SilkAir's 9V-MGK

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MGK (c/n 44227, l/n 5422) today. The 737-8SA is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at KOA.

Air China's B-1764

The third of three 737-800 deliveries stopping off at HNL today, is Air China's B-1764 (c/n 41105, l/n 5424). The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

Garuda's PK-GNT

Garuda Indonesia's PK-GNT (c/n 41806, l/n 5427) is the second of three 737-800s delivering through  HNL 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 Southern's B-1781

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-800 in three days with B-1781 (c/n 43404, l/n 5426). The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN218, and will overnight at HNL. B-1781 leads off a trifecta of 737-800 deliveries stopping through HNL today.

Shenzhen's B-1759

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1759 (c/n 40826, l/n 5425) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ908, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-2880

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying another 757-26D to the US mainland. B-2880 (c/n 33961, l/n 1046) is making its ferry flight from PVG as CSH2880, with stops at SPN and HNL. It will eventually join the Delta Air Lines fleet as N821DX (f/n 6821).

B-2880 was originally delivered to Shanghai Airlines in July 2004.

China Southern's B-1780

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1780 (c/n 41610, l/n 5421) this morning. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN520, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Ruili Orders 60 737MAXs

Ruili Airlines has placed an order of 60 737MAXs. We can expect to see those deliveries stop through HNL, though no timeframe was given as to when the fist models will be delivered.

China Airlines To Go A350 In 2017

CH-Aviation reports that China Airlines will put their new A350-900 on their HNL service [CAL18] in the summer of 2017, to replace the current A330-300.

ABX Rudder Change

So I was able to catch the Aloha Tech Ops Crew installing a new rudder on N363CM (c/n 24853, l/n 319), an ABX Air 767-338F, at the United Airlines Hangar the other day. Pretty cool to watch!

Delta Fleet Changes At HNL

This winter, Delta Air Lines will replace both of their NRT-HNL [DAL296 and DAL578], and their KIX-HNL [DAL278] 747-400 flights with 767-300ERs, as reported by AirlineRoute.net. This will leave their ATL flight, DAL836, as the only Delta 747-400 flight out of HNL.

Google 767 at PHNL

Here are some shots of one of the Google 767-200s here at PHNL. Hope this works, I'm just starting to figure out this layout. This is the cleanest plane I have ever seen in my life ... Cheers

American To Switch To A321

According to AirlineRoute.net, American Airlines will switch its two of its three 757-200 flights between LAX and HNL to the A321-200ceo on August 18, 2015.

JAL8131

Japan Airlines is ferrying one of their 777-200s from HND to SBD, via HNL. JA8983 (c/n 27366, l/n 39) arrived this morning and will overnight before continuing on its way to storage.

QFA12 Diversion To HNL

Qantas Airways' VH-OQL "Phyllis Arnott" (msn 074) made a medical diversion at HNL early this morning. The A380-842, flying as QFA12, from LAX to SYD, landed at HNL around 01:00HST, and departed for SYD three hours later.

737 Delivery Flight Map

In May 2006, we published a map of the western Pacific region with 737 delivery flight routings. With more airlines ordering the 737, more routings have been established. We have re-done the map to reflect these new routes.

Like the original post, this map was sourced from Wikipedia, and routings added in with Illustrator and text with Photoshop.

HAL3 Returns To LAX

Various news sources are reporting the return to LAX of HAL3 bound for HNL. The A330-243, N395HA "‘A‘a" (msn 1496), left late due to a fuel leak and spill, then about one hour into the flight the crew made the decision to return to LAX. Earlier reports were incorrect about addional fuel being dumped to lower landing weight but the aircraft did circle to burn fuel.

Emergency crews were standing by as the plane made a safe, uneventful landing on Runway 25R. There were 300 passengers and crew aboard. The issue was repaired, and the flight left for HNL.

Coverage in this Star-Advertiser article, KTLA5 report, and Hawaii News Now report.

USMC MV-22 Accident At Bellows AFB

An MV-22 Osprey from the US Marine Corps' VMM-161 "Greyhawks", crashed at Bellows Air Force Station / Marine Corps Training Area Bellows in Waimānalo, around 11:00HST. There were 21 Marines and a Navy corpsman aboard; with one fatality and 12 injured, and the smoke plume can be seen from Kailua.

The MV-22s (three in total), and those aboard are from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, CA, here for training exercises.

Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to those aboard, and their families.

Initial reports in this Hawaii News Now article, and an article from CBS Los Angeles.

Garuda's PK-GNS

Garuda Indonesia's PK-GNS (c/n 41607, l/n 5385) wraps up this morning's 737-800 delivery flight grand slam. The 737-8U3 is making its delivery flight as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop before continuing on KSA.

Kunming's B-1507

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-1507 (c/n 42050, l/n 5407) this morning. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1507, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Shanghai's B-1742

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1742 (c/n 39316, l/n 5409) this morning. The 737-86D is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH578, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

China Southern's B-1776

Today, HNL will see a 737-800 delivery flight grand slam! Four Asia-bound 737-800s will arrive at HNL from BFI this morning. Leading off, is China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1776 (c/n 41609, l/n 5406) this morning. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight as CSN228, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto PNI.

Hawaiian's N378HA

Hawaiian Airlines is taking delivery of N378HA "Kaukamalama" (msn 1615) today. The A330-243, their 21st, is making its delivery flight from TLS to SEA as HAL9975.

Shandong's B-1508

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1508 (c/n 41624, l/n 5403) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1508, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern's B-1790

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1790 (c/n 41509, l/n 5405) today. The Yunnan Peacock-liveried 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES599, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Thai Lion's HS-LTS

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTR (c/n 39839, l/n 5404) today. The 737-9GPER is making its delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

HAL118 Diverted To OGG

A Hawaiian Airlines flight from HNL to KOA diverted to OGG after one of the two engines stopped functioning. HAL118, operated with N484HA "Oma‘o" (c/n 55129, l/n 5080), made an emergency landing, without incident, at OGG, though the malfunctioning engine was smoking when the 717-22A. The airport's ARFF crews extinguished the smoke with foam.

Hawaii News Now's article.

Another 737-200 For Trans Air?

According to the FAA website, Trans Air has another 737-200, N413JG (c/n 23148, l/n 1059), is listed as its owner as of February 2015. The 737-2Q8 was last listed with Weststar Aviation (Malaysia), with the US N-number. It's current whereabouts are unknown, or whether it will undergo freighter conversion.

23148 was originally ordered by ILFC, and leased to America West Airlines in October 1984 as N137AW. In July 1995, it was leased to Ladeco Airlines [UC/LCO/ (Chile) as CC-CYV. In April 2000, it was leased to WestJet Airlines as C-FLWJ. In March 2006, Weststar Aviation acquired this 737-2Q8, and had the interior converted to a VIP layout, and registered as N413JG.

N460KA

N460KA (c/n 27460, l/n 3021), a 737-33A, formerly with Air New Zealand is ferrying through JRF as it heads to TPA for freighter conversion. Now owned by Kahala Aviation, the former ZK-NGR, is flying from CHC to TPA, via PPG, JRF, and ONT.

27460 was originally ordered by AWAS, and leased to Air Malta [KM/AMC] in April 1998 as 9H-ADI. In May 2008, it was leased to Air New Zealand as ZK-NGR. AWAS sold the 737-33A to Kahala Aviation at the beginning of this month.

HAL24 Returns To OGG In Emergency

A Hawaiian Airlines 767-300ER flying as HAL24 [OGG-OAK], made an emergency return to OGG as a burning smell was noticed by crew and passengers. N583HA "‘A" (c/n 25531, l/n 453) landed without incident, and taxied off of Runway 2/20. All aboard evacuated via the inflatable slides on Taxiway A, as OGG ARFF crews stood by.

Passengers are being put aboard a replacement flight, HAL1024, that will leave OGG tonight. N393HA "Lehuakona" (msn 1422) will make the flight to OAK, after being ferried from HNL as HAL8024.

Further details in this Hawaii News Now article.

Aloha's N824AL

Our May edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to August 1999, with Aloha Airlines' N824AL "Kalaniopu‘u" (c/n 23045, l/n 978). The 737-282, seen above at Gate 49, wearing a special lei decal to commemorate the 1999 Aloha Festivals. In Hawai‘i, May 1st is known as Lei Day.

23045 was origianlly delivered to TAP - Air Portugal [TP/TAP] in July 1983 as CS-TEO. From April 1985 to October 1985, it was leased to Air Atlantis [EJ/AIA] (Portugal). Aloha Airlines acquired 23045 in March 1998. When the airline shut down operations in March 2008, it was placed into storage at MHV, and has been there since.