Mokulele Airlines Suspends Operations

Mokulele Airlines suspended operations today due to a maintenance and inspection stand-down. No date was given as to when the airline will resume operations.

To assist with the some of the stranded Mokulele passengers, Kamaka Air Charter's N828DC stepped in to perform flights between HNL and MKK and LUP.

Further details in this Hawaii News Now report.

China Eastern Airlines' B-20CC

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-20CC (c/n 61645, l/n 7645) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to SHA, via HNL and GUM, as CES299. It will make overnight stop here tonight. B-20CC was originally ordered for Shanghai Airlines, and made its first flight in August 2019, was in storage during the 737MAX and pandemic groundings.

Upcoming 737MAX Deliveries

With airlines around Asia and Oceania ordering the 737 MAX series, a majority of these airliners will stop through Hawai‘i (mainly HNL) during the first segment of their island-hopping delivery flights from Boeing Field (BFI) [map]. Boeing has indicated that the variants will be referred to as the -x without the MAX name, we will do the same.

Our own Google Sheet is documenting the 737 information below, as well as 737MAX deliveries as of 2017.

Boeing P-8As and E-7As on order for armed forces around the Pacific Rim have been added below.

This post will be continuously updated as new information becomes available.

According to the Boeing Test Fights Google Sheet and PlaneSpotters.net's 737 MAX Production List, these listed below are the airframes that have begun final assembly, made its first flight from RNT, or are being readied for delivery on the BFI flightline. Those listed below, should make a stopover in Hawai‘i on their first segment out of BFI on their delivery flights in the near future. In the past, additional information was also provided by Tyke's Aero Blog, and The Boeing Test Flights website.

DELIVERED

9023 | 9M-MVG | 66442 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 [01.10.25 MAS5041]

7645 | B-20CC | 61645 | China Eastern Airlines | -8 [01.11.25 CES299]

» Ferrying to HSN [Zhoushan, China] for cabin completion, with a Boeing flight code.

• • • • •

ON ORDER

737 MAX

7351 | B-208E | 63276 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE692 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7371 | B-209A | 63284 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE693 « VCV » Air India Express VT-___
7408 | B-209C | 63287 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE694 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7415 | B-208F | 63277 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE695 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7440 | B-20A3 | 61637 | Shanghai Airlines | -8 | BOE616 « BFI

7496 | B-209T | 63279 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE697 « BFI
7508 | B-20A0 | 61448 | Shandong Airlines | -8 * | BOE658 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7511 | B-209S | 63278 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE698 « MWH

7530 | B-209U | 63289 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE699 « BFI » Air India Express VT-___

7575 | B-20AG | 61449 | Shandong Airlines | -8 | BOE659 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___

7595 | B-20C7 | 63281 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE696 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7613 | B-20AU | 63290 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE701 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___

7624 | B-____ | 61712 | Kunming Airlines | -8 | BOE201 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___

7676 | B-20DK | 61147 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE940 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___

7690 | B-20CQ | 64677 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE339 « MWH
7691 | B-20C9 | 63283 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE704 « BFI

7715 | B-20D6 | 65258 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE712 « MWH

7723 | B-20DL | 61148 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE941 « MWH

7750 | B-20CL | 43836 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE342 « BFI » Air India Express VT-___
7751 | B-20CT | 65251 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE714 « MWH
7761 | B-20DH | 60922 | Air China | -8 BOE275 « MWH
7764 | B-____ | 65275 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE715 « MWH

7784 | B-____ | 65253 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE716 « MWH
7795 | B-____ | 65257 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE717 « MWH
7798 | B-20DP | 61157 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE942 « MWH
7813 | B-20DJ | 60923 | Air China | -8 | BOE276 « MWH
7826 | B-____ | 61652 | China Eastern Airlines | -8 | BOE622 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7831 | B-20DV | 42964 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE372 « BFI 

7865 | B-20DQ | 60924 | Air China | -8 | BOE278  « BFI
7867 | B-20E1 | 64679 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE375 « BFI
7875 | B-____ | 65250 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE719 « VCV
7878 | B-20E2 | 61456 | Shandong Airlines | -8 | BOE666 « MWH
7887 | B-____ | 63291 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE708  « MWH

7929 | B-224U | 61385 | 9Air | -8 (plum) | BOE454  « MWH
7931 | B-20DS | 60826 | Air China | -8 | BOE279 « MWH
7934 | B-20DX | 64680 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE376  « MWH
7944 | B-20E3 | 60928 | Air China | -8 | BOE280 « BFI
7948 | B-20DY | 64681 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE377 « MWH

8001 | B-224E | 61657 | Shanghai Airlines | -8 | BOE625 « MWH

8100 | B-____ | 43840 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE380 « MWH

8125 | B-____ | 61661 | Shanghai Airlines | -8 | BOE629 « MWH

8181 | B-____ | 60938 | Air China | -8 | BOE284 « MWH

8186 | B-226E | 43841 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE387 « BFI

8189 | B-223V | 61460 | Shandong Airlines | -8 | BOE679 « BFI

8194 | B-____ | 43845 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE388 « MWH

8206 | B-____ | 60941 | Air China | -8 | BOE287 « BFI

8229 | B-____ | 61124 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE954 « BFI

8235 | B-____ | 61153 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE955 « MWH » Boeing N5573B

8248 | B-____ | 43847 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE391 « MWH

8254 | B-224L | 65254 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE171 « BFI

8915 | 9M-MVE | 66368 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 | BOE704 « BFI »

9004 | VT-YBD | _____ | Akasa Air -8 200 « BFI »

9033 | 9M-MVH | 66376 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 « RNT »

9035 | 9M-MVI | 66375 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 | BOE708 « BFI

9045 | 9M-MVJ | 68123 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 | BOE709 « VCV

9049 | HL8552 | 66540 | Jeju Air | -8 | BOE551 « RNT

9204 | HL8566 | 63488 | Republic of Korea Air Force | -8 BBJ | BOE396 / KAL30D « HAM

• • •

P-8A and E-7A

• • • • • 

« Final Assembly / Pre-Flight Prep / First Flight from RNT

« Pre-Delivery Test Flights / Ready For Delivery
« Stored (Location [IATA])

° New / Modified Livery
* Special Livery / Markings
» New airline and registration
» Boeing registration for ferry to HSN

» New / updated information

LOCATIONS [IATA]
RNT: Renton Municipal Airport, Renton, WA
BFI: Boeing Field International Airport, Seattle, WA

PAE: Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), Everett, WA

MWH: Grant County International Airport, Moses Lake, WA

SKF: Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX

VCV: Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, CA

NIP: Naval Air Station Jacksonville / Jacksonville Airport, Jacksonville, FL

GED: Delaware Coastal Airport, Georgetown, DE

• • • • •

NOTES

In the event that a delivery flight stops through any Hawai‘i airport other than HNL, their IATA airport code will noted after the flight number. 

Delivery flights that go through ANC, KEF, or any other non-Hawai‘i airport, will only be listed on our Google Sheet.

Due to the airworthiness directive for the 737MAX series, along with delivery deferrals, some airframes may deliver from sites other than BFI, and will be noted in the flight number information. 

If an airframe listed is sold to another airline, it will be noted with a » symbol, along with the new airline and registration. If the airframe delivers through Hawai‘i, the information will be revised with the delivery information. If it's not making a delivery flight through Hawai‘i, that listing will not be changed to the new airline, then removed upon its delivery flight. That information will be kept on our Google Sheet.

Air India Express is acquiring 55 737-8s that were built for Chinese customers, and have been re-marketed by Boeing, as part of Air India's massive order with Boeing. Akasa Air is also purchasing China-bound 737-8s re-marketed by Boeing.

Most 737s delivering to airlines in India will deliver east-bound through KEF [Keflavik International Airport, Keflavik, Iceland] as their first fuel stop. 

Most 737s delivering to airlines in the Republic of Korea normally delivers through ANC [Ted Stevens International Airport, Anchorage, AK] for their first fuel stop.

In the event they deliver through Hawai‘i, they will be listed on a post, and on the deliveries page.

Some of the deliveries bound for China will ferry to the Boeing China 737 Completion and Delivery Center, in Zhoushan, China, will have this » symbol following the flight number, that probably will be the Boeing test flight number assigned to the particular airframe.

...

Winds Cause Two Bizjets To Collide At OGG

Hawaii News Now reports that recent high winds caused a Dassault Falcon 8X to collide with a Bombardier Global 7500 on the OGG FBO ramp, across from the main terminal. 

HDOT-A announced that there were no commercial service affected by this collision.

After scouring OpenADSB, we were unable to find the two aircraft involved. If anyone knows, please email us the info.

Malaysia Airlines' 9M-MVG

Malaysia Airlines' 9M-MVG (c/n 66442, l/n 9023) is the first 737 delivery flight to stop in Hawai‘i in 2025. This 737-8 is flying from BFI to KUL, via HNL and GUM, as MAS5041, and will overnight here tonight.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's G-IV SP, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), is making its winter training flights session out of HNL. Flying as NOAA49, this G-IV SP, arrived from LAL, via SDL, today.

QantasLink's VH-8NV

Network Aviation is taking delivery of VH-8NV "Lancelin Islands" (msn 2679). This QantasLink-liveried A319-132 is being delivered by Southern Cross International from BQN to PER, via PHX, KOA, APW, and BNE, as SXI2501. It will overnight at KOA tonight.

2679's History:

Feb 2006: Delivered to Spirit Airlines as N514NK "Spirit of Cayman Islands" (f/n 514), under lease from ILFC.

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

Jun 2018: Purchased by Spirit Airlines, and painted in the current livery.

___ 2020: Fleet number redesigned as 1514.

Dec 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at P08.

Jan 2024: Acquired by Gryphon Aviation Leasing.

Jun 2024: Ferried to BQN to prep for Network Aviation.

HNL's Runway 4R/22L To Reopen

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports announced today that HNL's Runway 4R/22L will reopen on 23 January 2025 at 18:00HAST following its runway and shoulder rehabilitation. Runway 4L/22R will then close for 41 days for more work to be done.

204th AS's 05-5152 Transports Burn Victims

A C-17A Globemaster III from the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron "Nā Pueo", transported six burn victims from the New Year's fireworks explosion that occurred in nearby ʻAliamanu, that also took three lives. The six, are being flown to Phoenix, AZ for further treatment for the burns they suffered in the explosion. 05-5152 "Spirit of Go For Broke" (c/n 50160, l/n F159) transported the victims from HIK to PHX as E55152. This C-17A was configured as a medevac transport, and took the six that could withstand the flight.

Further details in this KHON2 News report.

Amazon Prime Air's N5879K

Hawaiian Air is taking delivery of N5879K "Sky Voyager" (msn 1226) today. This Amazon Prime Air A330-343F is making its delivery flight from CAN to HNl, via NRT as HAL9628.

1226's History:

Jun 2011: Delivered to Etihad as A6-AFE.

Sep 2018: Withdrawn from service, and stored at TEV.

Feb 2021: Acquired by Altavair Finance as F-WTBD.

May 2024: Ferried to CAN for freighter conversion as N5879K.

NASA's N95NA

The National Aeronautic and Space Administration's G-V, N95NA (msn 672), is making a stop at HNL from EDF [Houston Ellington Airport, Houston, TX] this afternoon as NASA5.

672's History:

Sep 2002: Delivered to Transworld Oil as VP-BJD.

Nov 2005: Sold to Nike, Inc. as N225GV.

Jan 2006: Re-registered as N3456.

Oct 2016: Acquired by NASA as N95NA.

03 January 2025 UPDATE

N95NA departed today for BNE.

RNZAF Seeks 757 Replacement

CH-Aviation.com reports that the New Zealand Ministry of Defence has tendered a request for proposal to replace its two Royal New Zealand Air Force 757-2K2Cs, NZ7571 (c/n 26633, l/n 519) and NZ7572 (c/n 26634, l/n 545), as they both are over 31 years old. The RNZAF is looking at the 737-8 or the A321-200N, with available, off-the-shelf models.

Both RNZAF 757s are frequent visitors to HNL, and can be seen parked around the south ramp during their visits.

Hawaiian Airlines' N581HA

This quarter's edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Hawaiian Airlines' 767-33AER "Manu O Ku" (c/n 28141, l/n 853, f/n 581), seen on its take off roll on Runway 22L in 2005.

28141's History:

Oct 2001: Delivered to Hawaiian Airlines as N581HA "Manu O Ku", under lease from AWAS.

Dec 2006: Purchased by Hawaiian Airlines.

___ 2009: Blended Winglets installed.

Apr 2017: Sold to FTAI, and leased back.

May 2019: Leased to Azur Air as VQ-BEO.

Dec 2022: Returned to FTAI, sold to UMB Bank, and registered as N567NC.

Feb 2023: Acquired by Northern Air Cargo (f/n 567).

Nov 2023: Ferried to QPG for freighter conversion.

Apr 2024: Ferried to ROW for storage in Strat Air livery.

Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou!

 The HNL RareBirds™ team wishes a blessed and prosperous 2025 for you all!

Mele Kalikimaka!

The HNL RareBirds™ team wishes you all a very Merry Christmas!

Dead Stowaway Found At OGG

A deceased stowaway was found in one of the main landing gear wells of a United Airlines 787-10 at OGG, after it arrived from ORD as UAL202 this afternoon. N12010 (c/n 40926, l/n 948, f/n 1010) made the flight today, when ground crews discovered the body.

Further details in this KHON2 News report.

UPS Airlines' N635UP

One of two former Qatar Airways 747-8Fs acquired by UPS Airlines, N635UP (c/n 61399, l/n 1535, f/n 635), is making a stop at HNL today. This 747-83QF, still wearing the base livery of Qatar Airways, is flying from SDF as UPS32, and will depart later this morning for SYD as UPS34.

The other 747-8F acquired from Qatar Airways is, N634UP (c/n 37564, l/n 1437, f/n 634), was inducted into service still wearing the base grey Qatar Airways livery as well.

61399's History:

Sep 2017: Delivered to Qatar Airways as A7-BGB.

Mar 2024: Withdrawn from service, purchased by UPS Airlines, and ferried to VCV for storage.

Sep 2024: Inducted into service.

US Air Force's 82-0007

82-0007 (c/n 22835, l/n 960), an E-3G Sentry from the US Air Force's 552nd Air Control Wing is making a stop at HIK from TIK this morning, flying as RONIN15.

22 December 2024 UPDATE

RONIN15 departed HIK for an undisclosed westbound destination.

Breeze Hints At Hawai‘i Again

In an article on AirlineGeeks.com, Breeze CEO and Founder David Neeleman again intimated about flying to Hawai‘i from west coast airports. The airline is seeking approval from the US government to become a flag carrier, in order to fly internationally. Neeleman expressed expanding eastbound service to Europe, and westbound service to Hawai‘i.

This is the second time in six months that Breeze has mentioned Hawai‘i in their potential expansion plans.

Breeze's A220-300 fleet will need to be ETOPS certified in order to fly to Hawai‘i and/or Europe. They also have over 50 A220-300s on order.

Diamond Head Classic Team Charters

The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic college basketball tournament begins on Monday, with seven teams from the mainland, and the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors.

The eight teams are:

Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors

Charleston Cougars

Charlotte 49ers

Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers

Murray State Racers

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Oregon Ducks

The Cornhuskers arrived this afternoon on Sun Country Airlines N804SY (c/n 30689, l/n 908, f/n 804). This 737-800 flew from LNK, via OAK, as SCX8435.

N901SY

Sun Country Airlines is taking delivery of their first 737-91MER, N901SY (c/n 40069, l/n 5150). It's making its delivery flight from CGK to MZJ, via GUM and JRF. It will be given the fleet number 901. N901SY will make an overnight stop at JRF tonight.

This the first of five former Oman Air 737-91MERs to be acquired by Sun Country Airlines.

40069's History:

Nov 2014: Delivered to Oman Air as A40-BI, under lease from OBALC.

Sep 2017: Sold to GOAL, and the lease transferred.

Apr 2023: Sold to Sun Country Airlines, and the lease transferred.

Aug 2024: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to CGK for storage.

Southern Airways' N95SA

Southern Airways is ferrying N95SA "The Phil LeFevre" (msn 340B-345) from HNL to SGF, via CNO as  FDY211. This Saab 340B has not flown since February 2024. It's seen above, shortly after its delivery flight wearing its previous registration.

The Hawai‘i Bowl Team Charters

The two teams participating in the 2024 edition of The Hawai‘i Bowl are the University of South Florida Bulls from the American Athletic Conference (Tampa, FL) and the San José State Spartans from the Mountain West Conference (San José, CA). Both teams will be arriving by their respective team charter flights.

The game is scheduled to be played at the Clarence TC Ching Field on the campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, on 24 December, at 15:00HAST. Both teams will return to their respective cities following the game.

Bulls Charter Flight from TPA to HNL (18 Dec 2024):

American Airlines 777-223ER N759AN (c/n 32836, l/n 376, f/n 7BU) as AAL9735 [Team].

Omni Air International 767-36NER N468AN (c/n 30115, l/n 863) as OAE2851 [Band & Cheer].

 It ferried to ITO for the duration of bowl week.

Spartans Charter Flight from SJC (19 Dec 2024):

Omni Air International 777-2U8ER N819AX (c/n 33681, l/n 479) as OAE2859.

24 December 2024 UPDATE

The Bulls are returning to TPA on American Airlines' 777-223ER, N759AN, as AAL9841, following their five overtime 41-39 win. Omni's N468AX will take back the USF band and cheerleaders back to TPA as OAE2868.

The Spartans are returning to SJC on Omni Air International's 777-2U8ER, N828AX (c/n 33682, l/n 514) as OAE2864.

Kamaka Air's N689KA Crashes

Kamaka Air's C208BF Grand Caravan, N689KA (msn 208B2308), crashed outside HNL shortly after taking off from Runway 4L on a training flight to LNY as KMK689. The C208BF reported engine and control issues, and the pilots did their best to avoid the HNL fuel farm, the Skyline guideway, and other buildings before crashing into the former SkyChefs building (now owned by HDOT). Both pilots aboard lost their lives in the accident. A fire ensued following the crash, and was put out by HNL ARFF and HFD crews. The FAA and NTSB will be investigating this accident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the two pilots, and the Kamaka Air ‘ohana.

Further details in this Honolulu Star-Advertiser article.

Juan Browne's Blancolirio YouTube channel has a video about the accident.

Air Canada To Allocate Their 737-8s To Rouge

Air Canada announced today, during the investors day event, that the airline will allocate their 737-8 fleet to their low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. A full transition is expected to be completed in 2028. This will eventually affect Air Canada's service from YVR to HNL, OGG, and KOA.

Back in May 2014, Air Canada announced their new subsidiary Rouge would take over the YVR flights to the islands with 767-300ERs in November. The Rouge service ended in late 2018 as Air Canada would take over the YVR flights with their 737-8s. Seems like things have come full-circle with Rouge.

Southern Airways' N79SA

Southern Airways is ferrying N79SA "The Phil Trenary" (msn 340B-334) from HNL to SGF [Springfield Airport, Springfield, MO], via CNO [Chino Airport, Chino, CA], as FDY205. This Saab 340B has been out of service since July 2024.

N9PF

PF Global Aviation's N9PF (c/n 37583, l/n 2869) is making a stop at HNL from FLL. This 737-7HZ BBJ is wearing a new livery since we last got it in July 2023.

18 December 2024 UPDATE

N9PF departed this morning for BNE.

US Air Force's 64-14831

64-14831 (c/n 18771, l/n T0723), a WC-135R Constant Phoenix from 45th Reconnaissance Squadron / 55th Operations Group, is making a stop at HIK as ATOM31.

17 December 2024 UPDATE

64-14831 returned to its base at OFF [Offut Air Force Base, Omaha, NE].

20 December 2024 UPDATE

According to a post on the Aviationist.com website, 64-14831 was on a deployment in the Middle East, with the US Air Force releasing photos.