N486AY

N486AY (c/n 23486, l/n 1286), a 737-376F owned by the Qantas Group, is ferrying from MEL to BXM [Brunswick Executive Airport, Brunswick, ME], via BNE, MAJ, HNL, and PHX. It arrived at HNL, a bit past midnight, and will depart for PHX later today.

23486's History:

Dec 1986: Delivered to Australian Airlines as VH-TAU "Enterprise".

Oct 1993: Integrated into the Qantas Airways fleet after the merger.

Oct 2002: Transferred to Jetconnect as ZK-JNF.

Sep 2006: Returned to Qantas as VH-XML.

Jun 2007: Converted to a freighter, and assigned to Australian airExpress.

May 2013: Assigned to Express Freighters, and operated under the QantasFreight brand.

Oct 2016: Star Tracks titles applied.

Oct 2018: Repainted in the current livery.

Apr 2024: Re-registered as N486AY, and withdrawn from service.

HNL's Runway 4R/22L To Close For Repairs

HDOT announced that HNL's Runway 4R/22L will close from 01 May to 07 June for runway shoulder repaving and drainage work. The other three runways will be open, and Runway 8L's length will be restricted to about 8,000 feet.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

Hainan Airlines' B-225J

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of its first 737-8 since the grounding, and the pandemic. B-225J (c/n 64709, l/n 7858) is making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, via HNL and GUM, as CHH225J. This 737-8 was originally ordered by Fuzhou Airlines, a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, and part of the Hainan Air Group. It was recently re-allocated back to Hainan Airlines, and the Fuzhou logo on the tail and titles were painted over, the rest of the Fuzhou livery remains, and the Hainan titles added.

This is also only the second Hainan Air Group (HNA) delivery to take place, as the Lucky Air 737-8 delivery a few weeks ago was the first for the group. Six of the 11 of the new-builds for HNA that were in storage after the grounding and pandemic, were re-marketed by Boeing to United Airlines; another two were re-marketed to GOL. Currently, HNA has one other 737-8s to be delivered, to Fuzhou Airlines, sitting in storage at Moses Lake.

N780HA Name Revealed

At its blessing today, Hawaiian Airlines' N780HA (c/n 66428, l/n 1097, f/n 780) name was revealed. The Hawaiian name given, is "Kālepa", for the star Muphrid in the constellation Boötes, in the northern skies.

28 Apr 2024 UPDATE

N780HA was also put into service today on the HNL-SFO [HAL12] route.

Pago Wings' N1216P

Pago Wings is taking delivery of their fourth P2012 Traveler, N1216P (msn 062/US) today. It's making its last leg from MRY to HNL. This P2012, operated by Pacific Air Charters, began its delivery journey from LIAU [Capua Airport, Liau, Italy] on 18 March, and made stops at QIU, VLC, SMA, YQY, BGR, MMU, AGC, RFD, RAP, BOI, UAO, then MRY.

Qantas Airways' VH-ZND

Qantas Airways' special-liveried 787-9, VH-ZND "Emily Kane Kngwarreye" (c/n 63390, l/n 669), is flying the QFA103/104 route between SYD and HNL today. This DreamLiner is painted in the "Yam Dreaming" livery.

Coulson Aviation's N132CG

Another Coulson Aviation C-130 Hercules water bomber, N132CG (msn 382-4338), is making its way back to TRM from XRH. Flying as CUL132, this C-130H arriving at JRF from PPG.

382-4338's History:

Jun 1969: Delivered to the Royal Norwegian Air Force as 956/BW-E "Ty", assigned to 335 Skv. It was given the USAF registration of 68-10956 prior to delivery to the RNoAF.

Late 1990s: Painted in an all-grey livery.

Dec 2008: Retired by the RNoAF, and ferried to AMARC for storage.

Feb 2020: Acquired by Coulson Aviation, converted to a water bomber, and registered as N132CG.

Shandong Airlines' B-223U

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-223U (c/n 61459, l/n 8177) today. This 737-8 is making its flight from BFI to TNA, via HNL and GUM, as CDG9005. It's stopover at HNL will be an overnighter.

QantasLink's VH-8NQ

Network Aviation is taking delivery of their second of three second-hand A319-132s with VH-8NQ "Kings Park" (msn 2473). It's being ferried by Southern Cross International as SXI2423 from LCQ to PER, via OAK, HNL, APW, and CNS. This A319 is leased Gryphon Aviation Leasing, and will be operated for QantasLink. VH-8NQ departed LCQ for OAK yesterday, with an overnight stop, and will overnight here as well.

2473's History

May 2005: Delivered to Spirit Airlines as N504NK "Spirit of the Bahamas" (f/n 504), under lease from ILFC.

Nov 2007: Painted in the 2007 livery, and the name removed.

May 2014: Sold to AerCap, the lease transferred, and painted in the 2014 livery.

May 2018: Purchased by Spirit Airlines.

Jan 2020: Given the fleet number 1504.

Feb 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at P08 [Coolidge Muni Airport, Coolidge, AZ]

Apr 2023: Acquired by Gryphon Aviation Leasing, ferried to GSO for storage.

Aug 2023: Ferried to MCN for cabin prep and repaint for QantasLink, then returned to P08 for storage.

Dec 2023: Ferried to LCQ.

Mar 2024: Ferried to VLD [Valdosta Regional Airport, Valdosta, GA] to prep for Network Aviation.

Apr 2024: Returned to LCQ.

N2122P's Emergency Landing

N2122P (msn P1001057), a Piper Sport owned by Belle Pacific Air (Hale‘iwa, HI), made an emergency landing in Kapi‘olani Park this afternoon. Both aboard did not sustain any injuries. The Piper Sport departed HNL at 14:20L this afternoon, and made its emergency landing after losing power at 14:52L.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now report, and flight history from FlightAware.

Air China's B-224T

Air China is taking delivery of B-224T (c/n 60936, l/n 8190) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to PEK, via HNL and GUM, as CCA84. It will overnight at HNL tonight.

N138CG

N138CG (c/n 27928, l/n 2942), the 737-3H4 water bomber owned by the NSW Rural Fire Service, and operated by Coulson Aviation, is making an overnight stop at JRF from PPG, as it heads to Coulson's base at TRM. It spent the past week at PPG, after leaving XRH.

27928's History:

Jly 1995: Delivered to Southwest Airlines as N608SW (f/n 608).

Jan 2004: Painted in the Canyon Blue livery.

May 2017: Acquired by Coulson Aviation.

Mar 2018: Converted to a water bomber, and registered as N138CG (f/n 138).

Jly 2019: Sold to Delaware Trust Co, as a trustee for the NSW Rural Fire Service, named "Marie Bashir", and operated by Coulson Aviation.

Hawaiian Airlines Launches 787 Service

Hawaiian Airlines commenced 787-9 service today, with N781HA "Kapuahi", making the flight to SFO as HAL12. A pre-boarding event at Gate A4 was held that included Hawaiian music, hula dancers, and a Hawaiian blessing. Guests were given an orchid lei before walking into the Jetway.

N781HA will overnight at SFO, then return to HNL as HAL11. The guests aboard that flight will also get to witness a similar pre-boarding event at the gate.

Our highlight video is up on our YouTube channel.

photos to follow ...

All Nippon Airways' JA982A

All Nippon Airways is taking delivery of JA982A (c/n 66996, l/n 1184). This 787-10, their second delivery this month, is making its delivery flight from CHS to HND, via LAX and HNL, as ANA9397. It left CHS yesterday, with an overnight stop at LAX, and will make a brief fuel stop here.

Kalitta Air's N703CK Retirement

Kalitta Air's N703CK "Beti Ward 1" (c/n 24226, l/n809) is being retired by the airline. This 747-412F made its last flight into HNL on 09 Apr from GUM as CKS371, and continued onto YYZ with the same flight code. N703CK was repositioned to YIP, Kalitta's headquarters; then to OSC, Kalitta's maintenance base. Over the past couple years, the Pacific Air Cargo livery was removed, and left as a white-tail.

N253BE

Boeing is ferrying N253BE (c/n 43842, l/n 8263) from BFI to HSN, via JRF and GUM, as BOE392. This 737-8, wearing an all-grey livery, is still going to Xiamen Air (rudder bears the livery). It will be painted and configured at the Boeing Completion Center at Zhoushan, China

Alliance Airlines' N298JB

Alliance Airlines is taking delivery of N298JB (msn 19000249). This ERJ-190AR is making its delivery flight from SJO to ADL, via SDM, OAK, HNL, MAJ, and BNE. It's being flown by Southern Cross International as SXI2430, and is making the OAK-HNL segment today. It will receive its Australian registration, VH-A2V, after delivery.

19000249's History

Mar 2009: Delivered to jetBlue as N298JB "Cool Blue" (f/n 298), with the "Dots" tail livery.

Jan 2017: Tail livery repainted in the "Tartan" design.

Jly 2022: Withdrawn from service.

Oct 2022: Ferried to MZJ for storage.

May 2023: Acquired by Wilmington Trust Company.

Nov 2023: Acquired by TVPX Trust Services, and ferried to SJO for prep to Alliance Airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines' N780HA

Hawaiian Airlines is taking delivery of N780HA (c/n 66428, l/n 1097, f/n 780) today. this 787-9 DreamLiner is making its delivery flight from PAE as HAL9787. Its Hawaiian name will be unveiled after its blessing.

QantasLink's VH-YQX

Southern Cross International is ferrying VH-YQX "Bouddi National Park" (c/n 55053, l/n 5016) from CBR to VCV, via APW and HNL, as SXI2421. This 717-2K9, owned by National Jet Systems, is being retired from its fleet. The APW-HNL segment is being flown as QFA6070.

55053's History:

Dec 1999: Delivered to Olympic Aviation as SX-BOB "Kassiopi", under lease from BIAL.

Dec 2003: Airline rebrands as Olympic Airlines.

Jly 2007: Leased to Spanair as EC-KHX.

Dec 2010: Leased to Blue 1 as OH-BLN, and painted in the Star Alliance special livery.

May 2013: Sold to Falco, and the lease transferred.

Feb 2016: Sold to, and delivered to National Jet Systems as VH-YQX, to operate for QantasLink.

Jan 2022: Repainted in the current Qantas livery, and named "Bouddi National Park".

11 Apr 2024 UPDATE

VH-YQX departed for VCV as SXI2421 this morning.

Royal Brunei's V8-MHB

V8-MHB (c/n 25537, l/n 517), the VIP 767-27GER of the Brunei Government, is making a brief fuel stop at HNL from PHL. This Royal Brunei-liveried 767 is returning to BWN [Bandar Seri Begawan Airport, Brunei].