EWR RareBirds

Here are some of the photos from EWR on March 11th from Terminal B. We definitely do not see these birds at HNL ...

 Porter Airlines' Dash8-Q402, C-GLQD (msn 4138, f/n 803) at Gate 51.

 American Airlines' MD-83, N9413T (c/n 53188, l/n 2119, f/n 4WW) at Terminal A.

 Jet Airways' A330-202, VT-JWN (msn 932) on Taxiway RC.

United Express' (Shuttle America) ERJ-170SE, N865RW (msn 17000122) on Taxiway B, wearing the final pre-merger United livery.

British Airways' 777-236, G-ZZZB (c/n 27106, l/n 10) on Taxiway A, as seen from Seat 11D aboard N761ND.

China Eastern's B-5756

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of their third Yunnan Peacock-liveried 737-800 today. B-5756 (c/n 39724, l/n 4383), a 737-89P, is making its delivery flight as CES599. It's seen above shortly after landing on Runway 4R.

As noted by the marking below the Skyteam logo, B-5756 is also the 1,000th Boeing aircraft delivered to the People's Republic of China.

ATL RareBirds

Here are some of the photos I took at ATL on March 11th prior to our flight to MSP via EWR. While they may be regulars there, these are birds we definitely don't see at HNL ...

Delta's MD-90-30, N918DH (c/n 53553, l/n 2165, f/n 9218) being pushed out of Gate T5.

Delta's MD-88, N910DE (c/n 53419, l/n 2036, f/n 9010), taxiing down Ramp 1.

Spirit Airlines' A319-132, N522NK (msn 2893) "Spirit of Las Vegas", in the old livery on Taxiway L.

US Airways' ERJ-190AR, N954UW (msn 19000139, f/n 954), on Taxiway L.

United Express' CRJ-700, N716SK (msn 10180, f/n 716) on Taxiway L. This CRJ-700 is operated by SkyWest Airlines.

airTran's 717-2BD, N994AT (c/n 55138, l/n 5104, f/n 766), on Taxiway M, bound for departure on Runway 9L.

N293AL

KOA had a rarebird stop through today. N293AL (c/n 27046, l/n 2252), a 737-3Z0, owned by Air Lease Corporation (ALC), is ferrying the aircraft from China to MZJ. It's making an overnight stop from MAJ.

27046 was originally delivered to China Southwest Airlines as B-2530 in April 1992. Air China acquired China Southwest in March 2004, and transferred B-2530 into their fleet. ALC bought the 737-3Z0 from CCA this past February.

China Southern's B-5721

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-81B this month. B-5721 (c/n 38942, l/n 4388) is the making its delivery flight as CSN201. It's actually their third 737 in the past 18 days.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of B-5721 at HNL.

Malaysia's 9M-MSB

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MSB (c/n 40144, l/n 4385) today. The 737-8H6 is flying from BFI as MAS5473, and will overnight at HNL. It's seen above taxiing onto the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

Hawaiian Signs A321NEO Purchase Agreement

With all of the unions on-board with the A321NEO additions, Hawaiian Airlines signed the purchase agreement with Airbus for 16 A321NEOs, and purchase rights for another nine aircraft.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

LAX RareBirds

Here are a few shots I did manage to get during our LAX stopovers. The three photos below were taken on March 9th, upon arrival at LAX.

Air Pacific's 747-412, DQ-FJL (c/n 24062, l/n 722) at the West Remote Hardstands, as we taxi from North Complex to Terminal 5, on Taxiway AA.

United Airlines' A320-232, N447UA (msn 836, f/n 4247) on Taxiway H, waiting to cross Runway 25R at Taxiway P.

Delta Connection's (SkyWest Airlines) N625CA (msn & f/n 10113), on Taxiway H, about to follow us to Terminal 5.

This photo was taken from DAL1454, N373DA, as we taxied to Runway 25R for departure to ATL.

American Airlines' 777-223ER, N755AN (c/n 30263, l/n 354, f/n 7BP) is holding on Taxiway C. 

The photo below was taken on March 17th.

The Fry's Electronics 727-281 "Super 27", N724YS (c/n 21474, l/n 1378) and the Dubai Air Wing's 747-412F, A6-GGF (c/n 28032, l/n 1224) on one of LAX's FBO ramps.

Atlas Air's N853GT

Atlas Air's first 747-87UF/SCD is seen above making a stop in Honolulu after arriving from Cincinnati [CVG], before it heads out to Sydney [SYD] as PAC242. N853GT (c/n 37572, l/n 1467) wears a hybrid scheme combining Polar Air Cargo titles and a DHL tail. 

Eielson's Aggressors

Earlier this month, we saw the arrival of F-16s from the 18th Aggressor Squadron out of Eielson Air force Base, Alaska. A few were seen almost exactly a year ago to partake in the training exercise "Sentry Aloha" with Hawai‘i Air National Guard's F-22s.

Island Air's N342AT

Island Air will be putting another ATR72-212,  N342AT (msn 345), into service soon. It arrived today, as a white tail, and will receive a temporary livery. N342AT will be with Island Air on a short-term lease while two more ATR72-212s are being prepped for delivery on the mainland.

Hainan's B-5713

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-5713 (c/n 39197, l/n 4381) today. The 737-84P is flying from BFI as B5713, and will overnight at HNL.

Malindo's 9M-LNG

Malindo Air is taking delivery of their second 737-9GPER in a week. 9M-LNG (c/n 38729, l/n 4380) made a brief early-morning fuel stop at HNL today, as MLO1.

China Southern's B-5720

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-81B in the past 11 days. B-5720 (c/n 38941, l/n 4379) is making its delivery flight as CSN520, and will overnight at HNL.

Mainland RareBirds

I spent last week traveling from HNL to ATL (via LAX), ATL to MSP (via EWR), and MSP to HNL (via LAX) for work. I did manage to snap a few pix at some of the airports, and from the planes, which I'll post when time permits.

Our flights were on:
Delta's 757-351, N590NW (c/n 32990, l/n 1087, f/n 5810) [DAL1150 HNL-LAX], which departed from Runway 26L;
Delta's 737-832, N373DA (c/n 29621, l/n 123, f/n 3703) [DAL1454 LAX-ATL];
Delta's A319-119, N346NB (msn 1796, f/n 3146) [DAL935 ATL-EWR];
Delta Connection's (ExpressJet) CRJ-700, N761ND (msn 10213, f/n 761) [DAL4975 EWR-MSP];
Delta's 757-212, N752AT (c/n 23128, l/n 48, f/n 6904) [DAL1219 MSP-LAX], and
Delta's 757-351, N582NW (c/n 32981, l/n 1014, f/n 5802) [DAL1149 LAX-HNL].

Delta's N373DA shortly after we arrived at ATL. The 737-832 is seen parked at Gate A3. I only had the opportunity to get this shot with my iPhone.

Delta's A319-119, N346NB at ATL's Gate A1, being readied to take us to EWR.

At EWR, Delta Connection's N761ND taxing down the alleyway RD to Gate 47 at Terminal B. This CRJ-700 took us to MSP.

Delta's N752AT at MSP's Gate G17, prior to boarding to take us to LAX. This flight continued onto OGG after our LAX stop. Back in 2009, I got a shot of N752AT at OGG.

I was unable to get photos of N590NW nor N582NW.

There were also several rarebirds that I saw at LAX, but unable to photograph: a former Air China 747-4J6 parked on one of the south ramps. It had the CCA cheatlines, but no logo nor titles. There were also a couple of 727-200 charter jets on the south side. An Aeromexico 737-700 with special markings in the aft section, that was ahead of us as we exited Taxiway H. The University of Washington Huskies Horizon Air Q400 logo-prop, and the United Airlines Friendship A320 were at Terminal 6. At the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), there was an Air Berlin and Aeroflot A330-300. Our two LAX layovers were very brief, under 60 minutes per stop (including the times to disembark, grab food, change gates, and board the next flight), and the windows in Terminals 5 and 6 aren't that photographer-friendly.

At EWR, there was an ElAl 777-200, and an Air India 777-200 at the middle section of Terminal B (see N761ND photo) that I was not able to get shots of.

Lion Orders 200+ A320 Series Airliners

Lion Airlines announced today, that they have signed an order for 234 Airbus A320 Series airliners. The order will comprise of 60 A320-200s, 109 A320neo, and 65 A321neo, with all of the airframes built with Sharklets. The first six A320-200s will be delivered in 2014. It has been mentioned that Lion will allocate some of this order to Batik Airlines (its full-service subsidiary), and Malindo Air (its Malaysian subsidiary), similar to its Boeing order.

Further details in this Airbus press release, this Jakarta Post article, and The Star (Malaysia) article,

Kahului Airport Road Upgrades

Here are two Hawaii State DoT pictures showing the new airport road. Work is already underway on part of it. Read more about the project in the Maui News HERE.

Malindo's 9M-LNF

Malindo Air is taking delivery of their first 737-9GPER with full titles. 9M-LNF (c/n 38687, l/n 4368) is making its delivery flight as MLO1, and will make its brief fuel stop at HNL. This is the 7,500th  737 (all models) built, and decals on both sides of the nose marks the milestone. There's also a Lion Group marking under the aft section of windows.

Sorry, we weren't able to get a photo of 9M-LNF at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got it at BFI.

Xiamen's B-5707

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5707 (c/n 38399, l/n 4375) today. The 737-85N is flying from BFI as CXA5707, and will overnight at HNL.

Sorry, we weren't able to get a photo of B-5707 at HNL.

Shandong's B-5726

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-5726 (c/n 38883, l/n 4372) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight as CDG5726, and will overnight at HNL.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of B-5726 at HNL.

Stranded In Paradise?

Hundreds of Allegiant Air passengers stranded at airport.

An article from the Honolulu Star*Advertiser.


Anyone know more?

Hainan's B-2960

B-2960 (c/n 24332, l/n 1866), a Hainan Airlines 737-4Q8, is making its way from HAK to GYR (via GUM, MAJ, HNL, and OAK). It's seen above on HNL's South Ramp from my seat in a Delta Air Lines 757-300, as we taxi to Runway 26L.

It was originally leased to Dan-Air London as G-BPNZ in May 1990, and continued on with British Airways in November 1992. It was leased to Hainan Airlines in July 1995 with the original blue livery, and is now returning from its lease.

China Southern's B-5719

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5719 (c/n 38940, l/n 4370) today. The 737-81B is flying out of BFI as CSN805, and will overnight at HNL. B-5719 is seen above on Taxiway C, shortly after arriving from BFI.

Weststar Aviation's 727-23

Weststar Aviation's 727-23 arrived this afternoon on 4R. VP-BDJ (c/n 20046, l/n 605) was previously owned by real estate mogul and "The Apprentice"'s Donald Trump.

20046 was originally delivered to American Airlines in July 1968 as N2914. In December 1981, it was acquired by Diamond Shamrock. In May 1982, it went to Harbor Land Co as N927DS. In April 1987, Donovan Enterprises acquired the 727-23 as N725DT, and became the Trump Shuttle in three years later, with an executive interior. Theberton was the next owner in May 1991 as VR-BSA. DJ Aerospace (Trump Enterprises) was the owner in April 1994. Weststar acquired VP-BDJ in May 2011.

Donald Trump replaced VP-BDJ with a 757-200.

VH-QQE

An Ex-Skytrans Regional DHC-8-102 is seen above after arriving from Carins International (YBCS/CNS) Australia, via Marshall Island International (PKMJ/MAJ), Majuro. VH-QQE (c/n 173) was previously wet-leased to Maroomba Airlines and currently wears a partial livery as it makes its way back to the US mainland.

This Dash 8 was originally delivered to America West Airlines back in September 1989 as N808AW. In May 1993, it found a new home with Allegheny Airlines (a U.S. Airways subsidiary) and re-registered as N821EX. In July 2004 it was allocated to Piedmont Airlines (another U.S. Airways subsidiary). Eight months later it was placed in storage until it was purchased by Queensland Regional Airlines in October 2006, registered as VH-QQE. Two months after the purchase, Queensland Regional Airlines merged with Skytrans Regional.

Hawaiian's 10th A330-243

Hawaiian recently took delivery of its tenth A330-243. N390HA (msn 1389) is the first of five A330s scheduled to be delivered in 2013. All of Hawaiians A330s are named after a constellation. The 10th was named "Nāmāhoe", or also known as Gemini.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

N941LF

N941LF (msn 461), another A320-233, owned by the Aviation Capital Group, LLC (ACG), is making its ferry flight to VCV, from KCH [Kuching International Airport, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia]. It made stops at GUM and HNL.

461 was originally purchased by ILFC, and leased to LACSA [LR/LRC] in February 1994 as N941LF. When LACSA was purchased by the Grupo TACA, it was painted it the group's livery. It then was leased to airTran Airways [FL/TRS] in November 2003, with the same N-number. The aircraft was operated by Ryan International Airlines crews. Aviation Capital Group purchased this A320, then leased it to Atlasjet [KK/KKK] in January 2005 as TC-OGL for four years. During that time is it was subleased to Saudi Arabian Airlines [SV/SVA] for a 15-month period. In April 2010, Batavia Air [Y6/BTV] was the next lessee, as PK-YUE, and now being returned to ACG.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of N941LF at HNL.

Air China's B-2612

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to July 2004, and the delivery flight of Air China's first 737-79L, B-2612 (c/n 33411, l/n 1538). It's seen above, parked on the Island Air ramp, when the airline did ground handling for some of the China-bound delivery flights. B-2612 continues to fly for Air China.

Also seen in the background, is a JALWays 747-246, exiting Runway 4R on Taxiway K.

February 2013 Deliveries

Here were the 14 737NGs were delivered in February 2013:
4327 | JA805X | 38035 | Solaseed Air | -86N [02.01.13 SNJ05X]
4328 | HS-DBK | 37774 | Nok Air | -86J [02.01.13 HSDBK]
4332 | PK-LKR | 38686 | Lion Airlines | -8GP [02.04.13 LNI1]
4339 | JA806X | 38036 | Solaseed Air | -86N [02.14.13 SNJ806X]
4340 | JA73NR | 39927 | Skymark Airlines | -8FH [02.14.13 SKY73NR]
4346 | 9M-MSA | 40143 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [02.19.13 MAS5473]
4350 | 9M-LNB | 38728 | Malindo Air (Lion Air) | -8GP [02.19.13 MLO1]
4347 | B-5717 | 38938 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [02.22.13 CSN101]
4357 | B-5708 | 38403 | Xiamen Airlines | -85C [02.26.13 CXA5708]
4351 | B-5725 | 39330 | Shandong Airlines | -85N [02.26.13 CDG5725]
4349 | B-5801 | 39303 | Shanghai Airlines | -76D [02.26.13 CSH501]
4355 | B-5712 | 39196 | Hainan Airlines | -84P [02.26.13 B5712]
4354 | B-5297 | 41092 | Air China | -79L [02.27.13 CCA51]
4359 | B-5718 | 38939 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [02.27.13 CSN5718]

-700: 2
-800: 12

China: 7
Japan: 3
Malaysia: 2
Indonesia: 1
Thailand: 1