Air New Zealand All Black Rugby ZK-OAB

Hey guys, here are my pictures for the Air New Zealand plane that I worked this afternoon! It's the All Black Rugby A320-232 logojet, ZK-OAB (msn 4553). The plane came from LAX-HNL, as ANZ6697, and  will make its way to APW (Apia, Sāmoa) then on to AKL (Auckland), where it belongs. They will depart 31Jan11 at 0525L!

China Eastern's Charter

The first of three charter flights from PVG (Shanghai - Pudong), landed at approximately 11:30am today as CES297. With 263 passengers aboard, this flight was the first to operate under the new agreement to increase air traffic between China and Hawai‘i. China Eastern is operating these charter flights on the behalf of China CTYS Tour Holding company.

Seen above is ship B-2384 a A340-313X (msn 182), after a direct flight from Shanghai - Pudong International (PVG/ZSPD) taxing to Gate 27.

Kalitta's 747-400F

This 747-446BCF (c/n 26356, l/n 1026) now belongs to Kalitta Air as N356NA. Kalitta has plans to acquire ten 747-400Fs from Japan Airlines. This aircraft was operated by Japan Airlines Cargo as JA8911 from 1994-2010.

Omega DC-10 And USN F/A-18Fs

Regular visitor Omega Tanker DC-10-30, N974VV (c/n 46974) with two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the VFA-122 (Fleet Readiness Squadron-FRS, "Flying Eagles", NAS Lemoore, CA) in the evening sun on Saturday.

JAL Express JA335J

JA335J (c/n 40354, l/n 3525), is the latest 737-846 for JAL Express, arrived from BFI on January 29 as JAL8101. The flight was supposed to come in on January 28 as JL8102, but it was pushed back one day and had the flight number changed. It then left for MAJ on January 30.

Sorry, no picture at HNL.

Boeing BBJ N349BA

Parked at the Air Service Hawai‘i Hangar, is this sleek, crisp looking BBJ, tail number N349BA (c/n 30789, l/n 602). According to airliners.net, this is the company BBJ for the CEO of Boeing (no doubt probably here to take in the Pro Bowl).

Peter Nygård 727-100

Here's a shot of a rare aircraft not seen in HNL before. This shiny 727 belongs to Peter Nygård (As if you couldn't tell by the HUGE name across the fuselage).

VP-BPZ, a 727-17(RE) Super 27 (c/n 20327, l/n 797), arrives on Runway 04R for parking at the Air Service Hangar. Note: this aircraft has two different designs on it's tail on each side.

Peter Nygård is the chairman of Nygård International of Winnipeg, Manitoba, a company that makes women's wear. His was rated the 70th richest Canadian by Canadian Business magazine in 2009 with a net worth of US$817 million.

20327's original owner was CP Air, delivered in March 1970 as CF-CPN. In May 1977, it went to National Aircraft Leasing, and leased to Nigeria Airways as N115TA. In November 1977, it became N4002M and acquired by Fluor Corp. The Amway Corporation was next owner in November 1982, as N529AC. In September 2000, Enterprise Aviation LLC picked up the 727, and became N624VA. Its current owner, Peter Nygård, purchased the jet in May 2005 as N727PN. Three years later, it was re-registered as the current VP-BPZ.

Horizon Brand Migrates to Alaska

The Horizon Air (QX/QXA) brand has migrated to parent company Alaska Airlines. It will still remain a separate entity, but the Alaska Airlines livery will be adopted with the Horizon titles integrated on their Dash8-Q400 fleet. On board, the Horizon experience will not change.

The Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air press release.

Pictured above, is Horizon's Dash8-Q400, N411QX (msn 4055), on final approach for LAX's Runway 24R, taken in November 2010.

Asia United Business Aviation's B-6186

Asia United Business Aviation's (AUBA) A318-112(CJ) Elite, B-6186 (msn 3333) is in town, parked on HNL's south ramp. The VIP-configured "BabyBus" was delivered in December 2008. According to the Xinhua News Agency, AUBA is a joint venture between Shenzhen Airlines (largest shareholder), Business Aviation Asia Ltd (Hong Kong), and National Trust Investments Ltd (Beijing).

Westjet's Care-antee Logojet

Westjet's "Care-antee" 737-8CT, C-GWSZ (c/n 37092, l/n 3164) makes an appearance in HNL, and is seen climbing out of Runway 8L bound for YVR as WJA1863. This special livery is promoting Westjet's commitment to better customer service, Care-anteed!

China Southern MD-90s

Two China Southern MD-90s are making their way to join the Delta Air lines fleet. The flights are listed as CSN6999 and CSN3823, and originated from MFM (Macau International Airport) and made stops at SPN and MAJ before the HNL stop. They are destined for MZJ via OAK.

According to Skyliners-Aviation.de, the MD-90-30s making the ferry flights are B-2250 (c/n 53523) and B-2253 (c/n 53526), and will be re-registered as N953DN and N956DN respectively. The only info we lack, is which MD-90 is associated with which flight number.

B-2250 was originally delivered to China Northern Airlines (CJ/CBF) in July 1996. B-2253 was delivered to China Northern Airlines in February 1997. Both MD-90s, as well as the entire China Northern fleet, were integrated into the China Southern fleet when CSN took over CBF in December 2004.

Sorry, no HNL photos ...

Delta Celebrates 70 Years!

Happy 70th Birthday Delta Air Lines! The Atlanta-based carrier celebrates its 70th year of service with anniversary festivities at their home base.

Within Hawai‘i, Delta officially began serving HNL in 1987 after its merger with Western Air Lines, which began service at HNL and ITO in 1969.

The Delta press release.

Pictured above, is Delta's 767-332ER, N1602 (c/n 29694) on Taxiway D during Kona Wind traffic conditions. It's taxiing to Runway 26L to depart for NGO as DAL611.

More of LH's D-AIHF

Here are a couple more shots of Lufthansa's D-AIHF while parked at Gate 25.

Clay Lacy N724CL

Beginning this month, I'm starting a new series called "HNL RareBirds Classics". It will be photos taken with my film point-n-shoot before I switched to digital. I might throw in a few of the early digital shots as well.

In this month's edition of HNL RareBirds Classics, is a photo of the Clay Lacy 727-051, N724CL (c/n 19121). It was here in May 2001. It's seen above wearing special logo decals for the U2 "Elevation" tour, and the "Elevation Air" titles in the cheatlines. The jet was here, though the band was not.

19121 was originally delivered to Northwest Airlines in May 1966 as N475US. It went to the Fuerza Aerea Mexicana (Mexican Air Force) as TP-02 / XC-UJB in September 1977. It was then acquired by Los Angeles Kings (NHL) owner Bruce McNall for use as a team charter jet in March 1990 as N299LA. It was then acquired by Clay Lacy in March 1995, and re-registered as the current N724CL in May 1997.

Note the American Trans Air (ATA) L-1011 parked at Hardstand 5 in the background.

Several Classics were posted during the Boeing workers strike in 2008.

Ryan International 757-236

This Ryan International Airlines operating as RYN6709, a Boeing 757-236 (c/n 24794, l/n 278), crosses Runway 4R as it arrives on the south ramp from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA/KIWA). RYN6709 returned to IWA with prisoners being transferred to prisons in AZ the next day.

*** Update 01.21.11 ***

N526NA returned to HNL with more inmates as RYN6710 from IWA. It will then fly to GRK (Robert Gray Army Air Field, Fort Hood, Killeen, TX) as the same flight number later today.

N526NA has been painted in the current Ryan International livery. In of our photos from August 2009, 526 had a hybrid livery after coming a lease to another airline.

China Orders 200 Boeing Airliners

China announced today that they are purchasing 200 Boeing airliners, comprised of 737s and 777s, to be delivered between this year and 2013. The deal is worth US$19Billion.

That means we will see most (if not all) of those 737s stop through HNL as they are delivered from BFI. No airlines  were disclosed, but suffice it to say that it would be the state-owned airlines that will benefit from today's order.

Boeing's press release.

Lufthansa DLH2572

Lufthansa (LH/DLH) is bringing in a charter flight from MUC (Munich International, Germany) as DLH2572. The flight is being operated with an A340-600, D-AIHF (msn 543). It will return to MUC as DLH2573.

DLH2572 coursed 6,991 nautical miles, and took 14 hours and 48 minutes to get from MUC to HNL.

The above photo, courtesy team member HawaiiTravelDeals, shows D-AIHF taxiing on Taxiway Z to its gate after arriving on Runway 8L. They also provided a link to Welt, a German online publication detailing the flight.

This photo shows D-AIHF from across the airport, clearing Runway 8L.

The Tsuru Returns To JAL!

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, JAL is bringing back the tsuru (crane) logo with an updated typeface sometime after March 2011. The tsuru will make its return after a three-year hiatus, when Landor Tokyo changed the corporate image to represent the red sun, and the last of the JAL fleet was repainted to its current livery.

In the 2006 photo above, shows the last version of the JAL tsuru logo. No word was given on what the the rest of the livery will look like. JA602J currently wears the "Endless Discovery" decals with the current livery.

The JAL press release of their new corporate image.


This is the blog's 1,200th post!

ANA's JA622A Is The 1,000th 767

Final assembly has begun on the 1,000th Boeing 767 (all series), and Line Number 1000 has the distinction of going to JA622A (c/n 40567) of All Nippon Airways - ANA, a 767-381ER. 

Will there be a special decal on JA622A to note the achievement? 

Hopefully, after its delivered and enters service, JA622A will pay a visit to HNL from one of the ANA flights from Tokyo's two airports.

News link from the Airline Reporter blog on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer website.

Hawaiian Adds Seahawks Logo

The National Football League's Seattle Seahawks logo has been applied to Hawaiian Air's 767-3CBER, N588HA (c/n 33466), "‘Iwa", for the Seahawks road trip to Chicago to face the Chicago Bears in Sunday's National Football Conference's Divisional playoff game.

The helmet logo decal is placed below the forward set of windows.

Garudaʻs PK-GFM

The first new Asia-bound 737NG delivery of 2011, crossing the Pacific Ocean, goes to Garuda Indonesia's PK-GFM (c/n 39920, l/n 3518), a 737-8U3, which is flying as GIA8011, and will make its overnight stop at HNL.

Photo courtesy team member je89_w.

***Update 01.29.11***
PK-GFM was painted in the 1961-69 retro livery after completing its delivery flight.

JAL To Upgauge HND Flight

A search of the JAL schedule shows that the Haneda flight, JL80/89 will upgauge to a 777 for the Summer 2011 schedule, which starts March 27. This will be a 2-class 777-200ER, with the older Skyluxe business class seats. No word on the Winter schedule, since it is not available.

***Update 01.14.11***
Although the JAL website says that the online schedule is only available for the next 8 months, it does pull up flights past that. A search on October 31, the start of the winter schedule, and other dates in November still show JL80/89 as a 777. However, this can change as the winter schedule is finalized.

ANA still is showing A 767 in their schedule for the summer for both HND and NRT flights. For the winter, the HND flight is not showing, but the NRT flight does show. Not sure if this means anything.

As for Hawaiian, according to this interview from the Japan Times, the 767 is supposed to be flying the route for the first 6 months then changing to the A330. However, the 767 is still showing through the 11 months available to book flights.

Hawaiian Eye

Korean's New Horizon of Korea

In town today was Korean Air's "new horizons of Korea" special paint to promote South Korea's bid as the host to the 2018 Winter Olympics. HL7752 (777-2B5ER, c/n 34211) was seen at Gate 29, it was being serviced for its return flight as KAL54 to ICN.

Pyeongchang, South Korea is competing against Annecy, France and Münich, Germany to host the 2018 Winter Games. The winner will be announced on 06 July 2011. 

Hawaiian Launches ICN Service

Choo ka (Congratulations)!

Hawaiian Airlines launched service between ICN and HNL with the inaugural flight leaving HNL today. N592HA, "Hunakai", a 767-3CBER (c/n 33468) made the flight with over 100 people on-board. Included were Kahu Danny Akaka Jr, KHON reporter Marisa Yamane, and HA's Blaine Miyasato and Peter Ingram.

In the top photo, "Hunakai" is towed to Gate 34 while a Korean Air 747-4B5 taxies on Taxiway A to Runway 8R as KAL52 to ICN.

KHON's Marisa Yamane interviews Hawaiian Air's CFO Peter Ingram before the festivities. She and her camerman boarded the flight to do reports in Seoul.

Hawaiian music and hula were performed by the Hawaiian Air Serenaders to begin the festivities. Speeches were made by Hawaiian Air CFO Peter Ingram and Lt. Gov Brian Schatz.

A traditional Korean dance, "The Flower & The Honey Bee", performed by the Chum-Sa-Rang Dance Troupe.

Kahu Danny Akaka Jr performed a Hawaiian blessing before the flight crews, cabin crews, and passengers boarded HAL459.

Each passenger received a lei right before boarding "Hunakai".

Hawaiian Air, go mab seum ni da!

COMCO N226G

Here is a shot of an unusual visitor to HNL. This Boeing 757-23A, N226G (c/n 25491/511), is owned by a company called COMCO, which is owned by another company called L-3 Capital. It has reportedly done a lot of work for prominent defense contractor Raytheon (a longtime fixture at the Nevada Test Site and Area 51, Tonopah, NV) and the CIA.

Depending on whom you speak to about this aircraft, N226G is widely suspected of being one of two infamous "rendition planes." "Rendition", according to the conspiracy theorist, are the planes used to transport high value prisoners to supposed CIA prisons in other countries so they can be "tortured". The other COMCO 757-200 is N610G.

Alaska Launches BLI-HNL Today

Alaska Airlines launched service today between BLI (Bellingham, WA) and HNL as ASA897 using 737-890s. The return segment to BLI is ASA898. BLI is a an airport Canadians use to fly out of to avoid paying high airport taxes.

Nomads N727M At KOA

The Nomads 727-221Adv/RE, N727M (c/n 22541), was spotted at KOA today.

Mahalo to team member HawaiiTravelDeals for the photo taken with their cell phone.

Path Corp N505LL

N505LL (msn 415), a Dash8-315B, owned by the Path Corporation (Rehoboth Beach, DE), is making a tech stop at HNL.

The Dash8 was originally delivered to Saeaga Airlines (Malaysia) as 9M-EKA in 1995. In 1998, it was acquired by the Executive Aircraft Corporation as N600SR. In 1999, the Path Corp acquired the Dash8, and re-registered it as the current N505LL.

In June 2006, N505LL made a stop here as well, parking on the Bradley Pacific Ramp. As it was noted in that post, the Path Corp has been linked to the US's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  It's also been noted on airliner forums that N505LL has added antennae to the crown of the fuselage (see above).

N722AZ at Kahului

What might be "The Godfather" of wild color schemes, Hollywood movie director and producer Francis Ford Coppola's Dassault Falcon 7X N722AZ (c/n 99), left OGG today, enroute to BUR.

N777FL at Kahului

One of the more colorful small jets making an exodus from OGG earlier today, was this IAI Gulfstream G150 (c/n 214). It's owned by Agnes Bridal (Ashland, OR) departing to SJC.

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a Happy New Year! May you all have a blessed and prosperous 2011!