N18622

Another former United Airlines 737-524, N18622 (c/n 27526, l/n 2669), is making its way toward Indonesia to join the Sriwijaya Air fleet.

N18622 was originally delivered to Continental Airlines in December 1994, and assigned the fleet number 622. In 2008, N18622 had Blended Winglets™ installed. When Continental merged with United in 2010, N18622 was transferred in with a new fleet number, 0622.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of N18622 at HNL.

B747-8 Experimental

Primer only

BOE524 from KPAE on 01/25/13, a B747-8 Freighter Experimental on the South Ramp at KOA.  They will be on the ground overnight only on a quick turn test flight.  There's no paint, no frills on this one.  It's all business.

This 747-8KZF is bound for Nippon Cargo Airlines as JA14KZ (c/n 37394, l/n 1469), and is flying as BOE524 during its pre-delivery test flights.

B747-8 Freighter Experimental

40,000 ft at Mach .8 is tough on Decals

Shanghai's B-5730

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-5730 (c/n 39302, l/n 4313) today. The 737-86D is flying out of BFI as CSH730, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above taxiing onto to its parking spot.

Lion Air's PK-LKQ

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of PK-LKQ (c/n 38727, l/n 4320) today. It's their second 737-8GP being delivered in as many days. PK-LKQ is flying as LNI1, and will tech stop at HNL. It's seen above being prepped for its next leg to MAJ on the Castle & Cooke ramp.

Korean Adds NRT-HNL

Korean Air is jumping back into the NRT-HNL route beginning March 31, 2013. They will operate this daily service with their A330-300s, KAL001 will originate from ICN, then make a stop at NRT, before arriving at HNL. KAL002 will make the return flights to NRT and ICN.

More information in this KHON article, and this Airline Route article.

Malaysia's 9M-MXO

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MXO (c/n 40142, l/n 4317) today. The 737-8H6 is making its delivery flight as MAS5473. It made its initial leg out of BFI five hours late, and arrived at HNL in the early evening. It's scheduled to depart HNL for MAJ tomorrow morning (above).

Hawaiian Airlines "Blast From The Past!"

Time for another HNL Rarebirds "Blast from the Past". Above, is a Hawaiian Airlines DC-3 flying over Kāne‘ohe Bay in the late 1940's. The windward side of O‘ahu is as beautiful then, as it is today. And the DC-3 is as beautiful as ever.

Lion's 80th 737NG

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of their 80th 737NG today. PK-LKP (c/n 38685, l/n 4314), a 737-8GP, has a commemorative dark green tail with "80th 737 Next Generation", and is making its delivery flight as LNI1. It made its brief two-hour fuel stop, then continued onto MAJ.

N657AG

N657AG (c/n 28657, l/n 2859), a 737-36Q, is making a ferry flight from VCV (via OAK), and stopped off at HNL. It's owned by the Aviation Capital Group (ACG), and appears to be headed for another lessee in the western Pacific. We've been told this 737 is a white tail. It will also make stops at MAJ and GUM, before reaching ICN.

28657 was originally purchased by Boullion AS, and leased to China Xinhua Airlines as B-2982. In mid-2003, it was repainted into the standard Hainan livery, but retained the China Xinhua titles. It never received the 2007 Hainan Group livery.

Skymark's JA73NQ

Skymark Airlines is taking delivery of JA73NQ (c/n 39432, l/n 4310) today. The AWAS-leased 737-81D is making its delivery flight as SKY73NQ, and is seen above, taxiing to the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

N218AW

A former Shenzhen Airlines 737-33A, N218AW (c/n 27463, l/n 2831), is making its way from China to the US mainland, as its lease with AWAS has expired. The flight originated from SZX, and will go to TUS. It made stops at MNL, GUM, HNL, and OAK.

27463 was delivered to AWAS in November 1996 to Shenzhen Airlines as B-2972. In 2008, it was painted in the 2007 Shenzhen livery.

Alaska Airlines Hijack Prank

Apparently someone called in a hijack prank the Honolulu FBI Field Office, last night, regarding Alaska Airlines' flight 819, from KOA to SEA. A pair of F-15s were scrambled, and escorted the 737-890 into SEA. The suspected passenger was cleared, but the hunt is on for the caller.

Further information in this KING5 (Seattle) report.

Shandong's B-5723

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-5723 (c/n 39329, l/n 4311) today. The 737-8FZ, leased from Babcock & Brown, is flying as CDG5723. It's seen above taxiing onto is parking spot on HNL's South Ramp.

China Eastern's B-5731

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5731 (c/n 40951, l/n 4303) today. The 737-89P is flying from BFI as CES299. It's seen above, shortly after arriving from BFI, on the AirService Hawaii ramp.

American Unveils New Look

With the arrival of its first few new-build 777-323ERs, American Airlines has unveiled a new logo, livery and branding. Above, is an artist rendition of American's new look.

Further information on this American Airlines webpage.

One of American's 737-823s, N908NN (c/n 31157, l/n 4247, f/n 3JT), has been painted in the new livery as well. The new-build 737s and 777 will receive the new livery, and the existing fleet will transition to the new look over the next few years.

Hainan's B-5711

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-5711 (c/n 39195, l/n 4304) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight as B5711. Some websites had the first leg listed as BFI-HNL, but B-5711 was not to be found at HNL, nor at KOA, nor OGG. We are not sure where B-5711 made its first stop after leaving BFI. It would have to have been either LIH or ITO, but we have yet to receive any confirmation on that information.

Kamaka's N248KA

Earlier this week, HNL's newest resident arrived on its delivery flight from SMX. Kamaka Air took delivery of their second Cessna C208BF Grand Cargomaster, N248KA (msn 208B2408). The C208BF was painted into the Kamaka livery at SMX, after flying from the Cessna factory.

China Southern's B-5716

China Southern Airlines' B-5716 (c/n 38937, l/n 4307) wraps up today's 737NG delivery flight triple play. The 737-81B is flying as CSN805, and will overnight at HNL. B-5716, seen above after arriving from BFI, will continue onto PNI tomorrow.

Apparently, there are low fuel supply issues at MAJ, that limits fuel to scheduled service only, hence the second leg going to PNI.

Air China's B-5296

Air China is taking delivery of their newest 737-79L today. B-5296 (c/n 41091, l/n 4301) is flying as CCA51, and will overnight at HNL. B-5296 was parked on the ‘Ewa Hardstands, and will continue onto PNI tomorrow.

Xiamen's B-5706

Xiamen Airlines' B-5706 (c/n 38399, l/n 4306) leads off today's 737NG delivery flight triple play. The 737-85C is flying as CXA5706, and will overnight at HNL. B-5706 was parked on the ‘Ewa Hardstands, and will continue onto PNI tomorrow.

Ryan International Shuts Down

Ryan International Airlines, a frequent visitor to HNL that does college sports charters and state prison inmate transfers, will now undergo liquidation, instead of trying to re-organize.

A report by Rockford, IL's NBC affiliate, WREX.

China Southern's B-5715

China Southern Airlines' B-5715 (c/n 38936, l/n 4300) is the first trans-Pacific 737NG delivery flight for 2013. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight as CSN715. B-5715 is seen above as it taxies out for departure to PNI, instead of MAJ.

Island Air To Get New Owner

This afternoon, Island Air announced that the company is being sold by Gavarnie Holding LLC to an undisclosed buyer. The agreement to sell the carrier is expected to close in six to eight weeks. There currently is no press release from Island Air, but below are links to the various local news outlets:

Star Advertiser - Island Air to be sold to undisclosed buyer

KHON - Island Air to be sold to undisclosed buyer

KITV - Island Air announces preliminary sale agreement

Winner Selected For Alaska's Hawai‘i Logojet

Aaron Nee, a 16-year-old Kaiser High School junior, won the Alaska Airlines "Spirit Of The Islands" paint-the-plane contest. The winning design will be applied to one of Alaska's 737-890s.

HNL RareBirds congratulates Aaron Nee for his winning design! We look forward to seeing this 737-890 at HNL.

Further information in this Alaska Airlines press release.

A report by Fox-affiliate KHON.

Hawaiian Orders 16 A321NEOs

Hawaiian Airlines announced early this morning, that they have placed an order for 16 Airbus A321NEOs, along with options for nine more. This order, with the first models expected to be delivered in 2017, will give the airline a medium-range single-aisle option for West Coast routes, to compliment their wide-body fleet. The delivery of the first A321NEO will the same year Hawaiian expects to take delivery of their first (of six) A350-800XWB.

The NEO, or New Engine Option version, gives the A321 a range of over 3,600 miles, and Hawaiian the opportunity to explore new routes on the US mainland. When compared to a current A321-200, the range of an A321NEO is 1,000 nautical miles more than the current model; and this is with a similar two-class cabin layout that Hawaiian is opting for. The airline has yet to select which engine, the CFM International Leap-X or the Pratt & Whitney PW1400G/PW1500G, it will go with on their A321NEOs. The NEOs also feature the new "sharklet" blended winglet (as seen above).

By the time 2020 rolls around, the Hawaiian Airlines fleet will 22 A330-243s, six A350-800s, 16+ A321NEOs, 18 717-200s, and two ATR42s. As more A330s come online, the 767-300s will be phased out, beginning with the leased ones.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for the artist rendition of what their A321NEO will look like.

Airliners Photographer of the Day

OK, so we are a little bit proud to be the featured photographer of the day at Airliners . I guess we'll be there (along the left side and half-way down) until this evening. Kinda funny they'd do that, since I haven't posted a picture with them for almost 10 years. All of my pictures on there were taken with film. Here's a link to the pictures of you happen to read this later : OGGTurbojets

757 Celebrates 30th Anniversary

30 years ago, today, the first Boeing 757-200 entered service with Eastern Airlines. N501EA (c/n 22191, l/n 2) took to the skies from ATL to TPA. Of the 1,050 757s built, more than 1,030 currently remain in service.

Here in Hawai‘i, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, US Airways, and Allegiant Airlines are the main 757 operators. WestJet Airlines has a seasonal wet-lease with Thomas Cook Airlines for its Alberta flights. In the 30 years of service, other airlines such as Canada 3000, Royal Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Omni Air International, Continental Airlines, America West Airlines, ATA Airlines, and Harmony Airways were among the regulars at HNL.

After Eastern's shutdown in January 1991, 22191 was delivered to NASA in December 1994, and served as a test aircraft. In January 2009, it was acquired by Starflite International Corporation, and registered as N144DC.

ATA's N561TZ

Our January 2013 edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us to November 2004, and this ATA Airlines [TZ/ATA] 757-33N, N561TZ (c/n 33526, l/n 1032, f/n 561), that was photographed on HNL's South Ramp, as it was on a  team charter assignment.

N561TZ was originally delivered to ATA in July 2003, under buy back and lease program with Boeing Capital Corporation (BCC). It flew with ATA, in a one-class Y247 interior seating layout until the the airline's demise in April 2008. Continental Airlines leased this 757 from BCC in December 2009, and registered as N77871 (f/n 871). Later, it had Blended Winglets installed, and the interior re-configured to an F24Y192 layout. N77871 was absorbed into the United Airlines fleet (f/n 0871) when the two carriers merged in 2010.

We were fortunate to get a photo of N77871 while here at HNL, this past December 7th, and is seen above departing Runway 22L, destined for LAX as UAL1636, when the "Kona Winds" were blowing. It's one of the few opportunites that we're able to get "then & now" photos of "HNLRareBirds Classic" subjects.

December Deliveries

These were the 737NG deliveries that stopped through Hawai‘i in December:
4266 | PK-LKO | 38684 | Lion Airlines | -9GPER [12.05.12 LNI1]
4271 | B-5652 | 39126 | Shandong Airlines | -85N [12.05.12 CDG5652]
4274 | B-5699 | 38935 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [12.07.12 CSN121]
4276 | 9M-MXM | 40140 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [12.10.12 MAS5473]
4275 | B-5696 | 40019 | Air China | -89L [12.12.12 CCA51]
4284 | PK-LKM | 38726 | Lion Airlines | -9GPER [12.15.12 LNI1]
4287 | 9M-MXN | 40141 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [12.18.12 MAS5473]
4265 | B-5702 | 39131 | Kunming Airlines (KY/KNA) | -87L [12.21.12 ___]

-800:  6
-900ER: 2

China: 4
Indonesia: 2
Malaysia: 2

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!

Happy New Year!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a blessed and prosperous 2013!