China Southern's B-2920

China Southern Airlines is ferrying another 737-300 to the mainland for storage. B-2920 (c/n 27271, l/n 2523), a 737-3Q8, is making its ferry flight from CAN to TUS (via LAO, GUM, MAJ, HNL, and OAK), as CSN2002.

B-2920 was delivered to China Southern in September 1993, and spent its entire time there.

Virgin Australia's VH-YIZ

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-YIZ (c/n 40702, l/n 5061) today. The 737-8FE is making its delivery flight from BFI as VOZ9940, and will make their Hawai‘i overnight stop at LIH.

RAAF's KC-30A

Another piece of Royal Australian Air Force equipment has visited HNL for the second week in a row. A39-002 (c/n 951) arrived yesterday afternoon from Adelaide. It is a delightful treat to see this KC-30A MRTT parked out on the North hardstands instead of Hickam.

9 Air's B-1715

9 Air [AQ/JYH], the new subsidiary of China's Juneyao Airlines, is taking delivery of its first 737-800 today. B-1715 (c/n 39819, l/n 4968), a 737-8GP leased from Transportation Partners (Lion Group), is making its delivery flight from VCV, and will overnight at HNL. 9 Air's call-sign is "TransJade".

39819 was originally ordered by Lion Air as PK-LOU, but it was allocated to Transportation Partners by the Lion Group, and re-regesitered as N746DB. It was delivered to VCV on 18 July 2014 as a white tail, and orange winglets.

On a local note, the IATA two-letter airline code of AQ was previously held by Aloha Airlines, which closed in 2008.

Malaysia's 9M-MXW

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-8H6 in as many days with 9M-MXW (c/n 40160, l/n 5040) today. It is making its delivery flight from BFI as MAS5013, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern's B-5821

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5821 (c/n 39737, l/n 5050) this morning. The 737-79P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES299, and will overnight at HNL.

Malaysia's 9M-MXX

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MXX (c/n 40161, l/n 5052) today. The 737-8H6 is making its delivery flight from BFI as MAS5011, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan Adds Subsidiary

Hainan Airlines' parent company, the HNA Group, has helped launch Urumqi Airlines, in China's northwest region near Kazakhstan. Hainan Airlines has allocated two 737NGs to this new sister airline. It's not certain if the HNA group will allocate new build 737s to the Urumqi Airlines, or allocate more existing aircraft.

Further details in this CH-Aviation.com article.

Batik's PK-LBK

Batik Air is taking delivery of PK-LBK (c/n 39822, l/n 5048) today. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as BTK1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing on to MAJ.

RAAF Wedgetail

A pair of Royal Australian Air Force 737-7ES Wedgetails where seen today. A30-004 (c/n 33477, l/n 1885) arrived in the early afternoon.

Shenzhen's B-1973

The third of three 737-800 delivery flights this morning, is Shenzhen Airlines' B-1973 (c/n 37624, l/n 5053). The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ906, and will overnight at HNL.

Garuda's PK-GNK

Garuda Indonesia's PK-GNK (c/n 41798, l/n 5049) is the second to make an HNL stopover today. The 737-8U3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop before continuing onto to KSA.

China Southern's B-1979

HNL will have three 737-800 delivery flights stop through this morning. The first to arrive is China Southern Airlines' B-1979 (c/n 41252, l/n 5046). The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1979, and will overnight at HNL.

N900EM

N900EM (msn 14500976), an EMB-135BJ Legacy owned by EWM Investments LLC (Las Vegas, NV), made an overnight trip to HNL, and returned to LAS this morning. The Legacy is operated by Air by Jet Aircraft Charter.

B-8205

Business Aviation Asia's Falcon 7X, B-8205 (msn 209), is paying a visit to HNL. BAA is one of China's largest business jet charter companies, with a fleet of 24+ jets, including Airbus A318CJs. This Falcon 7X is the most colorful bird of their fleet, and is based in Tianjin.

China Eastern's B-1981

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1981 (c/n 41478, l/n 5041) this morning. The 737-89P, wearing the Skyteam logojet livery, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9003, and will overnight at HNL. B-1981 is the first China Eastern 737NG to be painted in the Skyteam livery, and note that there are China Eastern titles on the tail, below the Skyteam logo.

Xiamen Air Helps Create Subsidiary

Xiamen Air is a majority partner in creating Jiangxi Airlines, a local subisidiary for the Nanchang Province, and is expected to receive five 737NGs from Xiamen.

Further details in this Centre For Aviation article.

Toll Priority's ZK-JTQ

Aero Pacific Flightlines reports that Toll Priority is taking delivery of ZK-JTQ (c/n 24442, l/n 2371) through KOA via LGB today.

N50TC

Tracinda Corporation's [Beverly Hills, CA] 737-72T BBJ, N50TC (c/n 29024, l/n 131), has been at HNL for a few days.

Shanghai's B-1968

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1968 (c/n 39311, l/n 5039) this morning. The 737-86D is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH575, and will overnight at HNL.

C-FBXG

A former Uni Air [B7/UIA] Dash8-311Q, C-FBXG (msn 443), is ferrying from TPE to YYZ. It has made stops at SPN, MAJ, and HNL. The next scheduled stop will be CCR, then GRR.

This Q300 was originally delivered to Great China Airlines [GC/GCA] in November 1997 as B-15235. It was merged into the Uni Air fleet as GCA and Taiwan Airlines merged, all under the EVA Airways ownership, in July 1998. 

Shanghai's B-2842

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying B-2842 (c/n 27342, l/n 626) from SHA [Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai, China] to GYR, has made a stop at HNL (and SPN), and is flying as CSH2842. The 757-26D was delivered to Shanghai in August 1994, under lease from Aircastle.

Air China's B-1958

Air China is taking delivery of B-1958 (c/n 40042, l/n 5037) this morning. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL. This the 100th 737-800 delivery flight to stop through HNL this year!

Hawaiian To Launch OGG-SFO Service

Hawaiian Airlines announced today, that beginning November 20th, they will begin four-times-weekly A330-243 service between OGG and SFO. On December 17th, the route becomes daily service.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Qantas Fleet Change For HNL

Qantas Airways announced that they will be replacing their 767-338ERs with their A330s, beginning on September 14th. Their A330s serving HNL from SYD will be a mix between their -200 and -300 series, depending on passenger traffic demands. With either A330 variant, it will be a capacity increase from the 229 seats in their 767s. The airline is also looking to up its frequency from three weekly flights to four in December.

Further details in this Qantas Group press release.

Batik's PK-LBL

Continuing with their trend of late-night delivery flights, Batik Air is taking delivery of PK-LBL (c/n 39821, l/n 5026). The 737-8GP arrived at HNL in the early morning hours, and made its brief fuel stop, before continuing onto MAJ (above) as BTK1.

Mahalo to team member Lono68 for the above photo.

Hainan's B-1996

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1996 (c/n 39214, l/n 5027) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1996. It will overnight at HNL, then continue onto GUM.

Bradley Pacific Aviation Becomes Landmark Aviation

Landmark Aviation (Houston, TX), a global FBO and MRO group, announced that they have acquired Ross Aviation (Denver, CO), the parent company of Bradley Pacific Aviation, a Hawai‘i-based FBO subsidiary. At HNL, the signage fronting the Bradley Pacific Kapalulu Street facility has been covered with a temporary Landmark banner. Bradley Pacific has six FBO centers in Hawai‘i (HNL, ITO, KOA, OGG, LIH, and LNY).

The HNL Landmark facility was originally built as Hemmeter Aviation (1980-1990), which became Century Aviation (until 2003). Bradley Pacific Aviation took over the FBO facility, and it was acquired by Ross Aviation in 2007.

Further information in this Landmark Aviation press release.

Honolulu Star*Advertiser article on the closure of Century Aviation.

The Centre Partners web page on Ross Aviation acquiring Bradley Pacific.

SilkAir's 9V-MGE

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MGE (c/n 44221, l/n 5017) today. The 737-8SA is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at HNL.

‘Ohana Suspends Service Friday

‘Ohana by Hawaiian announced today, that they are suspending all flights for Friday, August 8th, due to Hurricane Iselle.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines travel advisory.

Hawai‘i Braces For Hurricanes Iselle And Julio

With two hurricanes approaching the Hawaiian Islands, the state is bracing for the effects of the cyclones. It appears that Hawai‘i Island and Maui will take the brunt of Hurricane Iselle, and possibly Julio as well. We are hoping and praying that both storms veer away from the islands or considerably weaken as they get closer.

For current storm information and tracking: the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

For our team members, and readers on Maui and Hawai‘i Island, stay safe and stay strong.

The State Department of Transportation announced that all state airports will remain open, as each facility has their own Emergency Operations Centers. Decisions to close will be made as the storm approaches. The Airports Division asks the traveling public to only come to the airport if you have a confirmed ticket.

Both Hawaiian Airlines and Island Air announced that they will be waiving all change fees for flights booked during the timeframe of the two hurricanes.

Locally, here are the travel advisories (with up-to-date flight information) for:
Hawaiian Airlines & ‘Ohana by Hawaiian; and Island Air.

As for domestic carriers, we have provided links to travel advisories for the following airlines:
US Airways; United Airlines; Alaska Airlines; Delta Air Lines; American Airlines; and Allegiant Airlines.

For now, WestJet Airlines is the only international carrier to issue a storm-related travel advisory.

Mokulele Airlines, as well as most international carriers, have not issued any advisories.


Hawaii News Now reports that there was an incident with US Airways and a passenger trying to re-book a flight due to the hurricane.

Island Air Storm Suspensions

Due to Hurricane Iselle, Island Air is suspending service to OGG and LNY from HNL this afternoon, and tomorrow. Service is scheduled to resume on Saturday.

Further information in this Island Air travel advisory.

Transportation Partners Pte

Transportation Partners Pte. (Singapore and Dublin, Ireland) is a company that is partly owned by the Lion Group, parent company of Lion Air (Indonesia), that is specializing in airliner leasing.

Two of Lion Air's 737-8GPs, N746DB (c/n 39819, l/n 4968) and N748DB (c/n 39820, l/n 5016, was PK-LOT) were allocated to Transportation Partners. N746DB is stored at VCV. Airliner World magazine reports on their Instagram post, that these 737-8GPs, along with a third, are bound for 9Air (an LCC owned by Juenyao Airlines [China]).

Shandong's B-1985

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1985 (c/n 41617, l/n 5015) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from NFI as CDG1985, and will overnight at HNL.

NOAA's N49RF

NOAA's G-IV hurricane hunter, N49RF, is at HNL with Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio approaching the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Adds "85th Anniversary" Decal

Hawaiian Airlines is adding an 85th Anniversary decal at the main entry door of its entire fleet. Pictured above, are two of Hawaiian's maintenance team applying one of the commemorative decals to one of their Boeing 717-200s.

Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.

Qantas' VH-XZM

Qantas Airways is taking delivery of VH-XZM "Coonawarra" (c/n 44574, l/n 5018) today. The 737-838 is making its delivery flight from BFI as QFA6024.

Air India Express' VT-AXA

Our August edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Air India Express' [IX/AXB] VT-AXA (c/n 30296, l/n 1674), as it made its delivery flight from BFI in February 2005. Of the 25 737-800s Air India Express received, the first four deliveries to stopped through HNL, while the remainder of the fleet switched to the Atlantic delivery routing. The winglet upstaging VT-AXA belongs to Chang An Airlines' B-5115.

30296 was originally purchased by Boullioun Aviation Services in February 2005, then leased to Air India Express. In April 2010, it was sold to Aircastle, then leased to Anadolu Jet [--/AJA] (Turkey) as TC-JHJ. In September 2013, it was leased to SunExpress [XQ/SXS] (Turkey), but still retained the Anadolu livery, as it operates for the latter, but registered as TC-SBF.