Happy Thanksgiving!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes our American readers a Happy Thanksgiving!

BYU Team Charter

The Brigham Young University Cougars football team chartered a Delta Air Lines A330-300 for their road trip to Honolulu to face the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday.  N814NW (msn 806, f/n 3314) made the flight from SLC to HNL as DAL8913. The team will return to SLC following the game.

N683WP Ferried

Southern Cross Aviation is ferrying N683WP "Kūlana Pono" (msn 4554) from HNL to CMA. The former Island Air Q400 Next Gen is flying as SXA430. 

Mokulele Airlines' LNY Charters

Mokulele Airlines is operating a pair of Pilatus PC-12s, N92NG "Lāna‘i 2" (msn 1192) [top photo] and N439CM "Lāna‘i 1" (msn 1377) [above photo], on charter flights between HNL and LNY, on behalf the two resorts on Lāna‘i. Mokulele is using its MHO flight code on the flights, and is using AirSevice Hawaii for its passenger and ground handling at its south ramp facilities.

American Airlines PHX Changes

American Airlines will be making the following changes to their service between Phoenix, AZ and Honolulu:

27 November: AAL694/675 daily 757-200 service ends.

15 December: AAL692/693 to upgrade to daily A330-300 service from 757-200s. The flight originates in Charlotte, NC.

15 December:  AAL690/689 to operate 757-200 daily service until 07 January 2018.

Hainan Airlines' B-1390

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their first 737 MAX 8, B-1390 (c/n 62183, l/n 6616) today. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1390, and will overnight at HNL.

N346PH

N346PH (c/n 32740, l/n 1444), a 737-86N owned by GECAS, is ferrying from PVG to the mainland (via GUM), and is making a stop at HNL. It has been converted to a freighter at PVG.

32740 was originally leased to Futura in February 2004 as EC-ISL, until September 2008. During its time with Futura, it was sub-leased to Ryan International Airlines numerous times as N977RY. In May 2009, it was leased to Travel Service as OK-TVK until April 2017. It was sub-leased to Sunwing Airlines numerous times as C-FGVK.

Air Changan's B-1481

Air Changan [9H/CGN] (China) is taking delivery of B-1481 (c/n 60171, l/n 6678) today. This 737-86W is makings delivery flight from BFI as B1481, and will overnight at HNL.

Virgin Australia's VH-YWD

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-YWD "Tiramirakura" (c/n 41021, l/n 6664) today. This 737-8FE is making its delivery flight from BFI as VOZ9940, and will overnight at KOA.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1320

China Eastern Airlines is taking deliver of B-1320 (c/n 61690, l/n 6683) today. The 737-89P is makings delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

N202HA's Blessing

Hawaiian Airlines held a blessing ceremony for N202HA "Maile" this morning on HNL's south ramp. A red carpet was laid out on the tarmac up to the stairs truck.  Prior to the blessing, remarks to the media were made by Hawaiian Airlines President & CEO Mark Dunkerley, Airbus' Director of Sales Rebecca Lane, and Pratt & Whitney's Customer Fleet Director (Americas Region) Andrew Dolecki. 

After the remarks were made, the three joined Hawaiian Airlines Vice-President of Community Relations Debbie Nakanelua-Richards and Kahu Richard Kamanu from Kaumakapili Church at the top of the stairs, at the doorway of "Maile". To begin the blessing ceremony, Mrs. Nakanelua-Richards performed and ‘oli. Kahu Kamanu then led the group in prayer, and sprinkled a mix of Hawaiian salt and water around the doorway and into the cabin. A maile lei hung in the doorway, and to end the ceremony, Mark Dunkerley pulled on the lei to break the strand. The A321-271N fleet will be named after Hawaiian flowers and plants.

Employees from Hawaiian's corporate office came down to get their first look at "Maile", they had the opportunity to see the cabin interior.


Mark Dunkerley held a press conference in the cabin of their first A321neo to announce his retirement from Hawaiian Airlines that will take effect on 01 March 2018. Dunkerley will a 15-year run with the airline, that he took over before the airline entered bankruptcy in 2001, and led the airline to triple in size in its fleet, route networks, and employees.  He cited that his reason for leaving his position as President & CEO for family reasons, but will remain active in the local community, and will have more time to fly his personal aircraft, a Bunker Jungmann C.A.S.A 131. He selected Hawaiian Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer Peter Ingram to take the role of President & CEO.

photos to follow ...

Hawaiian Airlines' N202HA Comes Home

Hawaiian Airlines' first Airbus A321-271N (neo), N202HA "Maile" (msn 7917, f/n 202), arrived home at HNL today. The airline took delivery of N202HA on  October 27th, with its delivery flight going from XFW to PAE (via JFK), for completion of the cabin seats. It then spent the last three days at PDX, SFO, OAK, SAN, and LAX undergoing jet bridge training for the ground handling crews. This A321neo made its flight from LAX to HNL as HAL9907, and was towed to Gate 54 following its arrival.

Hainan Airlines' B-1346

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1346 (c/n 44396, l/n 6667) this afternoon. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1346, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai Airlines' B-1336

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1336 (c/n 63052, l/n 6674) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH9761, and will overnight at HNL.

Lion Air's PK-LQI

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LQI (c/n 42997, l/n 6612) this evening. The 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto GUM.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Hawaiian Airlines!

Hawaiian Airlines celebrates its 88th birthday today. To commemorate this occasion, the airline will place a time capsule at their new Charles I. Elliott Maintenance and Cargo Facility. 

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Also, their Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker returned from the mainland after it underwent a complete overhaul. Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley took Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden on a flight on the CH-300, which also flew with Alaska Airlines in the 1940s.

Further details in this Alaska Airlines press release.

Aloha ‘Oe Island Air

Island Air made its final flight this evening, MKU449 [OGG-HNL], as the 37-year-old airline will go into Bankruptcy Chapter 7 Liquidation. N683WP (msn 4554) made the last flight, which was greeted by applauding Island Air employees on the flightline. It was a sad end to the end of this airline.

Personal Note
Over the past 11 years, I was blessed to have shot photos for Island Air. It began with the re-brand after leaving the Aloha Air Group, and their first go-around with the Q400. Their 30th Anniversary celebration, the transition to the ATR72 and ownership change, and the return of the Q400 and another ownership change. It’s too bad another investor could not be found. Island Air will go in the books as Hawaii’s 2nd oldest airline to close its doors.

I have gotten to know a lot of great people at Island Air in those 11 years ... and my heart goes out to everyone of them. They are great people! I will miss seeing them around HNL … I will also miss their customer service which was always excellent, and the ground crew that would welcome arriving flights with shaka signs and waves, as well as the same for departing flights!

I am thankful that I was one of the very few aviation photogs, the folks at Island Air gave me permission to shoot photos from their second floor landing at their hangar, as well as on their ramp.

Island Air's N941WP Ferried

Aloha ‘oe to Island Air's N941WP "Manawanui" (msn 349), as it was ferried by Southern Cross Aviation to BGR, via CMA and SLN.

Fresno State Team Charter

The Fresno State University Bulldogs football team will be using Hawaiian Airlines as their team charter for their game against the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, November 11th. N580HA "Kolea" (c/n 28140, l/n 850), a 767-33AER, is making the non-stop flight from FAT as HAL701.

11.11.17 Update

The Bulldogs are returning to FAT aboard N581HA "Manu O Ku" (c/n 28141, l/n 853) as HAL702 following the game.

Island Air To Shutdown

Island Air announced this afternoon that they will be shutting down on Saturday, November 11th, with their last flight on Friday night. According to their press release, the airline sought bankruptcy protection from their aircraft lessors, but the lessors made aggressive legal moves that the airline could not afford to fight in court, thus causing the shutdown.

To accomodate Island Air's passengers, Hawaiian Airlines will honor the former's tickets from November 11-17, on a standby basis.

This ends the airline's 37-year run, that began as Princeville Airways with DHC-6 Twin Otters, and now ending with Bombardier Dash8-Q400s.