 4804). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ903, and will overnight at HNL.

Aloha Air Cargo's N845KH

Aloha Air Cargo's third Saab SF340AF, N845KH (msn 340A-111) appears to be in service. For a couple of months, it appeared that 845 did not move from Spot 80 on the Elliott Street ramp. Unlike Aloha's other two company-owned Saabs, 845 is under lease from Wells Fargo Bank Northwest.

340A-111 was originally delivered to Brockway Air (part of the Piedmont Commuter network) in December 1987 as N745BA. It was acquired by Business Express (BEX, Delta Connection) in May 1991. Quebec Express acquired it in February 2004, and registered it as C-GQXK. It then went to Air Åland in February 2006 as LY-KXE and SE-KEX. NextJet leased it in August 2012, for a brief period. It was converted to a freighter in October 2013, and acquired by WFBN.

Maui Vacation

My wife, mother-in-law, and I took flew on Island Air for a short trip to Maui this past weekend. Our flight to OGG, Saturday morning, was MKU414.  N941WP (msn 349) "Manawanui" was the ATR72-212 that was used for the flight, seen above before boarding from Gate 77.

Here's a shot of the interior of N941WP from seat 15D ...

Our return flight on Sunday afternoon was MKU407. N420AT (msn 420) "Ho‘olauna" was the ATR72-212 used for the flight. It's seen above taxiing into OGG's Gate 9 from HNL.

Hainan's B-1928

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1928 (c/n 39208. l/n 4794) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1928, and will overnight at HNL.

Viva AeroBus' XA-VAF

Mexico's Viva AeroBus [VB/VIV] is taking delivery of an A320-232, XA-VAF (msn 2443). The A320 is making its ferry flight from XSP [Seletar, Singapore] to MTY [Generál Mariano Escobedo International Airport, Monterrey, Mexico], via GUM and HNL. It was at XSP for maintenance and new paint.

2443 was originally delivered to Kingfisher Airlines [IT/KFR] (India) as VT-KFB in May 2005. It was sold to AWAS in July 2013, and registered as OE-ICG. The leasing company recently leased it to Viva AeroBus.

Garuda's PK-GNE

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GNE (c/n 39936, l/n 4800) this morning. The 737-8U3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto KSA.

Frontier's N223FR

Frontier Airlines is taking delivery of an A320-2214, N223FR (msn 2695). It made a ferry flight stop at JRF last night. The flight originated from MNL, and is bound for GYR, with stops at GUM and JRF. It was most recently with Starflyer [7G/SFJ] (Japan), under lease from GECAS.

2695 was originally delivered to Starflyer as JA03MC in February 2006, and was withdrawn from service in December 2013.

Shenzhen's B-1936

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1936 (c/n 39141, l/n 4797) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ969, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-1919

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-800 in as many days. B-1919 (c/n 38965, l/n 4799), a 737-81B, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN9, and will overnight at HNL.