United Airlines' Fantasy Flight

The HNL Station for United Airlines hosted a Fantasy Flight for children battling life-threatening illness, special needs, and children from Gold Star families and fallen heroes today. N774UA (c/n 26936, l/n 2, f/n 2474), a 777-222, made the 50-minute flight from HNL's Gate F2 to the United's Hangar, as UAL3894. United employees, along with several non-profit organizations, volunteered their time to make this annual flight happen. UAL3894 landed on Runway 8R, and taxied to their hangar, where there was a Christmas party for the children and their families.

UAL 3894 was the first of the 13 Fantasy Flights around United's global network, this Christmas season. The other 12 cities hosting Fantasy Flights are: NRT, GUM, LAX, SFO, DEN, ORD, CVG, IAH, IAD, EWR, FLL, and LHR.

Further information in this United Airlines press release.

Korean Air / Asiana Airlines Merger To Close This Month

CH-Aviation reports that with an anticipated official approval announcement from the US Department of Justice, the merger between Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines is expected to close sometime this month. The approval from the USDOJ is the final piece of the puzzle to allow the merger between the two largest airlines in the Republic of Korea, with Korean Air taking the reins. The Asiana brand will last another two years, before it's absorbed into the Korean Air brand. Multiple concessions by both airlines had to be made before any approval was given by transport ministries around the world, especially where the two airlines serve.

Also, as part of the merger, Asiana Airlines' low-cost subsidiaries (Air Busan and Air Seoul) will be combined under Korean Air's LCC, Jin Air.

Aloha Air Cargo's N302KH To NAC

Aloha Air Cargo is ferrying N302KH "Kahanuola" (c/n 27905, l/n 2705) from HNL to ANC, as it's being transferred to Northern Air Cargo. This 737-330F is ferrying as NAC9302.

Water Cannon Salute For Pearl Harbor Survivor

The HNL ARFF honored Pearl Harbor attack survivor, Ira "Ike' Schab with a water cannon salute, as his Hawaiian Airlines flight taxied to the gate after arriving from PDX as HAL49. The 104-year-old Schab was also honored at the gate by Hawaiian Airlines employees. He is here to attend the 83rd December 7th remembrance at the Arizona Memorial Park on Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. There are 16 survivors of the attack still living.

N388HA "Nahiku" (msn 1310, f/n 388) made the flight from PDX, and the water cannon salute was done as the A330-243 taxied near the Mauka Extension, where it parked at Gate A7.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines Mana‘o post.

Shenzhen Airlines' N239BE

Boeing is ferrying Shenzhen Airlines' N239BE (c/n 61154, l/n 8178) from BFI to HSN (via HNL, and GUM) as BOE950 today, and will overnight at HNL. This 737-8 will undergo cabin completion at Boeing China in Zhoushan, then delivered to Shenzhen Airlines with a Chinese registration. Usually, the Boeing ferry flights to HSN transits through JRF, this would be the first time to stop at HNL.

QantasLink's VH-X4E

National Jet Systems is taking delivery of their fifth A220-300 with VH-X4E "Tasmanian Devil" (msn 55312). This QantasLink-liveried A220 is flying from YMX to CBR, via YVR, HNL, and NAN, as QFA6075. The YVR-HNL leg is being flown as QFA6076, and will remain overnight.

03 December 2024 UPDATE

The HNL-NAN segment is being flown as QLK6077.

China Airlines' B-18110 And B-18111

A pair of China Airlines A321-271NXs, B-18110 (msn 10939) and B-18111 (msn 11040), have stopped off at HNL from TPE, via GUM and MAJ. B-18111 arrived first as CAL1592, then followed by B-18110 as CAL1590. Both A321Ns parked on the North Ramp, and will be transporting Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, his staff, and press corps on his tour of a few islands in the South Pacific.

02 December 2024 UPDATE

B-18110 departed for MAJ as CAL1586 early this morning, and B-18111 departed for MAJ later in the morning as CAL1588.

Hawai‘i Army National Guard Flyover

A CH-47F Chinook from the Company B, 2nd Battalion, 211 Aviation Regiment and a HH-60M from Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, performed a flyover prior to the start of tonight's University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors football game. Only 16-20855 (the HH-60M), is listed as the flight IMUA855, which made the flyover at the end of the Star-Spangled Banner, in honor of the Rainbow Warriors' Senior Night agains the New Mexico Lobos.

China Airlines' B-18918

China Airlines' A350-941, B-18918 (msn 239), is making a stop at HNL, as it transports Taiwan's President Ching-te "William" Lai around the South Pacific. The Airbus/Caron Fibre special-liveried A350 is flying as CAL1588. President Lai is scheduled to spend time here meeting with local and US officials.

01 December 2024 UPDATE

B-18918 returned empty to TPE as CAL1591.

Qantas' VH-OQH

Qantas' A380-842, VH-OQH "Reginald Ansett" (msn 50), made a diversion to HNL from SYD this morning. It was scheduled to fly to LAX, but made a medical diversion, and will continue onto LAX later in the morning.

New Mexico Lobos Team Charter

The New Mexico Lobos football team is chartering a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for their road game against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. N801SY (c/n 30332, l/n 777, f/n 801) is flying the Lobos from ABQ to HNL, via OAK, as SCX8420. The team will return to AB following the game.

01 December 2024 UPDATE

The Lobos returned to ABQ, via OAK, as SCX8420 following their 38-30 loss to Hawai‘i.

Hauʻoli Lā Hoʻomaikaʻi

Happy Thanksgiving from the HNL RareBirds™ team!

Coulson Aviation's N382CG

Another Coulson Aviation C-130H, N382CG (msn 382-4336, f/n 138), is making its way from TRM to XRH, via SMX, KOA, PPG, and NLK, as CUL138. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

382-4336's History:

___ ____: Delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force as BW-C 954 "Balder", assigned to the 335 Squadron.

Sep 2023: Acquired by Coulson Aviation, and converted to a water bomber.

Conair's C-FFQF

Conair's fire fighting Q402-AT, C-FFQF (msn 4315), will be making a stop at HNL from YXX, via OAK, as FGD391. This Q400 is making its way to Australia to assist in the Southern Hemisphere summer fire season.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N193AN

Asia Pacific Airlines is taking delivery of N193AN (c/n 32387, l/n 981) today. This 757-223F, is delivering from LAL to HNL, via PHX, under lease from Titan Aviation Holdings. It's being flown with an Amerijet flight code, AJT96.

This is Asia Pacific's sixth 757-200F, and the first powered by Rolls-Royce RB211s. The other five are powered by Pratt & Whitney PW2040s.

32387's History:

Nov 2001: Delivered to American Airlines as N193AN (f/n 5FC).

Sep 2016: Painted in the current livery.

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at ROW.

Jly 2021: Sold to AerSale, and ferried to GYR for freighter conversion.

Mar 2022: Leased to Amerijet.

Jun 2022: Sold to Titan Aviation Holdings, and the lease transferred.

Jan 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at LAL.

Maui Invitational 2024 Team Charters

Some of the  eight-team Maui Invitational college basketball tournament may possibly arriving by team charter flights, while other teams will travel via commercial flights. The tournament runs from 25-27 November in Lāhaina, Maui.

The eight schools are: Auburn Tigers, Colorado Buffaloes, Dayton Flyers, Iowa State Cyclones, Memphis Tigers, Michigan Sate Spartans, North Carolina Tar Heels, and the UConn Huskies.

The Tar Heels flew to HNL via Omni Air International, and will return to RDU from OGG.

22 Nov 2024:

Michigan State: SCX8417 [LAN-OAK-OGG] aboard N804SY.

UConn: ASA9689 [BDL-OAK-OGG] aboard N723AL.

27 November 2024 UPDATE

Michigan State will return to LAN, via OAK, aboard N808SY, as SCX8417.

Memphis will return to MEM, via OAK, aboard N804SY, as SCX8424.

UConn will return to BDL, via SEA, aboard N934AK, as ASA9682.

28 November 2024 UPDATE

North Carolina will return to RDU, aboard N207AX, as OAE2463.

Hawaiian Airlines' N494HA Moana 2 Special Livery

Hawaiian Airlines' 717-2BL, N494HA "Koaʻe Kea" (c/n 55182, l/n 5138, f/n 494), is now wearing the Moana 2 decals. It had the decals applied over the past few days, and has returned to service this morning.

N476HA "Elepaio" (c/n 55118, l/n 5053, f/n 476) was slated to receive the decal treatment, but was switched out.

North Carolina Tar Heels Team Charter

The tenth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team is chartering an Omni Air International 767-224ER for their game on Friday against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. N234AX (c/n 30436, l/n 833) is bringing the Tar Heels here from RDU as OAE2220. They will stay in Hawai‘i, as they are participating in  the Maui Invitational tournament in Lāhaina, Maui, beginning on the 25th.

21 November 2024 UPDATE

N234AX returned to its base at AFW as OAE2220 after dropping off the Tar Heels.

Air Force 2 To KOA

99-0004 (c/n 29028, l/n 829), flying as Air Force 2, is taking VP Kamala Harris and husband from ADW to KOA, via LAX today. This C-32A (757-2G4) is assigned to the 1st Airlift Squadron, 89th Airlift Wing.

With the VP's vacation on Hawai‘i Island, the FAA has put a TFR in place during the visit until Monday, 25 November.

Above is a photo of 99-0004 on final for Runway 4R, taken in November 2022.

25 November 2024 UPDATE

Air Force 2 departed KOA for SFO, then ADW.

Eastern Airlines' N771KW

Eastern Airlines' 777-212ER, N771KW (c/n 28530, l/n 390), is making a stop at HNL from MCI as EAL9832.  It will continue onto GUM as EAL9833 tomorrow.

28530's History:

Mar 2002: Delivered to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SQI, under lease from Pembroke.

Apr 2017: Leased to FlyGlobal as 9M-FGA.

Nov 2017: Subleased to Nesma Airlines for one month.

May 2020: Purchased by Eastern Airlines as N771KW.

Nov 2022: Inducted into service.

May 2024: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for two months.

21 November 2024 UPDATE

N771KW is arriving from ANC tonight as EAL9835, and will continue onto MCI tomorrow as EAL9836.