Avatar Airlines?

In a World Airline News article, Avatar Airlines is a proposed airline seeking to fly domestic routes with low fares, and each 747-400 would have corporate sponsorship outside and inside the aircraft. One of the proposed cities is HNL, with service from LAX, LAS, SFO, and SJC. The airline is seeking US government approval for service.

Air China's B-1946

Air China's newest 737-89L arrived this afternoon as CCA78 from Boeing-Field (KBFI/BFI). B-1946 (c/n 41095, l/n 4828) will continue with it's delivery run tomorrow.

Nippon Cargo Airlines' JA08KZ

Nippon Cargo Airlines' JA08KZ (c/n 36135, l/n 1408) arrived this morning from Narita (RJAA/NRT) as KZ6014. This 747-4KZF might be here in support of JAL's 787 that diverted here over a week ago. Below the nose, there is a cradle for what I believe is for the stranded Dreamliner's number 2 engine.

Nok Air's HS-DBP

Nok Air is taking delivery of HS-DBP "Nok Petchnaamngern [Blue Diamond Bird]" (c/n 39336, l/n 4821) today. The 737-8FZ, leased from Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management, is making its delivery flight as HSDBP, and will overnight at HNL.

Thai Lion's HS-LTL

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTL (c/n 38748, l/n 4822) this morning. The 737-9GPER is making its late-night delivery flight from BFI to DMK (via HNL and CEB) as LTM1. It made a brief fuel stop at HNL early this morning.

Obviously, with the early hours HS-LTL stopped at HNL, we weren't able to get a photo of it, but our team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

HNL RareBirds Hosts Marco Finelli

This morning, I had the opportunity to take aviation photographer / writer Marco Finelli (from Italy) around the HNL spotting locations. He is making the United Airlines "Island Hopper" flight between GUM and HNL (via PTKK, PNI, TTK, KWA, and MAJ), and back.

In an article about HNL, that I wrote for "Airliner World" in 2008, one of Marco's photos was included among the photos within the article.

Shandong's B-1932

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1932 (c/n 39937, l/n 4823) this morning. The 737-85N, leased from RBS Aerospace, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1932, and will overnight at HNL. This is their third 737-85N wearing the DEEJ special livery.

China Eastern's B-1961

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1961 (c/n 39732, l/n 4820) this morning. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES299, and will overnight at HNL.

‘Ohana Launches MKK Service

‘Ohana by Hawaiian launched its Moloka‘i service this morning with a special flight this morning. CFS614 (operated by Empire Airlines) left Gate 49 with Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley, Hawai‘i State Senator J. Kalani English, livery artist Sig Zane (and family), and other Hawaiian Airlines personnel. N804HC, named "Holo Kaomi" (the winds over Paoma‘i, Lānaʻi), made the inaugural flight this morning (above).

Prior to the flight Kahu Richard Kamanu of Kaumakapili Church prayed over, and blessed "Holo Kaomi" (above). He and ‘Ohana's Managing Director Hadden Watt broke the mail lei affixed to the top of the doorway.

Livery designers Sig Zane (left) and his son Kuha‘o pose at the tail section of "Holo Kaomi".

In the passenger holding area, Hawaiian Airlines' Keoni Martin offered an ‘oli before Kahu Kamanu offered a prayer and blessing over the gate area. Mark Dunkerley and Hadden Watt untied the mail lei  before boarding could commence (above).

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release, and this Paul Drewes' report from KITV.

Shanghai's B-1948

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1948 (c/n 39307, l/n 4817) today. The 737-86D is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH573, and will overnight at HNL.

P4-DLK

P4-DLK (msn 300), an A330-223, owned by ILFC is making its ferry from Malaysia to Argentina, and HNL is its first stop along the way. The flight originated from SZB. It's bound for Aerolineas Argentinas, and will be registered as LV-FNJ upon delivery.

This A330 was purchased by ILFC and originally delivered to Sabena [SN/SAB] as OO-SFS in in November 1999. Sabena ceased operations in November 2001. It was leased to Belgium's new flag carrier, VG Airlines (later Delsey Airlines) [IV/FVG] with the same registry in June 2002. It received the name "New York City, The Big Apple". However, the carrier was short-lived, and ended operations in November 2002. In February 2003, it was leased to Malaysia Airlines as 9M-MKW, and was returned to ILFC in September 2013. It currently wears the Aruban registry of P4-DLK.

Japan Airlines 787-8 Dreamliner JA-829J

Japan Airlines' flight JAL2, JA-829J (c/n 34839, l/n 84), with direct service between Tokyo Haneda (RJTT/HND) and San Francisco (KSFO/SFO) diverted to Honolulu earlier this afternoon due to a emergency declared by the pilot. The flight diverted to HNL due to a drop in oil pressure in it's right engine. The 787-8 is currently parked at the north hardstands as it awaits maintenance. This is the first 787 to divert to HNL as well as the first JAL 787 in HNL.

Here is the link to the flight on flightaware.

Here is the link to a Reuters article.

This is the infamous aircraft that had a fire in the electrical compartment after arriving at Boston Logan airport back on January 7, 2013. This was the first of the 787 fires that led to the grounding of the 787 fleet.

Later this month JAL will begin regular 787 service on their Narita-Honolulu route. JL786/785 and JL784/783 will operate utilizing a Boeing 787-8 replacing the 767-300ER.


03.16.14 Update
JA829J is at the United (though still titled Continental) Hangar with its number 2 engine removed.

SilkAir's 9V-MGB

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MGB (c/n 44218, l/n 4808) today. The 737-8SA is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at HNL.

We were unable to get a photo of 9V-MGB at HNL, but well-known aviation photographer Marco Finelli got this photo at MAJ, before he arrived at HNL.

Qantas' VH-TJS

Qantas Airways' VH-TJS "Jabiru" (c/n 24444, l/n 2454) is the second of the last two 737-476s to be retired from the QFA fleet. It is making its ferry flight from MEL to VCV (via SYD, APW, and HNL) as QFA6020, and will overnight at HNL.

VH-TJS was originally delivered to Australian Airlines in May 1993, and integrated into the Qantas fleet five months later following the merger between the two carriers.

Qantas' VH-TJX

Qantas Airways' VH-TJX "Stalwell" (c/n 28150, l/n 2773), is one of the last two 737-476s that have been retired from the QFA fleet. It is now making its ferry flight to from MEL to VCV (SYD, APW, and HNL) as QFA6025. It will overnight at HNL.

VH-TJX was delivered to Qantas in February 1996, and withdrawn from service last month. It retained the Australian Airlines -_76 Boeing customer code, since this originally ordered by Australian, but received after their merger with Qantas.

Hawaiian To Suspend TPE Service

Hawaiian Airlines announced today that they are suspending its thrice-weekly service between HNL and TPE from early April 2014. The last HAL807 will be on 06 April 2014, and the last HAL808 will be on 07 April 2014. The A330-243s will be re-assigned to the ICN service, as it will be up-gauged to a five-times-per-week service.

 Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Malaysia's 9M-MXS

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MXS (c/n 40156, l/n 4815) today. The 737-8H6 is making its delivery flight as MAS5473, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-1923

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-800 within the past six days with B-1923 (c/n 35645, l/n 4812). The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1923, and will overnight at HNL.

Governor Releases Funds For Projects

Hawai‘i Governor Neil Abercrombie released US$96 million for the new commuter terminal at HNL (US$50M), a complete repaving of Taxiway Z (US$35M), and the remaining US$16M for Neighbor Island airport projects.

The new Commuter Terminal will be built next to the far end of the Diamond Head Concourse, and will house Island Air, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian, Mokulele Airlines, and go!. When the new terminal is completed, and operations moved over, that will pave the way for the demolition of the old Commuter Terminal, and the construction of the Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal.

With the building of the new Commuter Terminal, nothing was mentioned on the fate of the North Hardstands. Those eight stands are used quite often.

Further details at the Hawai‘i Airports Modernization website.

A bit of HNL history ... The original location of the Commuter Terminal was very near to the location where the new terminal will be built. During the 1960s through the 1980s, airlines such as Princeville Airways (now Island Air), and Royal Hawaiian Air Service were the mainstays of the old Commuter Terminal, which the building is now part of the east bus lot.

N431LF

While doing a search on the FAA N-Number website, we came across N431LF (c/n 25372, l/n 2280), a 737-4Q8, is registered to Kahala US - 25372, LLC, here in Honolulu, and its certificate was issued in January 2014.  It has a new registration, N452KA, pending.

23572 was originally purchased by ILFC, and it was leased to Turkish Airlines [TK/THY] as TC-JDI "Ürgüp" in May 1992. The next lessee was Sky Airlines [ZY/SHY] (Turkey) in May 2002, as TC-SKD "Black Eagle". It was sub-leased to Air Algérie [AH/DAH] in October 2007 for four months. TC-SKD was returned to ILFC in July 2013, registered as N431LF, and stored at GYR. When Kahala Aviation acquired it, N431LF was ferried to DHN for freighter conversion by Commercial Jet Services.