Island Air To End LIH Service

As part of a cost-cutting move, Island Air announced that they will end service to LIH on June 1st. Service to OGG will be adjusted as well. Reports also say that 70 employees will be laid-off, and the plan to re-introduce the Q400 have been shelved.

Further information in this Island Air press release, and Hawaii News Now article.

Hainan's B-1797

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1797 (c/n 41570, l/n 5382) today. The 737-84P, their second this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1797, and will overnight at HNL.

Project Orbis' N220AU

The Project Orbis Flying Eye Hospital DC-10-10, N220AU (c/n 46501, l/n 2) has made a stop at HNL while making its way from Texas, for a medical mission in Vietnam. Pictured above is N220AU in Orbis' 2014 livery.

This DC-10-10 was the second off of the McDonnell-Douglas assembly line, and was built in December 1970 as N101AA. It was re-registered as N10DC, and became the sales demonstrator in December 1972. In June 1977, it was delivered to Laker Airways [GK/LKR] (United Kingdom) as G-BELO "Southern Belle". In February 1983, it was acquired by American Trans Air [TZ/ATA] as N183AT "City of Indianapolis". Three years later, it went to the UK to fly for Cal Air International [EN/CAI] as G-GCAL. In December 1988, it went to Novair [EN/NGK], Cal Air's successor. In November 1991, it went to Project Orbis to become their newer, larger flying eye surgery center.

Shandong's B-1506

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1506 (c/n 41623, l/n 5376) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1506, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern's B-1773

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1773 (c/n 41504, l/n 5378) today. The 737-89P, their second delivery within the past six days, is making its delivery flight as CES299, and will overnight at HNL.

Air China's B-1763

Air China is taking delivery of B-1763 (c/n 41104, l/n 5381) this morning. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA74, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Batik's PK-LDF

Baitk Air is taking delivery of PK-LDF (c/n 38309, l/n 5375), in an overnight delivery flight. The 737-8GP is making the flight from BFI as BTK1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto KUL, non-stop.

Mokulele Caravan Engine Failure

Hawaii News Now reports that a Mokulele Airlines C208B Grand Caravan, N835MA (msn 208B2335) suffered an engine failure shortly after departing OGG for KOA as MW1741. Thankfully the C208B made it back to OGG without incident and no injuries.

This is the second Grand Caravan engine failure for Mokulele on Maui within two years.

China Eastern's B-1789

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1789 (c/n 41472,  l/n 5365) this morning. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES299, and will overnight at HNL.

Ruili's B-5830

Ruili Airlines [DR/RLH] (China) is taking delivery of B-5830 (c/n 60461, l/n 5343) today. The 737-7ME is making its delivery flight from BFI as B5830, and will overnight at HNL.

Shenzhen's B-1758

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1758 (c/n 40825, l/n 5363) this morning. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ416, and will overnight at HNL.

VQ-BTF

VQ-BTF (c/n 24923, l/n 332), a privately-owned 757-23A, has made a stop at HNL. It's currently registered to the Aquis Group and investor Tony Fung in Barbados.

24923 was originally purchased by AWAS, and due for delivery to Kenya Airways as 5Y-BHF, but was not taken up. In May 1991, it was then sold to Freeport-McMoRan, a Phoenix-based metals and mining company, as N680EM, then later N680FM. In April 1999, it was sold to Vulcan Northwest Inc., which is part of Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc. Four months later, it was re-registered as N756AF. This 757-23A was also the team charter for the Seattle Seahawks football team, as Paul Allen is the team's owner. In August 2007, it was sold to Google, Inc., and became N1757. And, in July 2014, it was acquired by the Aquis Group.

N12842 Accident At ITO

N12842 (msn 17262306), a Cessna 172M owned by Barlow Aviation LLC (Honolulu), crashed seconds after departing Hilo's Runway 21. There were three passengers on board, all sustained injuries, two of the three are in critical condition, and were flown to Honolulu for treatment.

Our thoughts and prayers go out the three passengers for healing and recovery.

Coverage by KITV4 News.

Shanghai's B-2843

Shanghai Airlines is returning B-2843 (c/n 27681, l/n 684) to its lessor, Aircastle. The 757-26D is making its ferry flight from SHA to GYR (via SPN and HNL) as CSH2843, and arrived at HNL early this morning, and will depart late tonight.

Hainan's B-1798

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1798 (c/n 43403, l/n 5359) today. The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1798, and will overnight at HNL, then continue onto GUM.

AirAsia X's Initial HNL Routing

According to an article by AirwaysNews, AirAsia X's foray into the Hawai‘i market from Malaysia has an added move, a stop at KIX, between KUL and HNL. The stop would allow for fuel and additional passengers at KIX, and add another airline serving that part of the route.

Seahawks Charter To OGG

The Seattle Seahawks football team chartered an Alaska Airlines 737-890 to Kahului, Maui today, as the team will conduct off-season workouts at the Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus. The "Adventure of Disneyland Resort" liveried N570AS (c/n 35185, l/n 2212) brought the 2014-15 NFC Champions to OGG as ASA9661.

Photos from the Seahawks' team website, and their Instagram account.

SilkAir's 9V-MGJ

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MGJ (c/n 44226, l/n 5355) today. The 737-8SA is making its delivery flight as SLK8880, and will overnight at KOA, then continue onto GUM.

Shanghai's B-5827

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-5827 (c/n 39315, l/n 5356) today. The 737-76D is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH585, and will overnight at HNL, then continue onto MAJ.

China United's B-1523

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1523 (c/n 37942, l/n 5349) this morning. The 737-89P, allocated by China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA523, and will overnight at HNL. CUA523 will continue onto ROP [Rota, Northern Mariana Islands] instead of MAJ or PNI.

Mahalo to team member Lono68 for the photo.

American And US Airways Under SOC

Beginning today, American Airlines and US Airways are now under a Single Operating Certificate (SOC). With this SOC, the US Airways IATA Code (US), ICAO Code (AWE), and callsign ("Cactus") will be retired, and the American code will take over.

Here are the changes to the former US Airways Hawai‘i flights to American flight codes:
HNL-PHX: AWE675 is AAL695; AWE693 is AAL693
PHX-HNL: AWE692 is AAL692; AWE694 is AAL694
OGG-PHX: AWE638 is AAL638; AWE645 is AAL645
PHX-OGG: AWE432 is AAL432; AWE633 is AAL633
LIH-PHX: AWE697 is AAL697
PHX-LIH: AWE684 is AAL684
KOA-PHX: AWE661 is AAL661
PHX-KOA: AWE663 is AAL663

Ticket counters and reservations systems will remain separate until later this year, when they will be integrated.

Further information in this American Airlines press release and World Airline News article.

Virgin America Announces Hawai‘i Flights

Virgin America [VX/VRD] announced today that they will begin daily flights between SFO and HNL on 02 November 2015, and daily flights between SFO and OGG on 03 December 2015. The airline will use new Sharklet-equipped A320s for the Hawai‘i routes, and is in the process of obtaining their ETOPS certification. With this new service, Virgin America will compete against Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. 

Further information in this Virgin America press release.

Virgin America will become the first US carrier to attempt A320 ETOPS service between the west coast and Hawai‘i. CrankyFlyer offers their analysis of why Virgin America can succeed with A320 ETOPS operations.

Polet Flight's AOC Canceled

ATWOnline.com reports that the Russian government has canceled the Air Operator's Certificate for Polet Flight [YQ/POT] due to financial troubles. The airline used to fly military charter flights in behalf of the US Department of Defense. Its fleet has been put into storage for the time being.

Polet Flight did have some of these military cargo flights stop through HNL, NGF, and JRF. Pictured above is RA-82077 "Fedor Muravchenko" (c/n 9773054459151, l/n 07-09) departing from Runway 8R in 2013.

N222CQ

N222CQ (c/n 30231, l/n 515), a 737-86N, owned by International Aviation and Capital Management, LLC, is being ferried from SHA [Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai, China] to VCV (via GUM and HNL).

30231 was originally ordered by GECAS, and leased to Pegasus Airlines [PC/PGC] (Turkey) in in April 2000, as TC-APL. In December 2003, it then leased to China Xinhua Airlines (Hainan Air Group - HNA Group) [XW/CXH] as B-5081. While with CXH, it wore both the original HNA Group and 2007 liveries.

French Air Force's F-RAJB

An A340-212 of the Armée De L'Air arrived this afternoon from YVR for a fuel stop. F-RAJB (c/n 081)[above] and sister-ship F-RAJA often utilizes Gate 34 instead of parking at Hickam when in Honolulu.

Makani Kai's N129CG

Makani Kai Air has acquired N129CG (msn 208B1290) from AmeriWing II, LLC (Miami, FL), which was flying on behalf of Bimini Bay, since 2007.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-76511

A lesser seen piece of Russian metal was in town today. A Volga-Dnepr Il-76TD-90VD arrived the previous night from Nandi International, Fiji (NAN/NFFN) and departed to Dallas Forth (KDFW) this afternoon as VDA6133. A search of RA-76511's (c/n 2123422752, l/n 94-08) recent flight history shows that it has been flying between Shanghai (PVG/ZSPD), Guam (GUM/PGUM), and Carins (CNS/YBCS) for the past week before heading to Texas.

LX-MCE

Global Jet Luxembourg's [SVW] A319-115 ACJ, LX-MCE (msn 2592) has made a stop at HNL arriving from NRT. This ACJ is part of Global Jet Luxembourg's fleet of VIP-configured airliners.

2592 was originally delivered to Comlux Aviation [CLA] (Switzerland) as an ACJ in June 2006 as HB-IPO. In January 2007, Comlux leased it to the Government of Кazakhstan as UN-A1901 as a presidential transport, and was operated by the Berkut State Air Company [BEC] (Kazakhstan). It was returned to Comlux 18 months later (June 2008), then sold to Air Luther AG, and leased back. Three months later, it was transferred to Comlux Malta as 9H-AFK. In July 2012, Comlux Malta purchased the ACJ from Air Luther AG, and re-registered it as 9H-MCE. In December 2014, it was sold to Global Jet Luxembourg.

This is the third time this ACJ has stopped in Hawai‘i since this site's inception. Its previous two stops were in August 2008, as HB-IPO, it stopped at OGG; and, in July 2010, as 9H-AFK, it stopped at HNL.


04.04.15 Update
LX-MCE departed HNL for ITO, then returned to HNL a couple hours later.


04.10.15 Update
This ACJ remains parked at the same location.


04.11.15 Update
LX-MCE departed for HND this afternoon.

Lufthansa Cargo's D-ALCE

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to July 2004, with Lufthansa Cargo's [LH/GEC] MD-11F, D-ALCE "Marhaba Turkey" (c/n 48785, l/n 629), departing from Runway 8R for AKL. It was a code-share with Air New Zealand to fly cargo from Europe to New Zealand, with US stops at ORD and HNL.

D-ALCE was delivered to Lufthansa Cargo in October 1998, and remains with the German cargo carrier today in the standard livery. The above WOW special livery was worn from 2003 to 2008, and was the only GEC MD-11F to wear it. Other MD-11Fs had a small WOW decal applied near the aft passenger doors.

Thai Lion's HS-LTR

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTR (c/n 39837, l/n 5347) today. The 737-9GPER is making a daytime delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL before continuing onto DVO and DMK.