Lion Air's PK-LJT

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737NG in nine days. PK-LJT (c/n 38720, l/n 4056), a 737-9GPER, is making itʻs delivery flight from BFI to CGK (via HNL, MAJ, and BIK) as LNI1. PK-LJT is seen above taxiing to its rest spot on the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

Allegiant Announces MRY-HNL

Allegiant Airlines announced today, that they will begin a weekly 757-200 flight between MRY [Monterey Regional Airport, CA] and HNL on November 16th.

More details in this Allegiant Airlines press release.

Lion Air Announces Batik Air

Frequent Castle & Cooke Aviation client, Lion Air, announced today that they will spin-off ten of their 12 737-8GPs for a new full-service airline, Batik Air, that will compete against rival Garuda Indonesia. The new airline is pegged to launch in March 2013.

Currently, Lion Air is in the process of receiving the bulk of their 737-8GP order, which were pushed ahead of the rest of their 737-9GPER order. PK-LJS, seen above, is Lionʻs most recent 737-8GP to be delivered.

More information in this Jakarta Post article.

Island Air Ups JHM Frequency

Island Air announced today, that they will increase their service between HNL and JHM to six daily round-trip flights, that begins on June 15th.

More details in this Island Air press release.

Lionʻs PK-LJS

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of PK-LJS (c/n 37293, l/n 4046) this morning. Itʻs their second 737-8GP within the past month (third of 16 overall), and is making its delivery flight as LNI1. It made its brief fuel stop at HNL this morning, and seen above taxiing to its Castle & Cooke rest spot.

Hainanʻs B-5662

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-5662 (c/n 38153, l/n 4036) this morning. This 737-84P is on its delivery flight as B5662, and will overnight at HNL. Itʻs seen above pulling into to its parking spot on the AirService Hawai‘i ramp.

Mokulele Returns To JHM

Mokulele Airlines will re-launch service to JHM [Kapalua / West Maui Airport] from HNL on July 1st. They will use their Cessna C208B Caravans for two daily round-trip flights. The airline also plans to add a fifth Caravan to their fleet.

More details in this Mokulele Airlines press release.

N594AB

Southern Cross Aviation is ferrying a former Batavia Air [7P/BTV] (Indonesia) 737-4S3, N594AB (c/n 25594, l/n 2223) to VCV as SXA948, and has made a stop at HNL.  It was registered as PK-YVQ, and is now being returned to its lessor, Wells Fargo Bank Northwest.

25594 was originally purchased by the First Security Bank of Utah, and leased to Malaysia Airlines as 9M-MLJ in February 1992. It was then leased to Istanbul Airlines [IL/IST] as TC-AVA in March 1993. LOT Polish Airlines [LO/LOT] was the next lessee in April 2000 as SP-LLH. AerGo Capital acquired the 737-4S3, and leased it to  Philippine Airlines as EI-CVO in November 2000. Nok Air [DD] (Thailand) was the next lessee, from Indigo, as HS-DDK. Wells Fargo purchased 25594, and leased it to Batavia Air in November 2008.

A big mahalo to team member Lono68 for this early morning photo.

Malaysiaʻs 9M-MLN

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MLN (c/n 39324, l/n 4042) this morning. The 737-8H6 is flying as MAS5403. It maybe receiving a special livery once it arrives at KUL, as only the titles have been painted. 9M-MLN is seen above taxiing to the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp after arriving from BFI.

With Malaysia Airlines putting a new livery on their A380 fleet, it appears that it has not been decided which livery this 737 will get.

Mahalo to team member Lono68 for the photo!

Alaska Adds PDX-LIH

Beginning November 5th, Alaska Airlines will launch four-times-per-week 737-890 service between PDX and LIH for seasonal service, ending on 07 April 2013.

ASA804: PDX-LIH

ASA803: LIH-PDX

More details in Alaska Airlinesʻ press release.

Virgin America ETOPS Proving Runs?

A Conde Nast Traveler blog is reporting that SFO-based Virgin America [VX/VRD] will soon be flying ETOPS proving runs between SFO and HNL. The article states that "the airline is in the early stages of ETOPS flights, but did not specify Hawai‘i".

More information in this Jaunted.com article.

The above photo shows one of Virgin Americaʻs A320-214s, N622VA (msn 2674), at LAX, clearing Runway 25L in November 2010.

Allegiant Announces Four More Cities

Allegiant Airlines announced that four more cities will be added that will serve HNL. Beginning mid-November flights begin from: Bellingham, WA [BLI] (11.15.12); Eugene, OR [EUG] (11.17.12); Santa Maria, CA [SMX] (11.17.12); and Stockton, CA [SCK] (11.18.12). Allegiant is also adding a twice-weekly BLI-OGG flight. All fights will be operated with their 757-200s.

BLI-HNL: AAY1057

HNL-BLI: AAY1056

EUG-HNL: AAY1051

HNL-EUG: AAY1050

SMX-HNL: AAY1055

HNL-SMX: AAY1054

SCK-HNL: AAY1053

HNL-SCK: AAY1052

BLI-OGG: AAY1059

OGG-BLI: AAY1058

Further details in this Allegiant Airlines press release.

QFA16

Earlier this morning, Qantas flight 16 (QFA16) diverted to Honolulu. VH-OJT (c/n 25565, l/n 1233), a 747-438, was scheduled to fly from Los Angeles International (KLAX/LAX) to Brisbane (YBBN/BNE) this morning. It is due to depart later this night.

Another photo to follow ...

ARAMCO's N767A at OGG

This Aramco 767-2AX (c/n 33685; l/n 903) arrived early this morning from Adelaide. Special thanks to Mike for giving us the heads-up on this one!

China Southernʻs B-5643

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of its newest 737-81B, B-5643 (c/n 38920, l/n 4031). It's making its delivery flight as CSN563, and will overnight at HNL.

B-5643 is seen at HNL taxiing for departure to MAJ. "MoonM" also got a photo of it at PAE.

HMH-363 Bids Aloha ‘Oe To The CH-53D

The HMH-363 "Lucky Red Lions" bid a fond aloha ‘oe (farewell) to the Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter, in a retirement ceremony held at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i this afternoon. The Heavy Marine Helicopter squadron will be transitioning to the Bell Boeing MV-22A Osprey Tilt-Rotor aircraft at NAS Miramar, CA for a three year training period, returning to Kāne‘ohe in 2015.

The "Lucky Red Lions" will be the first of the four CH-53D squadrons to transition to the MV-22A.

The above photo was taken at the 2010 Kāne‘ohe Bay Air Show.

More details in this Hawai‘i News Now article.

Hawaiian To Add CTS

Hawaiian Airlines announced this morning that they will launch thrice-weekly service to CTS (New Chitose Airport, Chitose, Hokkaidō, Japan) on 01 November 2012. Service will begin with their 767-300ERs, and will feature their "Hawai‘i Flies With Us" in-flight service. Chitose becomes the airline's Japanese fourth destination.

The near-by city of Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan, and has had seasonal charters by Japan Airlines. Now, Hawaiian will launch regular-scheduled service between CTS and HNL.

HAL441: HNL-CTS (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

HAL442: CTS-HNL (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

More details in Hawaiian Airlines' press release.

Shenzhen's B-5670

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5670 (39129/4029) this morning. The 737-87L is on its delivery flight as CSZ905, and is seen above taxiing to its South Ramp parking spot where it will overnight.

Shandong's B-5648

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-5648 (c/n 38639, l/n 4028) today. The 737-85N is flying as CDG5648, and will be making a stopover at HNL. It's seen above pulling into its South Ramp overnight parking spot.

Garuda's PK-GMW

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GMW (c/n 38069, l/n 4026) today. The 737-8U3 is flying as GIA8011, and will overnight at HNL tonight. PK-GMW is seen above climbing out from its Runway 8R departure for MAJ.

A9C-BRN Bahrain Royal Flight at OGG

We saw this Gulfstream 550 (c/n 5242) today, from a distance ...

Kenn Borek's C-FBKB

C-FBKB (msn 611), a DHC-6-300 "Twin Otter" from Kenn Borek Airlines (Canada), is making its way across the Pacific from YYC via OTH (Southwest Regional Airport, North Bend, OR) and GEG (Spokane International Airport, Spokane, WA).

Mahalo to team member Lono68 for the above photo of C-FBKB on the Bradley Pacific ramp. The titles say air BORN, but not much is know about this carrier.

*** 05.07.12 Update ***
C-FBKB left for MAJ early this morning, and will continue onto TKK (Chuuk International Airport, Weno Island, Federated States of Micronesia) on the 8th.

Solaseed's JA804X

Solaseed Airlines is taking delivery of JA804X (c/n 38026, l/n 4016), a GECAS-leased 737-86N. It's flying from BFI as SNJ804X, but the flight does not appear on any flight tracking websites.

A big mahalo to team member Lono68 for the above photo of JA804X as it taxies out for departure to MAJ.

"Vintage Racer" also got a photo if it at BFI.

China Eastern A340-642 B-6050

As mentioned previously, China Eastern has retired all of their A340-313Xs, and will be using their A340-642s until May 15.  B-6050 operated CES571/572 on May 1. I was lucky enough to be sitting on the correct side of the aircraft to catch B-6050 arriving just before we pushed back for our departure.

Southwest Jetʻs N727CF

The May edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to August 2000, with Southwest Jetʻs 727-22, N727CF (c/n 18323, l/n 136). The Boeing tri-jet is seen above on the South Ramp, with a now-retired ANA 747-281 across the field on the North Ramp Hardstands.

18323 was originally delivered to United Airlines as N7031U in April 1965. It spent over 13 years with UAL, before it was sold to Korean Airlines as HL7337, in August 1978. ATASCO Leasing was the next owner, purchasing the 727, and registering it as N1187Z in September 1985. Four months later, it was sold to World Airways (with the same registration), then sold to Air Atlanta [CRB] another four months later. After Air Atlantaʻs demise, it went to Ladeco Airlines (Chile) [UC/LCO] as CC-CIW in August 1987. ATASCO Leasing re-purchased the 727 in July 1992, and registered as N863SY. Three months later, 18323's interior was converted into a VIP transport as VR-BMC. Southwest Jet then purchased it in February 1999. Executive Jet Services (Democratic Republic of the Congo) was the next buyer to use the 727-22 as a VIP transport around Africa and Europe. It was registered as 3D-BOC (Swaziland) and S9-DBM (Sao Tomé & Principe), and wore the same livery as N727CF. In February 2010, Hewa Bora Airways [EO/ALX] (Democratic Republic of the Congo) purchased the jet, and converted back to a passenger (C12Y139) configuration, and registered as 9Q-COP. Sadly, this airliner and its passengers and crew were lost in a crash at FKI (Kisangani-Bangoka, DRC) on 08 July 2011, as it tried to land in bad weather.