Japan Airlines Upgrades

Japan Airlines announced that three of their Japan-HNL flights will be upgraded from 767-346ERs to 777-246ERs, indefinitely. These flights will feature the JAL Shell Flat Seat in first class.

NRT-HNL:  June 1st (JAL782/781)

NGO-HNL: July 12th

KIX-HNL: September 1st.

Further details in this Japan Airlines press release.

Golden Week Charters

Hawaiian Airlines and Omni Air International are flying Golden Week charter flights from Japan to HNL. Some of the flights include:  HAL910 (KIX-HNL), OAE606 (NRT-HNL), and OAE607 (HIJ-HNL). Both airlines are using 767-300ERs for these flights.

Batik's PK-LBH

Batik Airlines took delivery of their second 737-9GPER last night. PK-LBH (c/n 38730, l/n 4430) made a late-night gas & go tech stop at HNL, as PKLBH. This was the former Lion Airlines' PK-LKV, which was allocated to Batik.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of PK-LBH at HNL, but "BFIBravo"got a shot of it at BFI.

United 777-222 Landing On 26R

Normally during Kona winds, widebody aircraft land on the "Reef Runway", Runway 26L.  Today, a United Airlines 777-222 flying in as UAL201, IAH-HNL, made a surprising landing on 26R. I haven't seen anything larger than a 737-800 land on 26R before today.

Here's N779UA (c/n 29641, l/n 35) just about to land on 26R.  This was actually the second attempt at landing.  In the first attempt, the aircraft started turning late to line up with the runway, and was still banking at this point.  The pilots leveled off and initiated a go around.  On the second attempt, they took a much wider approach and had a much more stabilized approach.  Below is N779UA just before the nose gear touches down with the thrust reversers opening up.

Ex-Malaysia Airlines 9M-MRK

A 777-2H6ER formerly belonging to Malaysia Airlines arrived at HNL this afternoon. 9M-MRK (c/n 28418, l/n 231) flew in from Kuala Lumpur International (WMKK/KUL) as MAS5448.

9M-MRK was originally delivered to Malaysia Airlines in July 1999.

Malaysia Airlines is currently in the process of acquiring new A330s and A380s and is slowly withdrawing the 777s and 747s from its long haul fleet.

China Southern's B-5739

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-81B in the past two weeks. B-5739 (c/n 38943, l/n 4427) is making its delivery flight from BFI today, as CSN423, and will overnight at HNL.

Hebei's B-5753

Hebei Airlines is taking delivery of B-5753 (c/n 39331, l/n 4402) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as HBH5753. Parent company, Xiamen Airlines originally ordered this 737, then allocated it to Hebei.

Island Air's New CEO

The ownership group for Island Air has named Paul Casey as their CEO. Les Murashige will remain as president, running daily operations. The move was made as the airline seeks further growth and potential expansion.

Paul Casey is no stranger to the Hawai‘i airline market, as he was CEO of Hawaiian Airlines from 1997 to 2002.

Further information in this Hawaii News Now article.

Qantas' VH-TJK

Qantas Airways is sending VH-TJK "Ibis" (c/n 24436, l/n 1998), a 737-476, to VCV for storage. It's flying from MEL to VCV (via SYD, APW, and HNL) as QFA6027.

VH-TJK was originally delivered to Australian Airlines in February 1991, and absorbed into the Qantas fleet when the two carriers merged in October 1993.

New Japan Airlines Flight Numbers

If you have not noticed, Japan Airlines has changed the flight numbers for its HNL flights from NRT, NGO, and KIX.  The changes listed below were effective from March 31.

NRT

• JL76/JL75 (old)
• JL786/JL785 (new)

• JL74/JL73 (old)
• JL784/JL783 (new)

• JL72/JL71 (old)
• JL782/JL781 (new)

KIX

• JL78/JL77 (old)
• JL791/JL792 (new)

NGO

• JL84/JL83 (old)
• JL794/JL793 (new)

The HND flight number has not changed and remains JL80/JL89.

Spotting In Phoenix And Southwest Adventures

I went on a trip in March to Phoenix to catch some Spring Training baseball.  While in Phoenix, I found a great place to do some spotting - Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe.

This picture was taken from Hayden Butte, a small mountain next to ASU's Sun Devil Stadium.  Just half way up the trail, you can see PHX and downtown Phoenix.  The ASU campus in Tempe is located to the east and slightly south of PHX's 2 7-25 runways.  The building in the lower right corner is the headquarters of U.S. Airways.

Once at the top, Hayden Butte is a great place to spot aircraft landing (or taking off depending on the winds) to both sides of PHX.  The US A320 in the picture is landing on the north side of PHX (that's the best zoom on my camera).  Aircraft landing on the south side fly much closer to the mountain.

You don't have to hike up Hayden Butte to watch the aircraft fly by.  You can sit in the shade at the light rail station or Sun Devil Stadium and watch aircraft pass overhead, which I ended up doing as the trail is rather steep and it was a hot day. 

After watching a couple of spring training games, my next stop was Las Vegas. My flight on Southwest was uneventful until we were about to land.  I had a window seat and just as we were passing over the piano keys, the engines spooled up and we started climbing again.  I just experienced my first go-around!  Once we leveled off, the pilots explained that the aircraft that landed before us did not exit the runway in time for us to land.

The night before I was to leave LAS, I got another surprise from Southwest.  My non-stop flight to SJC was cancelled.  My only other option to get to SJC in time for my Hawaiian flight to HNL was fly to BUR and change planes.  It was nice to be able to board and deplane using stairs and walking across the ramp, something I haven't done since I last flew to KOA in 2002.  Luckily, the flights were lightly loaded and I was able to make it to my flight in SJC about 10 minutes before boarding started.

Aloha ‘Oe N584HA

Yesterday, Hawaiian Airlines ferried 767-3G5ER, N584HA "Kioea" (c/n 24258, l/n 255), to GYR. It's lease with ILFC is expiring, and is one of four 767-300ERs that will leave the fleet this year.

Qantas' VH-XZE

Qantas Airways is taking delivery of VH-XZE (c/n 39369, l/n 4421) today. This 737-838 is making its delivery flight from BFI as QFA6024, and will overnight at HNL. This is their second 737 delivery in the past two weeks.

Air China's B-5729

Air China is taking delivery of B-5729 (c/n 40038, l/n 4422) today. This 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA51, which will overnight at HNL.

Comlux Malta's 9H-GMT

Normally, we don't post private jet photos, unless they are BizJet versions of airliners. However, charter airline Comlux Malta has this gold-clad Dassault Falcon 900LX, 9H-GMT (msn 247), in their fleet. It arrived on Monday from LIH, and departed to ANC today as MLM93.

Island Air's N342AT Livery

Island Air's N342AT has had decals applied for its service with the airline. The aircraft is named "Ho‘opa‘a" (Hawaiian for fast).

China Eastern's B-5802

China Easter Airlines is taking delivery of their third Yunnan Peacock liveried 737-79P today. B-5802 (c/n 39725, l/n 4418) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES599. It will overnight at HNL upon arrival (above). This is also their second peacock liveried 737-79P that features orange as the main color.

Xiamen's B-5751

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5751 (c/n 38400, l/n 4419) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight out of BFI as CXA5751, and will overnight at HNL when it arrives. It's seen above the next morning, as it taxies out for departure to MAJ.

Batik's PK-LBG

Batik Airlines, Lion Air Group's full-service subsidiary, is taking delivery of their first (of ten) 737-9GPER today. PK-LBG (c/n 38688, l/n 4414) is making its delivery flight using its registration as its identifier. Like other Lion Group deliveries, PK-LBG's stop at HNL was a brief two-hour layover. It's seen above rolling out on Runway 4R as it arrives from BFI.

38688 was originally ordered by parent Lion Airlines as PK-LKW. It was thought that Lion's Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air, was going to receive this 737-9GPER, but was allocated to Batik, Lion's new Indonesian full-service subsidiary, that will operate internationally and domestically. 

Fly Marianas' EI-TAB

Fly Marianas, the new airline venture from Fly Micronesia LLC, will not not launch as anticipated. They planned to operate a single A320-323, EI-TAB (msn 1624) leased from CIT.

Fly Micronesia LLC also operated as the short-lived Fly Guam, from March to December 2011 with 737-400, N238AG.

EI-TAB was purchased by CIT, and leased to TACA International in June 2002. TACA sub-leased the A320 to Cubana from June 2003 to December 2008. TACA operated EI-TAB until October 2012, after which it was stored at GYR, where it remains.

Further information in this Airliners Gallery article.