Mokulele Airlines' N485SA

Mokulele Airlines has taken delivery of N485SA (msn 208B5924) last evening. This C208B Grand Caravan EX made its delivery flight from WJF to HNL, with stops at MCE, as FDY8051. 

photo to follow ...

Sun Country Airlines' N809SY

Sun Country Airlines' N809SY (c/n 30863, l/n 1669) is making a stop at HNL from ADW, via ONT, as SCX8900. This 737-8Q8, wearing the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers special livery arrived yesterday afternoon.

Lāna‘i Air Plans Expansion To MKK

According to a report by Hawai‘i Public Radio, Lāna‘i Air is planning to expand service to MKK from HNL with their Cessna C408 Sky Couriers, pending government approvals. The airline would become the second airline, next to Mokulele Airlines, to serve MKK from HNL.

Upcoming 737MAX Deliveries

With airlines around Asia and Oceania ordering the 737MAX 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 series deliveries as of 2017, and is continually updated.

Boeing P-8A Poseidons and E-7A WedgeTails on order for armed forces around the Pacific Rim will be added below when information becomes available.

This post will be continuously updated as we receive new information, and this » symbol notates the updated information per airframe.

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

9531 | 9V-MBV | 44260 | Singapore Airlines | -8 [04.05.26 SIA8890]

9511 | 9M-MVO | 43358 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 [04.06.26 MAS5041]

9547 | B-228M | 66419 | China Southern Airlines | -8 [04.09.26 CSN8139]

FERRIED TO HSN FOR COMPLETION

9582 | B-229M | 64325 | Shandong Airlines | -8  [04.24.26 BOE790 to KOA as N235BE] »

• • • • •

ON ORDER

737MAX Series

9539 | JA738A | 65542 | Skymark Airlines | -8 º | BOE61 « BFI

9567 | VH-8VH | 67038 | Virgin Australia | -8 "Port Noarlunga" | BOE25 « BFI

9571 | VH-8VI | 67039 | Virgin Australia | -8 * "Lake Centenary" | BOE26 « BFI

9587 | VH-8VD | 67040 | Virgin Australia | -8  "Fairhaven Beach" | BOE27 « RNT

9591 | 9M-MVP | 68138 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 | BOE716 « BFI

9592 | B-228Q | 66421 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE157 « BFI

9595 | B-____ | 44407 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE141 »N230BE « VCV

9632 | B-____ | 647111 | Shandong Airlines | -8 »N238BE « RNT

9634 | 9M-MVQ | 68152 | Malaysia Airlines | -8 | BOE634 « BFI

9646 | VH-8V_ | 67041 | Virgin Australia | -8 « RNT

9649 | B-228P | 44908 | China Southern Airlines | -8 »N253BE « BFI »

9695 | B-____ | 67926 | 9Air | -8 « RNT

9716 | JA031A | 68209 | All Nippon Airways | -8 « RNT

9733 | B-____ | 60193 | China Southern Airlines | -8 « RNT

9747 | JA032A | 68210 | All Nippon Airways | -8 « RNT

9777 | JA033A | 68211 | All Nippon Airways | -8 « RNT

• • •

P-8A and E-7A

____ | A47-014 | 64752 | Royal Australian Air Force | P-8A « BFI

• • • • • 

MARKS

« Final Assembly / Pre-Flight Prep / First Flight from RNT (Location [IATA])

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

« Duplicate Boeing test flight numbers

° New / Modified Livery
* Special Livery / Markings

~ Grey Tail (Only winglets and rudder painted)
» New airline and registration after re-market

« Previous airline and registration prior to re-market
» Boeing registration for ferry to HSN

« Returned to Boeing, NTU

» New / updated information

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

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

MWH: Grant County International Airport, Moses Lake, WA

VCV: Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, CA

NIP: Naval Air Station Jacksonville / Jacksonville Airport, Jacksonville, FL (P-8As)

GED: Delaware Coastal Airport, Georgetown, DE (BBJs)

SKF: Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX

• • • • •

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. 

Due to the order backlog for the 737MAX series, some airframes may deliver from sites other than BFI, and will be noted in the flight number information. 

If an airframe listed is sold or re-marketed to another airline, it will be noted with a » symbol, along with the new airline and registration. If an airframe was acquired from a previous airline, it will be noted with a « symbol, along with the old airline and registration. Should 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.

Delivery flights that go through ANC, KEF, or any other non-Hawai‘i airport, will only be listed on our Google Sheet. Most 737s delivering to airlines in India will deliver east-bound through KEF [Keflavik International Airport, Keflavik, Iceland] as their first fuel stop. Some 737s delivering to airlines in east Asia (Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam) deliver through ANC [Ted Stevens International Airport, Anchorage, AK] for their first fuel stop. Their information will be deleted upon their delivery flight. In the event that those 737s delivers through Hawai‘i, they will be listed on a post, and on the annual 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 its own listing above, along with a Boeing test flight number, and a temporary US Boeing registration assigned to the particular airframe. Some may have its full livery painted, and is going to HSN for cabin completion; while others may ferry as a grey tail (only the rudder and winglets painted), that will be fully painted, along with cabin configuration.
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Virgin Australia's VH-VUH

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-VUH (c/n 34440, l/n 2003) from BNE to MZJ, with stops at NAN and HNL, as VOZ9946. This 737-8FE is being returned to its lessor, Goshawk Aviation. Its HNL overnight stop is tonight.

34440's History:

Jly 2006: Delivered to Virgin Blue as VH-VUH, named "Lady Rebecca".

Jun 2008: Transferred to Pacific Blue as ZK-PBI "Lady Rebecca".

Dec 2011: Pacific Blue rebranded as Virgin Australia New Zealand, and airliner sold to Goshawk Aviation and leased back.

Feb 2015: Returned to Virgin Australia as VH-VUH.

Shandong Airlines' N235BE

Boeing is ferrying Shandong Airlines' N235BE (c/n 64325, l/n 9582) from BFI to HSN today, with overnight stops at KOA and GUM. This 737-8 is flying as BOE790, and will undergo cabin completion at HSN before delivery. It will be registered as B-229M upon delivery from HSN.

Cathay Pacific Airlines' B-KQR

A Cathay Pacific Airlines 777-367ER, B-KQR (c/n 41759, l/n 1240), made a diversion to HNL this afternoon. CPA885 was scheduled to fly from LAX to HKG, but made a medical diversion after a passenger fell ill.

24 April 2026 UPDATE

B-KQR has been moved to the ‘Ewa Hardstands.

25 April 2026 UPDATE

B-KQR continued onto HKG this morning as CPA885D.

Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CAJ

Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CAJ (msn 8346106) is making a stop at HNL today, as it transits from PER to LRD as UKL5068. This An-12BK also made stops at CNS and MAJ, and will stop at SBD before arriving at LRD.

photo to follow ...

Delta Air Lines Pushes Back On Merger Speculation

CH-Aviation reports that Delta Air Lines is downplaying any talk of mergers. Concerns about current fuel prices have been causing speculation of airline mergers among industry people. Delta executives say that are not in the market for a merger.

7,000,000 Views!

A big mahalo to all of our contributors and readers! You are very much appreciated! The HNL RareBirds™ website broke the 7,000,000 page and post views mark earlier today!

Samaritan's Purse's N367SP

Following Super Typhoon Sinlaku hitting the Northern Marianas Islands, Samaritan's Purse is sending relief supplies and personnel aboard their 767-381ERF, N367SP (c/n 33510, l/n 939) from GSO to SPN, with stops at ONT, and KOA, flying as NSP6.

N367SP's only other stop in Hawai‘i was when it was delivered to Samaritan's Purse in March 2025.

21 April 2026 UPDATE

N367SP made another stop from GSO, via ONT, en route to SPN today.

22 April 2026 UPDATE

N367SP made another relief flight stop from ONT, en route to SPN today.

Mokulele Airlines Upgrades Terminal H

In an Instagram post this morning, Mokulele Airlines has upgraded the passenger check-in and waiting at HNL's Terminal H.

18 April 2026 UPDATE

Mokulele Airlines announced via Instagram, that they will add two more C208Bs this summer, one will be named "Huaka‘i" and the other named "Laulima". The registrations have yet to be revealed.

21 April 2026 UPDATE

Parent compan, Surfair posted on Instagram this morning that N485SA (msn 208B5924) and N490SA (msn 208B5925) will be delivering to Mokulele very soon.

USDOT Approves Allegiant / Sun Country Merger

The US Department of Transportation gave approval for the merger between Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines to proceed, with an expected closing date in mid-May. The two carriers will operate separately until a single operating certificate is obtained some time within the next 14 months.

Further information in this Aviation Week article.

With both airlines operating separately, it remains to be seen if Sun Country will fly Mountain West football teams to HNL for road games against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors for the 2026 season.

Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CGV

Ukraine Air Alliance's An-12BK (msn 6344610) is making a stop at HNL today from SBD, as UKL5031. The flight originated from LRD, and will be crossing the Pacific to Asia, with its next stop to MAJ.

20 April 2026 UPDATE

UR-CGV departed for MAJ early this morning as UKL5032.

21 April 2026 UPDATE

UR-CGV is headed for GUM to assist in relief efforts following Super Typhoon Sinlaku hitting the area.

United Airlines CEO Hints At Merger With American Airlines

CH-Aviation reports that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has posed the idea of a merger between his airline and American Airlines. No one is commenting on how far these talks have gone so far, but Kirby also approached some federal officials the possible merger.

If such a merger would take place, it would form the largest airline in the US, and possibly in the world, with a combined fleet of over 2,100 airliners.

Such a move as this will have to go through the federal government regulatory and antitrust process. It would be protested by Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Air Group, and the other smaller carriers.

ANALYSIS

If this merger were to happen, the effect on the Hawai‘i market would be impacted on two destinations, LAX and ORD, where service would have to be consolidated.

18 April 2026 UPDATE

American Airlines released a statement today, that said they are not interested nor pursuing a merger with United Airlines.

American Airlines And Philippine Airlines Propose Codeshare

American Airlines and Philippine Airlines filed a joint application for a codeshare agreement with the US Department of Transportation. PAL applied for a codeshare out of LAX on AAL's flights to HNL, LAS, SFO, and SEA.

Further information in this Aviation Week article.

Amazon Prime Air's N661AZ

Amazon Prime Air's N661AZ (c/n 29384, l/n 784) is ferrying from QPG to BQK [Golden Isles Airport, Brunswick, GA], with stops at CRK, JRF, and PHX. This 767-304ERF completed its conversion to a freighter at QPG. N661AZ stopped through HNL last October. It most likely will be operated by Air Transport International.

N919RA

Southern Cross International is ferrying N919RA (c/n 30174, l/n 1175) from PVG to GYR, with stops at GUM and JRF, as SXI2612. This white-tail 737-809F, owned by Boeing Capital, completed freighter conversion at PVG.

30174's History:

Jly 2002: Delivered to China Airlines as B-18615.

__ 2007: Blended Winglets installed.

May 2021: Withdrawn from service, and stored at TPE for three months.

Aug 2021: Ferried to TSA for storage for three months.

Oct 2021: Ferried back to TPE for storage.

Dec 2022: Acquired by Royal Aero GmbH as N919RA, and ferried to MZJ for storage.

Apr 2023: Acquired by Boeing Capital Corporation.

Jly 2023: Ferried to PVG for freighter conversion.

Sumisho Air Lease Begins Operations

Sumisho Air Lease, the merged companies of SMBC and Air Lease Corp., officially began operations as the largest aircraft leasing company as the merger was finalized today.

Further information in this SMBC news release.

China Southern Airlines' B-228M

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-228M (c/n 66419, l/n 9547) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to CAN, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as CSN8139.

Super Air Jet's PK-SAF

Super Air Jet is ferrying PK-SAF (msn 3357) from DJJ [Sentani Airport, Jayapura, Indonesia] to P08, with stops at MAJ and HNL, as SJV1. This A320-232 is being returned to its lessor, Avolon Aeropsace, and is due to be parted out and scrapped.

PK-SAF stopped through HNL in September 2023 on its delivery flight.

Conair's C-GVFK

Conair's RJ85 Aerial Firefighter, C-GVFK "Hunter" (msn E2268, f/n 164), is ferrying back to YXX from BQB. It departed BQB on 02 April, and is making stops at AVV, BNE, HIR, MAJ, HNL, OAK, and YVR. Its stop at HNL is tonight.

Malaysia Airlines' 9M-MVO

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MVO (c/n 43358, l/n 9511) today. This 737-8, their first delivery for 2026, is making its delivery flight from BFI to KUL, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as MAS5041.

Singapore Airlines' 9V-MBV

Singapore Airlines is taking delivery of 9V-MBV (c/n 44260, l/n 9531) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to SIN, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as SIA8890.