Boeing Commercial 202

A 737-700 is making its way from PPG (Pago Pago, American Samoa) as BOE202 ... It's headed back to BFI.

Sorry, no HNL photo available ...


Update (02.05.08): This 737 was N359BJ (c/n 33476), and has the full "Wedgetail" AEWC modification.

Xiamen Airlines' B-5355

Xiamen Airlines' next 737-8FH(W), B-5355 (c/n 35104), is making its delivery flight to China from BFI via HNL, MAJ, and SPN as CXA5355.

Sorry, no HNL photo available ...

Skymark's JA737P

Skymark Airlines is taking delivery of JA737P (c/n 29681), a 737-8HX, leased from ACG. Skymark's sixth 738 arrived yesterday from BFI as SKY737P.

JA737P is seen here before leaving later in the day for MAJ, SPN, then NRT.

Air Nippon's latest 737-700

The latest ANA 737-781W for Air Nippon stopped over at HNL. Came in as ANK9984 from BFI on Friday, Jan 25th. It left HNL as ANK9984 for MAJ today, Jan 26th. I'm not sure of the reg, but most likely was JA16AN (c/n 35889), as that was the next 737 to be delivered.

Sorry, no HNL pic, since I didn't know it was here until I saw it take off.

US Navy's VX-9

Eight Boeing F/A-18E & F "Super Hornets" from Test Squadron Nine (VX-9 "Vampires") will be based at MCAF Kane‘ohe Bay for about a month while undergoing over-water tactical training with F-15s from the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron.

In the top photo from a visit from the VX-9 in 2004, the CO's F/A-18E, BuNo 165790, departs from HNL's Runway 8R.

In the above photo, 76-0112 from the 199th FS departs from Runway 22L in 2005.

The Honolulu Advertiser's article link.

China Southern's B-5356

China Southern Airlines' next 737-81B, B-5356 (c/n 35385), made its delivery flight through HNL from BFI yesterday as CSN536, and departed this morning for MAJ.

Sorry, no HNL photo ...

Lion Air's PK-LFM

Lion Air International's next 737-9GPER(W), PK-LFM (c/n 35715), stopped through HNL from BFI on the 19th as LNI101.

Sorry, no HNL photo ...

JAL Express' JA308J

Japan Airlines is taking delivery of their eighth 737-846(W), JA308J (c/n 35337) wearing JAL Express titles. It arrived late yesterday afternoon, and will leave for MAJ and GUM later today.

Rick Schlamp's photo at BFI.

Above is the picture of JA308J when it blocked in at Hardstand 2 on Jan 15. There was just enough light at 17:45 to get a picture.

Alpine Air's N410UB Lost

Alpine Air's N410UB, a Beech 1900C (msn UC70), and its pilot were lost while it was approaching the Lihue Airport on the island of Kaua‘i, early Monday morning. It was on a mail delivery run from HNL to LIH. Alpine Air (5A/AIP) has the US Postal Service contract to transport mail between the Hawaiian Islands.

Our prayers go out to the family, friends, and co-workers of the missing pilot.

N410UB is seen above in a photo from 2005 taxiing to the Alpine Air ramp after landing on Runway 22L on a mail delivery flight.

Here's the link to the Honolulu Star*Bulletin coverage.

Air Vanuatu's YV-AV1

Air Vanuatu is taking delivery of their first 737-8Q8(W), YJ-AV1 (c/n 30734), "Spirit of Vanuatu". It made its stop through HNL on its way to Vanuatu. The next leg took the 73H to NAN (Nadi, Fiji).

Sorry no HNL photo ... though here's Rick Schlamp's photo at BFI.

Xiamen Airlines' B-5319

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5319 (c/n 35102), a 737-8FH(W). It arrived this afternoon from BFI, and will leave for MAJ tomorrow.

Sorry, no HNL photo available.

Happy New Year!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a blessed and prosperous 2008!

ATA's DC-10-30s

ATA Airlines began New Year's charter flights between HNL and KIX, as AMT6400 (KIX_HNL), using ex-NW DC-10-30s.

ATA has also substituted DC-10-30s on AMT4755/AMT4754, between HNL and LAX.

Omni Air Japan Charters

For the past few years, Omni Air International (X9/OAE) has been doing charter flights between HNL and Japan during the New Year's season, as many Japanese tourists flock to Hawai‘i to celebrate this holiday.

Omni's N720AX (c/n 48252) is seen here taxiing to Runway 26L during some Kona Wind weather back in early 2005. N720AX began its career with Lufthansa as D-ADSO, then transfered to its charter subsidiary Condor, before being acquired by Omni.

Another UH Logo HA 767-300?

Unless I saw the wrong registration yesterday, it looks like the UH logo has been applied to a second HA 767, N591HA. This aircraft was parked along Elliott this morning and probably is the actual aircraft that is taking the team to New Orleans.

The flight number for the UH charter is HA1086 and blocked out a little after 5:00pm from Gate 60 in the Interisland Terminal. It is scheduled to arrive in MSY tomorrow morning at 5:10am.

HAL1086 departing for MSY on Runway 8R by BlueWave707 ... Go Warriors!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from the HNL RareBirds team!

UH Charter to the Sugar Bowl

It was announced last week that the University of Hawaii football team will flying to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on HA instead of AQ, who flew the team to their away games during the season. Baring any difficulties, the Warriors will be flying to the Sugar Bowl tomorrow night on N590HA, "Koa`e`ula." HA has added the UH logo to N590HA in the same area as the Raiders and Seahawks logos on N592HA and N583HA. Sorry, no picture of this yet.

Air China's B-5343

B-5343 (c/n 36485) is Air China's newest 737-89L, and it's on its delivery flight from BFI. It left earlier this morning for MAJ as CCA058, after arriving from BFI yesterday.

Sorry no HNL photo, but here's Rick Schlamp's photo at BFI.

Due to my busy schedule, I haven't been able to get out to HNL to get any photos of the recent delivery flights.

Winter Island Visitors

Always nice to see a couple of our favorite liveries here in the warm December sunlight.

North American has been operating an "open jaw" charter; something like OAK-OGG-LAX. Seen arriving Thursday for the second time as NA4635; he didn't grab the localizer on the first try.


Westjet has added a seasonal daytime flight YVR-OGG-YVR. Seen landing Thursday as WJA922.

ATA Brings In Hawai‘i Bowl Teams

Both the Boise State University Broncos (Western Athletic Confernce) and the East Carolina University Pirates (Conference USA) chartered ATA Airlines' L-1011s to bring their respective football teams to HNL for the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl on December 23rd at Aloha Stadium (and will be aired on ESPN at 2000EST).

Both teams arrived late yesterday ... The Broncos arrived on AMT6471 from BOI (Gowen Field, Boise, ID), and the Pirates arrived on AMT6469 from ISO (Kinston Regional Airport, Kinston, NC) with a fuel stop at OAK.


Update 12-24-07 (07:00)
The ECU Pirates beat the BSU Broncos 41-38 in the final seconds with a walk-off field goal. Both the Pirates and Broncos returned to their respective cities last night aboard their ATA L-1011 charters after the game. The Broncos returnd to BOI on AMT6472, and the Pirates returned to ISO on AMT6470.