Россия RA-96018

An Илюшин (Ilyushin) Ил-96-300 from Россия (Rossiya-Russian Airlines) [FV/SDM], also known as the Russia State Transport Company, arrived at HNL yesterday afternoon. RA-96018 (c/n 74393202018) is parked on HNL's North Ramp. Of the four Il-96-300s in the SDM fleet, RA-96018 is the only one with a standard interior, while the other three have VIP interiors.

Team member FlyboyHNL spotted the Il-96 on approach for Runway 8L yesterday, and sent me a mobile phone photo to verify the type.

A big mahalo to team member Aeros for the early morning photo.

Hainan's B-5611

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-5611 (c/n 38145, l/n 3783), a 737-84P, that is making its delivery flight as B5611.

China Southern's B-5598

China Southern Airlines' second 737-800 delivery this month is B-5598 (c/n 36877, l/n 3784). This 737-86J was originally ordered by AirBerlin [AB/BER] (registered as D-ABZA), whose Boeing Customer Code is _6J, but was not taken up, and acquired by China Southern. It's making its delivery flight as CSN598, and seen above turning onto Taxiway C from D, clearing Runway 4R.

38677 was purchased by ICBC Leasing, then leased to China Southern.

Malaysia's 9M-MLK

Topping off the 737-800 delivery trifecta is Malaysia Airlines' 9M-MLK (c/n 39320, l/n 3778), a 737-8FZ leased from Babcock & Brown. It's flying out of BFI as MAS5403, and pictured above clearing Taxiway C, heading for the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

All three 737-800s are expected to arrive within a 30-minute time frame.

China Southern's B-5597

China Southern is taking delivery of B-5597 (c/n 38913, l/n 3776), a 737-81B, that is flying as CSN787. It's the second of the three delivery flights stopping over at HNL today. B-5597 is seen above on Taxiway C, taxiing to toe AirService Hawai‘i ramp.

Shenzhen's B-5617

Shenzhen Airlines' B-5617 (c/n 39150, l/n 3770) leads off today's 737-800 delivery trifecta. The 737-87L flying from BFI as CSZ917, and is seen above on the AirService Hawai‘i ramp, where it will overnight.

Fly Guam's N720VX

Fly Guam is taking delivery of their second 737-400 wet-leased from Sky King. N720VX (c/n 24129, l/n 1783), a 737-4K5, is making its delivery flight with the Sky King call-sign, "Songbird", and coding SGB. The MIA-OAK leg was flown as SGB7201, the OAK-HNL leg as SGB7202, and the HNL-MDY as SGB7203. Due to daytime flight restrictions regarding the bird sanctuary, the 737 will wait until this evening to depart for MAJ.

The stopover at HNL was during evening hours, thus no HNL photos.

This 737-4K5 was originally delivered to Germany's Hapag-Lloyd in October 1989 as D-AHLP. In January 1998, it was acquired by Japan Transocean Airlines (JTA), a JAL subsidiary, and registered as JA8953. It was then acquired by Wells Fargo Bank in August 2010, then leased to Sky King as N720VX, as a white tail.

US Air Force Reactivates F-22A Raptors

After a four-month stand down, the US Air Force has reactivated their F-22A Raptor fleet after resolving an issue with the oxygen generating system. This includes the Raptors of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th FS, and its active-duty counterpart, the 19th FS.

US Air Force press release.

Garuda's PK-GFQ

After a four-hour delay, Garuda Indonesia's PK-GFQ (c/n 39416, l/n 3766) began its trans-Pacific delivery flight from BFI to CGK (via HNL, MAJ, and BIK). The 737-81D, leased from Ansett Worldwide, had been scheduled for delivery on Saturday, but postponed to today.

Sorry, no HNL photo ... though team member Drewski2112 did get a photo of it at BFI.

The Return Of Flights From Sendai

おかえりなさい! Okaerinasai! (Welcome back!)

Today, Japan Airlines' JL8816 arrived from Sendai (SDJ/RJSS), operated with a 767-346ER. This is the first JAL Sendai-Honolulu charter flight since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Sendai area. Prior to the earthquake and tsunami, Sendai had JAL charter flights almost monthly.

Asiana Starts Scheduled Charter Service

Today, Asiana Airlines begins flying between South Korea and Hawaii once again. With the number of tourist coming out of Korea increasing, Asiana will fly chartered flights twice weekly to and from Incheon International (ICN/RKSI) as OZ2325/2315 until December 8th. The equipment used today was HL7794 (c/n 1211) a A330-323E.

China Southern's B-2260

B-2260 (c/n 53530, l/n 2222), is the third-to-last China Southern MD-90-30 to make its way to the US mainland to join the Delta Air Lines fleet as N960DN. It arrived last night from MAJ as CSN6999.

Sorry, no HNL photo ...

RAAF's MRTT

One of the Royal Australian Air Force's newest additions was seen yesterday at HNL. A39-004 (c/n 1036) is the fourth KC-30A (A330-243) to be delivered to the RAAF.

Lion Air's PK-LHY

Lion Air is taking delivery of their 50th new-build 737-9GPER, PK-LHY (c/n 37285, l/n 3765). It's flying as LNI1, and is making a late night delivery flight that should stop off at HNL in the wee hours of Friday morning, and depart for MAJ a few hours later.

According to Boeing, PK-LHY is wearing a commemorative 50th 737-900ER tail logo in place of the current Lion logo. Of all of the Lion delivery flights, this is one of the few that is flying in the overnight hours, probably to avoid the logo being seen. This is also the second Lion 737-9GPER delivery this month.

A photo of the tail logo was posted on Boeing's Flickr page. BFI photographer Rick Schlamp also got a couple shots of PK-LHY during its test phase.

Qantas' VH-VZS

Qantas Airways is taking delivery of VH-VZS "Tamworth" (c/n 39358, l/n 3769), a 737-838. It's flying as QFA6024 from BFI today, with it's first stop at HNL. It's seen above on the North Ramp Hard Stands.

Hawaiian To Add Fukuoka Service

Beginning April 2012, Hawaiian Airlines announced that they will launch daily service between Honolulu and Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), its third Japanese destination, using their 767-300ERs. Fukuoka is on the island of Kyushu, and one of Japan's oldest cities.

HAL453: HNL-FUK
HAL454: FUK-HNL

Hawaiian Airlines' press release.


Currently, Japan Airlines offers charter flights between HNL and FUK, though they did have regular service in the 1990s with their JAZ subsidiary. As posted earlier, Delta Air Lines plans to launch seasonal service in December. Hawaiian's plan is to go year-round, adding to its growing Asia service.

Never Forget!!!

Ten years ago today, the United States was attacked like it never had been, four airliners (a United 757-222 and 767-222ER, and an American 757-223 and 767-223ER) were hijacked by terrorists and used as missiles into buildings to kill thousands of innocent people in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. The airline industry and the traveling experience would never be the same.

The HNL RareBirds team honors the sacrifice of the flight and cabin crews of the four airliners, the heroic passengers who tried to take back UAL93, the heroic men and women at The Pentagon, and the heroic men and women of the NYPD, the PANY/NJ and the FDNY on that fateful day. The above photo is a memorial eternal flame that stands on the grounds of Honolulu Hale dedicated to those mentioned above.

Personally, I was awaken to a phone call from family in Los Angeles to turn on the TV. I saw the repeated horror of watching the UAL and AAL 762s hit the World Trade Center towers, which made my stomach turn. My work day was scheduled to videotape a Japanese tourist wedding near HNL, at the DAV Park at Ke‘ehi Lagoon. I took my scanner with me, and could hear the queue of inbound airliners trying to land. While on my way to the location, I could also see Hawai‘i Air National Guard F-15s orbiting HNL. 

Hawaiian Continues NFL Charters

Hawaiian Airlines will continue transporting both the Oakland Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks for their road games this season. This will be the 12th season that Hawaiian will be flying the Raiders, and the third season for the Seahawks.

Raiders charter press release.

Seahawks charter press release.

Hawaiian's Expanding OGG Service

Hawaiian Airlines continues expansion into the Northern California Bay Area. The airline announced today that the airline, starting January 12, 2012 will begin thrice-weekly service between SJC and OGG.

HAL46: OGG-SJC

HAL45: SJC-OGG

Hawaiian Air press release on this new route.

On September 1st, Hawaiian announced that they will make the seasonal service between OGG and OAK year-round. The four-times-weekly flights will begin on January 12, 2012.

HAL24: OGG-OAK

HAL23: OAK-OGG

Hawaiian Air's press release regarding this route.

Both flights will utilize their 767-300ERs.

Lion Airlines' PK-LHW

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of PK-LHW (c/n 38302, l/n 3753), their newest 737-9GPER. It's flying out from BFI today as LNI1, and made a brief fuel stop at HNL today (above).

Air Australia's New Look

Australian publication Travel Weekly has an article that unveils the new look for Air Australia, which plans to launch service to HNL later this year.

Delta To Add Seasonal Service To Fukuoka

Beginning December 28th, Delta Air Lines will add a seasonal flight between FUK and HNL using their 767-332ERs. The flights will end on 04 April 2012, then resume from 14 July.

DAL598: FUK-HNL

DAL599: HNL-FUK

Delta Air Lines' press release, and further information from Airline Routes.

Shandong's B-5592

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-800 over the past two weeks. B-5592 (c/n 38099, l/n 3757), a 737-8HX, leased from the Aviation Capital Group (ACG), is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG5592. It's on the first leg of the multi-stop flight to HNL today, and seen above taxiing to its overnight spot.

Kalair USA's N707KS

Our September edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to 1996, when this Kalair USA 707-321B, N707KS (c/n 20025, l/n 780), made a stop at HNL. It's seen above on the South Ramp being serviced by the now-defunct Circle Rainbow Air.

20025 was originally delivered to Pan American World Airways as N886PA, named "Clipper Sea Lark", in January 1969. In April 1983, N886PA was leased to Global International Airways, but repossessed five months later. In July 1984, Falcon Aircraft Conversions acquired the 707, and registered as N728Q. Its interior was converted to an executive transport configuration, and its JT3Ds were fitted with hush-kits. It was leased to Skystar International in March 1985, and to Independent Air in July 1987. Kalair USA then acquired N728Q in August 1989, and registered it as N707KS in May 1992. British Columbia Management acquired it in October 2000, and registered as D2-MAN, where it became a government transport of the Republique de Angola. It's not known if this 707 is still flying for the Angolan Government.