Batik's PK-LBV

Batik Air is taking delivery of their second 737-8GP in the past seven days with PK-LBV (c/n 39831, l/n 5255). It's making its usual overnight delivery flight from BFI as BTK1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

OK Air's B-1739

The third of the three China-bound 737NG deliveries today is, Okay Airways' B-1739 (c/n 41114, l/n 5223). The 737-9KFER is making its delivery flight from BFI as OKA1739, and will overnight at HNL, then continue onto MAJ tomorrow.

Though Shenzhen Airlines has the 737-900, Okay Airways is the first Chinese carrier to receive the 737-900ER variant.

On a personal note, I saw this B-1739 at BFI during my trip to Seattle, while driving from SEA to downtown, and the day we went to the Museum of Flight, but was unable to get photos on both occasions.

Shanghai's B-1740

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1740 (c/n 39312, l/n 5256) today, and is the second of three 737NG deliveries stopping through HNL today. The 737-86D is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH576, and will overnight at HNL, then continue onto PNI tomorrow.

Shandong's B-1743

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1743 (c/n 41620, l/n 5256) today. The 737-85N, their second delivery in nine days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1743, and will overnight at HNL, then continue onto PNI tomorrow. This is the first of three 737NG delivery flights bound for China that is stopping through HNL today.

N381AG

N381AG (c/n 38101, l/n 3803), a 737-8HX, is being ferried from HND to VCV, via GUM, and will stop off at HNL. It was delivered to Skymark Airlines [BC/SKY] (Japan) in October 2011 as JA73NH, under lease from the Aviation Capital Group (ACG). It appears that Skymark is returning this 737 to ACG.

On a related note, ZipanguFlyer reports that Skymark will file for bankruptcy protection with the Japanese courts, as the airline deals with financial issues. It's not known if this lease return has to do with the upcoming bankruptcy filing.

Donghai's B-1770

Donghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1770 (c/n 41802, l/n 5228) today. The 737-8Q8, leased from ILFC, is making its delivery flight from BFI as EPA282, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Garuda's PK-GNP

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GNP (c/n 41605, 5245) today. The 737-8U3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto TKK.

China Eastern's B-1772

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1772 (c/n 41470, l/n 5244) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9003, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-1736

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1736 (c/n 41326, l/n 5247) today. The 737-81B, their second in eight days, is making its delivery flight as CSN736, and will overnight at HNL.

N984AN

N984AN (c/n 24357, l/n 262), a 767-383ER, has stopped off at JRF. It's making its ferry flight from HKT [Phuket International Airport, Phuket, Thailand] (via SPN) to the mainland, and arrived at JRF on Friday, January 23rd, and is owned by Sky Holding Company.

24357 was originally delivered to SAS Scandinavian Airlines [SK/SAS] in April 1989 as LN-RCB "Astrid Viking". It was leased to Air Europe [PE/AEL] (Italy) from December 1991 to October 1993 as I-AEJC. In August 1994, it was acquired by PAFCO, and leased to Avianca [AV/AVA] (Colombia) as N984AN, and remained with Avianca until June 2011. It was sold to Sky Holding Company, and leased to Business Air [8B/BCC] (Thailand) in January 2013 as HS-BIG, until it was returned last October.

Mahalo to team member Bargeld01 for spotting this airliner.


01.28.15 Update
N984AN departed JRF for SAT at 23:48HST,

Hainan's B-1785

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-84P in five days with B-1785 (c/n 41378, l/n 5243). Its making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1785, and will overnight at HNL.

Batik's PK-LBU

Batik Air is taking delivery of PK-LBU (c/n 38308, l/n 5225) in a late night delivery flight from BFI as BTK1. The 737-8GP will make a brief early morning fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Thai Lion's HS-LTQ

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTQ (c/n 39832, l/n 5242) this afternoon. The 737-9GPER is making its delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPQ Returns

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPQ "Main Beach" (msn 19000412) is returning to Australia after maintenance work done to it at BNA. It's stopping over at HNL after arriving from a stop at VNY, and will continue onto APW and BNE tomorrow.

VH-ZPQ stopped through HNL three weeks ago as it made its way to BNA.

Air China's B-1760

Today, Air China is taking delivery of their second 737-89L within the past eight days. B-1760 (c/n 41101, l/n 5240) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

ANA To Add Second NRT Flight

Beginning 29 March 2015, All Nippon Airways will add a second daily NRT-HNL flight, with ANA184/183, using their 767-381ERs.

Further information in this AirlineRoute.net article.

JAL 767s To Return To HNL

Japan Airlines announced that two NRT-HNL flights (JAL784/783 and JAL786/785) will go back to 767-346ER service. Several months ago, the airline switched these flights to their 787-8s, but effective 29 March 2015, the airline will switch back to the 767-346ERs. The JAL 767-346ERs have been fitted with their new Sky Suite Business Class seating.

Japan Airlines' third NRT-HNL flight, JAL782/781, will continue using 777-246ERs.

Further details in this Japan Airlines press release.

Shenzhen's B-1755

Shenzhen Airlines' B-1755 (c/n 40822, l/n 5236) is the third of three 737-800 deliveries stopping through HNL today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ121, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong's B-1745

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1745 (c/n 41621, l/n 5239) today. The 737-85N, the second  of three deliveries today, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1745, and will overnight at HNL.

Photo of B-1745 at BFI by team member Drewski2112.

Xiamen's B-1749

Xiamen Air's B-1749 (c/n 39909, l/n 5234) leads off today's trio of China-bound 737-800 delivery flights. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight as CXA1749, and will overnight at HNL.

Reignwood Aviation's C208

Bound for China, this amphibious Caravan 208 arrived in HNL on the 12th of this month. N338RT (s/n 20800535) sits tucked away on the South ramp after arriving from Moundridge Municipal (47K), Kansas via Grand Canyon airport (KGCN/GCN), Arizona to Santa Maria (KSMX/SMX), California to Daugherty Field (KLGB/LGB), California to Santa Maria once again, before its 14 hour flight to Hilo. Reignwood Aviation recently ordered 10 amphibious Caravan EXs for use in Southern China for tourism. N338RT, a non-EX Caravan will probably be heading west for the same mission.

Hainan's B-1783

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1783 (c/n 39219, l/n 5233) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1783, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-1737

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1737 (c/n 41606, l/n 5232) today. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH137, and will overnight at HNL.

Allegiant Pilots Authorize Strike

World Airline News reports that the pilots union of Allegiant Air have voted to authorize a strike, but no strike is currently on the horizon. It may be weeks before any work stoppage is taken. Allegiant currently has one daily flight between LAX and HNL, and another daily flight between LAS and HNL.

Delta To Resume 747-400 ATL-HNL Service

Beginning in May, Delta Air Lines will replace their A330-300s with 747-400s on their ATL-HNL service, DAL837/836. That will mean a gain of 83 seats, as the Delta A330-300s has 293 seats, while their 747-400s have 376.

Air China's B-1767

Air China's B-1767 (c/n 41109, l/n 5230), a 737-89L, is the first 737NG delivery flight to stop off at HNL for 2015. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

Photo of B-1767 at BFI by team member Drewski2112.

Shanghai's B-2857

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying one of their 757-26Ds to VCV. B-2857 (c/n 33959, l/n 1044) is making its ferry flight from PVG as CSH2857, and arrived at HNL from SPN, before 02:00L this morning. Boeing Capital acquired it, and will lease it to Delta Air Lines as N819DX (f/n 6819).

B-2857 was delivered to Shanghai Airlines in May 2004.

Alaska ANG Raptor Incident

An Alaska Air National Guard F-22A Raptor here in Hawai‘i for the Sentry Aloha training exercise, had an incident when landing on Runway 8L. The left main brake had overheated and caught on fire. Emergency vehicles arrived shortly after and doused the Raptor in fire suppressive foam. The runway remained closed for the majority of the day as maintenance crews used airbags to fit a new tire onto the aircraft.

N848TM

N848TM (c/n 32596, l/n 1028), a 737-76N owned by GECAS, is ferrying through HNL from CAN (via GUM), as it makes its way to PAE. It's bound to be leased to Southwest Airlines.

32596 was originally leased to China Xinjiang Airlines in December 2001 as B-2699. When China Southern Airlines acquired China Xinjiang, B-2699 was transferred over.

Bill Boeing Jr Passes Away

The HNL RareBirds team expresses its condolences to the Boeing ‘Ohana on the passing of William "Bill" Boeing, Jr. The son of Boeing Aircraft founder William Boeing Sr, passed away yesterday at the age of 92. Bill Boeing Jr was instrumental in preserving the Red Barn, where his father began building airplanes, as well as help starting the Museum of Flight in Renton, WA.

Article links from The Seattle Times, Boeing Media Room, and the Museum of Flight.

Weststar Aviation's VP-BDJ

Weststar Aviation Services 727-23 (c/n 20046, l/n 605), formerly belonging to Donald Trump found its way back to Honolulu this morning. VP-BDJ was previously captured here back in early 2013 and still retains the basic livery of its previous owner.

Hawaiian Files Bid For KOA-HND Service.

Hawaiian Airlines has filed an application with the US Department of Transportation for daily A330-243 service between KOA and HND. The airline applied for the additional HND slot after Delta Air Lines downgraded their HND service from SEA to seasonal, and was put under scrutiny by the US DoT.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

HNL RareBirds At SEA

My wife and I took a Christmas trip up to Seattle, and flew its hometown airline, Alaska Airlines. Here were the photos I managed to take at both HNL and SEA.

N590AS (c/n 35687, l/n 2478, f/n 590) was the 737-890 we rode on to SEA, as ASA860, seen above at Gate 14 prior to departure. It was recently outfitted with the Split-Scimitar Winglets.

While waiting for our coffees, Japan Airlines' JA616J (c/n 35813, l/n 954) taxied in to Gate 24 as JAL786. This flight is normally operated by 787-8s.

The North half of Sea-Tac International Airport is dominated by Alaska Airlines. The North Terminal (above) five Alaska 737s, including N793AS (c/n 28888, l/n 2990, f/n 793), a 737-490 and N586AS (c/n 35189, l/n 2393, f/n 586), a 737-890.

At Gate C9, was N585AS (c/n 35683, l/n 2385, f/n 585), another 737-890.

N407AS (c/n 41731, 4278, f/n 407), a Split-Scimitar Winglet equipped 737-990ER being pushed out from Gate C17.

We were blessed to get a photo of N706AS (c/n 28894, l/n 3050, f/n 706), Alaska's Disneyland / Make-A-Wish 737-490 logo jet, seen parked at Gate D2.

N315AS (c/n 30019, l/n 1218, f/n 315), a 737-990 is seen above parked at Gate D1.

This 737-890, N531AS (c/n 35199, l/n 3287), was our ride back home to HNL. Surprisingly, we landed on Runway 8L just before midnight, when most arrivals after 20:00HST land on Runway 4R.

Asia Pacific To Add A 757F

Asia Pacific Airlines will add its first 757-29JF, N757QM (c/n 27203, l/n 588) by May of this year. It was purchased from Aircastle, and is currently undergoing freighter conversion. No word was given as to how many more 757-200Fs the Guam-based cargo carrier will get, nor how long their 727-200Fs (above) will remain in their fleet.

Further details in this CH-Aviation article.

Allegiant Devalues 757 Fleet

Allegiant Airlines is looking at retiring its 757-200 fleet before 2021, as it has wrote down the value of the six airliners in their fleet. It also cites declining demand from the west coast secondary markets it began service with, and now down to daily service to LAX and LAS from HNL. Some of the 757s have been re-assigned to other Allegiant routes.

Further details in this CH-Aviation article.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPQ

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-ZPQ "Main Beach" (msn 19000412), an ERJ-190AR, from BNE to BNA (via APW, HNL and VNY) as VOZ9901. It's making an overnight stop tonight at HNL.

Mahalo to team member AndrewC for the photo.

Northwest's N674US

Our first "HNL RareBirds Classic" of 2015 is Northwest Airlines' 747-451, N674US "City of Shanghai" (c/n 30269, l/n 1232, f/n 6314), seen above at HNL's Gate 12 in early 2005.

N674US was delivered to Northwest in October 1999, leased from debis Air Finance. In 2005, it was sold to AerCo. In mid-2006, N674US was painted in the mica-based, final Northwest livery. When Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines merged, N674US was transferred to the Delta fleet. It was painted in Delta colors in April 2009, temporarily stored in July 2011, and returned to service in June 2012.

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a blessed and prosperous Happy New Year!