Korean Air Launches ICN-HNL 787-10 Service

Korean Air launched 787-10 service today on their ICN-HNL service, KAL53/54. HL8515 (c/n 66878, l/n 1152) is making the first B78X flight. Korean Air becomes the second airline to have 787-10s serving HNL, along with United Airlines.

Airnorth's N197JB

Southern Cross International is delivering N197JB (msn 19000020) to Airnorth from SJO to DRW, via SDM, HNL, and APW, as SXI2477. This ERJ-190AR is owned by Alliance Airlines, and is being leased to Airnorth. It will be registered as VH-A2A in Australia.

19000020's History

Feb 2006: Delivered to jetBlue as N197JB "Color Me Blue" (f/n 197) with the "Dots" tail livery, under lease from GECAS.

Dec 2014: Tail livery repainted in the "Tartan" design.

Aug 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at MZJ, returned to service six months later.

Nov 2021: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Dec 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at MCN.

May 2024: Acquired by TVPX Trust Services

Jun 2024: Ferried to SJO for prep to Alliance Airlines to lease to Airnorth.

Boise State Broncos Team Charter

The Boise State Broncos football team is chartering an Omni Air International 767-224ER for their road trip to play the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. N234AX (c/n 30436, l/n 833) is making the flight as OAE2070.

The Broncos will return to BOI following the game.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 330002

The Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-330, 330002 (msn 1653), is making a brief fuel stop at HNL from YOW, as it transits westward as CFC1. This VIP-configured A330-243 is transporting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During its brief fuel stop, 330002 parked on the south cargo ramp.

1653's History:

Aug 2015: Delivered to Kuwait airways as 9K-APC "Al Sabahiya".

Mar 2019: 65th Anniversary decals applied, and renamed "Al-Jalboot".

Feb 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at BSL.

Aug 2023: Acquired by the Royal Canadian Air Force, to be configured with a VIP cabin, and registered as 330002.

REX Airlines' VH-PAG

REX Airlines is returning VH-PAG (c/n 37821, l/n 3288) to its lessor, Castlelake. This 737-8FE is ferrying from MEL to MZJ, via BNE, GUM, MAJ, and HNL. It's making an overnight stop at HNL.

37821's History:

May 2010: Delivered to Virgin Blue as VH-VUV "Ruby Blue".

May 2011: Airline rebrands as Virgin Australia, and renamed "Binalong Bay".

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CGK.

Feb 2021: Sold to Castlelake, and leased to REX Airlines as VH-PAG.

US Navy's 160770 PlaneTags

When MotoArt came down to the Kalaeloa Airport, the second former Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point aircraft they dismantled, was the former US Navy Lockheed P-3C Orion, BuNo 160770 (msn 285A-5679). MotoArt released the PlaneTags for 160770 today.

160770's history is noted in this blog piece on the PlaneTags website.

QantasLink's VH-8NZ

Network Aviation is taking delivery of VH-8NZ "Abrolhos Islands" (msn 3395). This QantasLink-liveried A319-132 departed BQN for BNE yesterday. It's being flown by Southern Cross International as SXI2468 from BQN to PHX, then as SXI2467 from PHX to HNL. Other stops en route to PER, are APW and CNS; they are being flown as SXI2468.

3395's History:

Feb 2008: Delivered to Spirit Airlines as N534NK (f/n 534), under lease from GECAS.

Jun 2014: Painted in the current livery.

Jun 2018: Sold to Merx Aviation, and the lease transferred.

Jan 2020: Given the fleet number 1534.

Jun 2021: Purchased by Spirit Airlines.

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

Mar 2023: Acquired by Gryphon Aviation Leasing.

May 2024: Ferried to MCN, then BQN [Rafael Hernandez Airport, Aguadilla, PR] to prep for Network Aviation to operate for QantasLink.

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.

We launched our own Google Sheet documenting the 737 information below, as well as deliveries as of 2021.

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

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

• • • • •

ON ORDER

737 MAX

7263 | B-206L | 61374 | 9 Air | -8 (orange) | BOE452 « MWH
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

7493 | B-209V | 61143 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE936 « BFI » Air India Express VT-___
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 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___

7546 | B-20AY | 61644 | Shanghai Airlines | -8 | BOE618 « BFI 

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-___
7645 | B-20CC | 61645 | Shanghai Airlines | -8 | BOE619 « BFI
7651 | B-20AX | 61450 | Shandong Airlines | -8 | BOE661 « 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
7817 | B-20DU | 42963 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE3711 « MWH
7826 | B-____ | 61652 | China Eastern Airlines | -8 | BOE622 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7831 | B-20DV | 42964 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE372 « VCV 

7856 | B-20DZ | 61151 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 « BFI » Boeing N235BE

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

7929 | B-224U | 61385 | 9Air | -8 (orange) | BOE454  « MWH » Boeing N5515R
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 « VCV

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

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

8178 | B-____ | 61154 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE950 « MWH » Boeing N239BE

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

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

8189 | B-____ | 61460 | Shandong Airlines | -8 | BOE679 « MWH

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

8879 | HL7216 | 63442 | Jin Air | -8 | BOE385 « PDX

8882 | VH-8IE  | 66644 | Virgin Australia | -8 "Brighton Beach" | BOE6 « BFI

8914 | VT-YBB | _____ | Akasa Air | -8 200 | BOE451 « BFI 

8918 | HL7217 | 63445 | Jin Air | -8 | BOE386 « BFI

8965 | VT-YBC | _____ | Akasa Air | -8 200 | BOE452 « BFI 

8974 | HL7218 | 63441 | Jin Air | -8 « BFI

9004 | VT-___ | _____ | Akasa Air -8 200 « RNT

• • •

P-8A and E-7A

9142 | 230921 | 66448 | Republic of Korea Navy | P-8A | « NIP

9526 | 230922 | 67012 | Republic of Korea Navy | P-8A | POSIDN1 « NIP

9602 | 230923 | 67013 | Republic of Korea Navy | P-8A « BFI

____ | 230925 | 67014 | Republic of Korea Navy | P-8A « RNT

____ | 230926 | 67015 | Republic of Korea Navy | P-8A « RNT

____ | 230927 | 67016 | Republic of Korea Navy | P-8A « RNT

The RoK Navy P-8As may be re-designated as P-8Ks.

• • • • • 

« 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


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.

...

Kamaka Air's N99131

We're bringing back "HNL RareBirds Classic", this time, on a quarterly basis. This quarter, we are featuring Kamaka Air's C-47A-65-DL Skytrain, N99131 (c/n 18949), as it sat on HNL's South Ramp in 2005. While it never formally wore Kamaka Air titles, the faint outline of "Aero Venezuela" titles can be seen. This C-47A made appearances in the motion picture "Pearl Harbor" and "Outbreak"; and the television series "Magnum P.I." [episodes "Let Me Hear The Music" (1985) and "Going Home" (1985)] that were filmed in Hawai‘i.

N99131 was donated by James Petrides to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in April 2012, and was restored and repainted to its World War II US Army Air Force livery.

18949's History:

Oct 1943: Delivered to the US Army Air Force as 42-100486 "Cheeky Charlie".

Dec 1943: Assigned to the 40th TCS, 371th TCG, 5th AF.

Mar 1945: Assigned to the 6th TCS, 374th TCG, 5th AF.

Dec 1945: Sold to Australian National Airlines as VH-ANX "Tarrana".

Oct 1957: Transferred to Ansett-ANA.

Apr 1966: Transferred to Ansett-Airline of South Australia.

Mar 1970: Converted to a freighter, and transferred to Ansett-McRoberston Miller Airlines.

Aug 1972: Sold to Island Air Transfer as N99131.

Mar 1976: Leased to Genavco Corp and named "Tyranna".

Mar 1978: Acquired by Genavco.

Apr 1986: Loaned to Aloha Airlines to celebrate its 40th Anniversary.

Mar 2001: Transferred to the Kamaka Air fleet after the airline acquired Genavco.

Jan 2010: Sold to James Petrides.

Apr 2012: Donated to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

NBA Team Charters

Both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association arrived today aboard their own team charters today. Both teams are holding their preseason training camps here on O‘ahu, and will play a single exhibition game in October.

The Clippers arrived from LAX, aboard a Hawaiian Airlines A330-243, N383HA "Hānaiakamālama" (msn 1217), as HAL741.

The Warriors arrived from SFO, aboard Omni Air International's 767-323ER, N36NE (c/n 25193, l/n 388) as OAE2563. They used the New England Patriots-liveried 767.

05 October 2024 UPDATE

The Warriors returned to SFO aboard N36NE as OAE2563 tonight. The Clippers returned to LAX aboard N393HA "Lehuakona" (msn 1422) as HAL742 tonight.

N796SA

N796SA (c/n 24796, l/n 1887), a 737-4S3F owned by Classic QF Freighters, is ferrying from MEL to MZJ, via BNE, MAJ, and HNL. It will make an overnight stop at HNL.

24796's History:

Jly 1990: Delivered to Air Europe as G-BRKG, under lease from ILFC.

Apr 1991: Leased to Dan-Air London as G-TREN.

Oct 1992: Leased to British Airways.

___ 1995: Painted in the "Landor livery".

Apr 1997: Leased to GB Airways, operating for British Airways.

Dec 1997: Painted with the "Blue Poole" tail livery.

Mar 2002: Sold to Triton Aviation Finance, and the lease transferred.

Jun 2002: Leased to Islandflug as TF-ELV, and operated on behalf of Air Miles.

Jan 2005: Leased to Air Atlanta Icelandic.

May 2005: Subleased to Excel Airways, and returned five months later.

Dec 2005: Subleased to Xtra Airways.

Feb 2006: Leased to Xtra Airways as N43XA.

Aug 2007: Subleased to Direct Air, and operated by Xtra Airways for 11 months.

Jly 2008: Returned to Xtra Airways titles.

Nov 2011: Painted in the Direct Air livery, and operated by Xtra.

Feb 2016: Sold to World Star Aviation, and converted to a freighter at DHN.

Apr 2017: Sold to Express Freighters to operate for Qantas Freight as VH-XNH with StarTrack decals.

Jly 2019: Australian Post decals replaced Star Track decals.

Aug 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at MEL.

Sep 2024: Acquired by Classic QF Freighters as N796SA.

Aloha ‘Oe KC-10A Extender

In a few days, the US Air Force will officially retire the remaining McDonnell-Douglas KC-10A Extenders in service. The first KC-10As entered the US Air Force fleet in March 1981, and has faithfully served for 43+ years. Over 50 were built for the Air Force.

82-0191 (c/n 48213, l/n 383), pictured above, is seen on final approach for Runway 8L. This KC-10A entered service in April 1983, and retired in November 2023. It was last with the 60th AMW/ 349th AMW based at Travis AFB, CA.

Shanghai Airlines' B-226F

Despite the machinists strike at Boeing, Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-226F (c/n 61659, l/n 8038) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to PVG, via HNL and GUM as CSH9003, and will overnight at HNL.

Royal New Zealand Air Force's NZ7012 & NZ7013

The Royal New Zealand Air Force's No. 40 Squadron is taking delivery of two C-130J-30s, as they both make their way from MGE to MHB, via SUU, HNL, and APW. Both Super Hercules will overnight at HIK.

NZ7012 (msn 382-5986) is flying as KIW926.

NZ7013 (msn 382-5988) is flying as KIW939.

Southwest Airlines To Launch Red-Eye Flights To Mainland

Southwest Airlines announced this morning that they will launch overnight (or red-eye) flights from Hawai‘i to the US mainland, starting on 08 April 2025. According to the airline, it will offer travelers more options on connecting flights.

The following red-eye routes are:

HNL-LAS

HNL-PHX

KOA-LAS

OGG-LAS

OGG-PHX

QantasLink's VH-NXQ

Southern Cross International is ferrying National Jet Systems' VH-NXQ "Port Campbell National Park" (c/n 55097,  l/n 5095) from CBR to VCV, via APW and KOA, as SXI2470. This QantasLink-liveried 717-231 will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

55097's History:

Dec 2001: Delivered to American Airlines as N430TW (f/n 2430), under lease from Pembroke, but never entered service.

Apr 2002: Leased to Impulse Airlines as VH-VQK to operate for QantasLink.

May 2004: Leased to Jetstar Airways.

Nov 2005: Re-registered as VH-YQK.

Sep 2007: Leased to National Jet Systems to operate for QantasLink, registered as VH-NXQ.

Oct 2011: Sold to BBAM, and the lease transferred.

Mar 2013: Sold to Falko, and the lease transferred.

Nov 2015: Purchased by National Jet Systems.

Jan 2021: Re-painted in the current livery, and named "Port Campbell National Park".

Hawaiian Airlines To Join Oneworld Alliance

With its merger with Alaska Airlines complete, Hawaiian Airlines will join the Oneworld alliance in 2026. It will join sister-airline Alaska Airlines and American Airlines as the US representatives in the global airline alliance.

Further information in this CH-Aviation article.