Atlas Air's N1361A

Atlas Air is ferrying N1361A (c/n 26265, l/n 570), a 767-31BER, from IWA to QPG as GTI9601, with stops at HNL and GUM. It's bound for freighter conversion, then reassignment to Amazon Prime Air.

26265 was originally purchased by ILFC, then leased to Asiana Airlines in March 1995 as HL7249. In September 2002, it was leased to Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARB "Aida", then sub-leased to Southern Winds. In October 2003, it was leased to LAN Chile as CC-CEN. The airline re-branded as LAN Airlines in October 2004. It was then sub-leased to LAN Argentina from July 2006 to March 2008 as LV-BFD. When it returned to LAN Airlines, it was re-registered as CC-CXL. Blended Winglets were added in May 2011. In May 2014, it was sold to AerCap, and remained with LAN Airlines. In May 2016, LAN merged with Brazil's TAM to form LATAM Airlines, and CC-CXL was transferred to the Chilean subsidiary. In June 2016, it was withdrawn from service, and leased to Atlas Air as N639GT, and stored at GYR.

Xiamen Air's B-7826

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7826 (c/n 42939, l/n 6338) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8099, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong Airlines' B-7806

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7806 (c/n 60161, l/n 6332) this morning. The 737-85N, their second delivery within the past five days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG7806, and will overnight at HNL.

Thai Lion Air's HS-LTZ

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTZ (c/n 43188, l/n 6333) today. The 737-9GPER is makings delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

Conair's C-GVFK Returns

After another Summer Fire Season in Australia, Conair's C-GVFK (s/n E2268, l/n 391) is flying back to home base Abbotsford (CYXX/YXX) in Canada. The RJ-85 flew in from it's Summer base of Avalon (YMAV/AVV), in Victoria, Australia via Brisbane (YBBN/BNE),  Honiara International (AGGH/HIR, former Henderson Field) in the Solomon Islands, and Marshall Islands International (PKMJ/MAJ) before landing last night in Honolulu. 

Delta's N708DN

Delta's flight 41 from Los Angeles to Sydney diverted into Honolulu this morning due to a mechanical issue.  N708DN (c/n 39254 l/n 789), a 777-232LR could not continue onto Sydney and will remain in Honolulu.

It continued onto Sydney later in the evening as flight 41A.

Hainan Airlines' B-7378

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-7378 (c/n 60701, l/n 6329) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH8378, and will overnight at HNL.

Korean Air Ends 747-400 Flights To HNL

Today, Korean Air has ended their 747-400 flights to HNL from ICN [KAL53/54]. HL7460 (c/n 26404, l/n 1107), a 747-4B5, made the final flight from and to ICN. Korean Air's new 747-8Is will replace the older -400 models.

Shandong Airlines' B-7805

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7805 (c/n 43896, l/n 5325) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG7805, and will overnight at HNL.

KOA Begins Terminal Modernization

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) broke ground today on the first phase of terminal modernization at the Elison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole [KOA]. The $75 million project will streamline operations, and enhance passenger experience. 

 Further details in this HDOT news release.

Boeing's N7874 Returns To KOA

Boeing's test 787-8, N7874 (c/n 40693, l/n 4), has returned to KOA from BFI today as BOE784 to continue further test flights south of Hawai‘i Island.

China Southern Airlines' B-2052

China Southern Airlines is ferrying B-2052 (c/n 27358, l/n 24) from CAN to GWO via HNL. The 777-21B is making its ferry flight as CSN8653, and will overnight at HNL. It was delivered to China Southern in February 1996, and withdrawn from service on March 6th.

Virgin America Brand To Disappear In 2019

Alaska Airlines announced today, that the Virgin America brand will be going away at an undetermined date in 2019. Elements of Virgin America's in-flight service will be retained, and incorporated into the Alaska Airlines in-flight service and experience.

Further details in this Alaska Airlines press release.

Hawaiian Airlines To Relocate At LAX

In May 2017, there will be a major shift of airlines operations at LA, with Delta Air Lines' moving from LAX's Terminals 5 and 6, to Terminals 2 and 3. As part of this undertaking, Hawaiian Airlines will move their operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5, which they will share with JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and American Airlines.

During the transition period, and the weeks following, departing passengers are advised to check-in online, print their own boarding passes, and check terminal and gate information prior to arriving at LAX.

Further details in this LAWA.org news page, and the LAX relocation website.

Myanmar National Airlines' XY-ALG

Myanmar National Airlines is taking delivery of XY-ALG (c/n 43422, l/n 6316) today. The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as UBA737, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan Airlines' B-5060

Hainan Airlines is returning B-5060 (c/n 28582, l/n 154), a 737-76N, to GECAS. It's making its ferry flight from HAK (with stops at GUM and HNL) to GWO as CHH5060, and arrived here earlier this morning. Sadly, it's destined to be parted out, then scrapped at GWO.

28582 was originally leased by GECAS to VARIG in December 1998 as PP-VQB. In January 2003, it was leased to Hainan's subsidiary, Shan Xi Airlines as B-5060. In August 2006, it was transferred to its Lucky Air subsidiary. In June 2012, B-5060 was transferred to Hainan Airlines.

Mitsubishi's JA23MJ

JA23MJ (msn 10003), a Mitsubishi MRJ90 test jet, has stopped off at HNL, as it ferries to MWH for testing and certification.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1422

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1422 (c/m 41496, l/n 6313) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9002, and will overnight at HNL.

Hawaiian Airlines Adds KOA-LIH Service

This morning, Hawaiian Airlines launched service between KOA and LIH, complete with hula performers and a Hawaiian blessing prior to boarding of HAL599. The return leg, HAL500, is flown in the afternoon. The route pairing of Kona and Līhu‘e is the longest in the airline's inter-island network, at 263 miles, and a 58-minute flight time. N488HA "Puai‘ohi" (c/n 55001, l/n 5002, f/n 88), was the 717-26R to make the inaugural flight.

Makani Kai Air's N865MA Crashes At LUP

Makani Kai Air's C208B Grand Caravan N865MA (msn 208B0996) was involved in a hard landing at LUP this morning. Thankfully, none of the nine passengers nor pilot were injured. N865MA suffered damage to both wings, collapsed nose gear, and propellor, and appears to be not flyable. Reports also say that there was a Cessna 172, N243SP (msn 172S8212), owned by Sky Dolphin [Honolulu, HI], that allegedly cleared the runway, but did not, which could classify this as a runway incursion. Later reports say that the C172 was in the turn-around, and the C208 pilot over-reacted, and their actions caused the accident.

Further information in this KHON2 News report.

Hawaiian Airlines' N495HA

Hawaiian Airlines has taken delivery of N495HA "‘Akiapola‘au" (c/n 55185, l/n 5145, f/n 95) today. It arrived today from OAK as HAL8983, in full Hawaiian Airlines livery, leased from Boeing Capital.

55185 was originally delivered to Midwest Airlines [YX/MEP] in July 2005 as N923ME, leased from Boeing Capital. In April 2010, it was leased to MexicanaClick [QA/CBE] as N923ME. In December 2011, it was leased to Volotea [V7/VOE] (Spain) as EC-LPM, until October 2016.

Hawaiian Airlines Adds A321neo Simulator

Hawaiian Airlines has added an Airbus A321neo full flight simulator at its Honolulu flight simulator facility. The airline will be taking delivery of the first A321neos in early 2018.

This new simulator, along with its A330 counterpart, are the only two full flight simulators in the islands.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Virgin America To Begin SFO-KOA

Alaska Airlines announced they are launching seven new route pairings based out the Bay Area with their Virgin America arm; one of the new routes will be daily service between SFO and KOA, that will launch on December 14th.  Alaska also announced six other new Bay Area route pairings on the mainland with their E175s.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' RA-82046 Returns

Volga-Dnepr's RA-82046 returned to HNL, as it makes it way back to the mainland to return the AH-64E Apaches that they transported to the Avalon Airshow. It's flying as VDA2066, and will continue to IWA.

China Eastern Airlines' N7857B

N7857B (c/n 29358, l/n 1651), a former China Eastern Airlines 737-79P (leased from AerCap), is making its ferry flight from KMG to PAE, via GUM and HNL. It will be repainted, reconfigured, and leased to Southwest Airlines. I saw it lining up for a Runway 26R departure from the H1 East freeway, in the peacock livery.

29358 was delivered to China Eastern in February 2005 as B-5094. It had Blended Winglets installed in 2011. In May 2014, it was acquired by AerCap, and the lease with CES continued. In January 2015, B-5094 was painted in the orange Yunnan Peacock livery, along with the new CES rebranded logo.

Aloha ‘Oe KBay P-3C Orions

The last three Lockheed P-3C Orions of VP-9 departed Marine Corps Air Station Kāne‘ohe Bay for the last time, as the unit will upgrade to the P-8A Poseidon, and relocated to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA.

Further details in this Stripes.com article.

Xiamen Air's B-7816

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7816 (c/n 42938, l/n 6296) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8099, and will overnight at HNL.

Deer Jet's 2-DEER

Deer Jet's 787-8 BBJ, 2-DEER (c/n 35309, l/n 143), has made a stop at OGG from SFO today as N2DEER. The airline is part of the Hainan Air Group, and provides luxury business jet service.

Mahalo to OGGSpotting for the photo!

10 Tanker Air Carrier's N612AX

10 Tanker Air Carrier's DC-10-30ER is making its way back to the Mainland after another Australian Fire season. N612AX (s/n 48290 l/n 435) arrived this morning from RAAF Richmond, Australia NSW via Pago Pago, American Samoa.

Batik Air Malaysia's 9M-LCM

Batik Air Malaysia is taking delivery of 9M-LCM (c/n 38940, l/n 6242) tonight. The 737-8GP, their second delivery within the past three days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as MXD1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian Launches JHM Service

Thirty years to the day when the Kapalua Airport opened and Hawaiian Airlines began Dash7 service, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian launched its daily service between HNL and JHM today. N801HC made the inaugural flight this morning, that was greeted with a water cannon shower at JHM, after it exited Runway 20.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Omni Air International's N630AX

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Omni Air International's DC-10-30, N630AX (c/n 46596, l/n 301) seen above at HNL's Gate 14 in October 2004, as it prepared to leave for LAS operating for Vacations Hawaii.

45696 was originally delivered to Condor Flugdienst [DE/CFG] in December 1979 as D-ADQO. It was painted white in the late 80s from the original bare metal livery, and flew with Condor until June 1999. Three months later, it was acquired by Omni Air International [X9/OAE] as N630AX, and flew until it was stored at VCV in October 2009. N630AX was scrapped at VCV in September 2011.

Island Air's N682WP Enters Service

Island Air has put its second Q400 NextGen into service today. N682WP "Na‘au Pono", made its first revenue flight as MKU414 to OGG earlier this morning. Both Q400s are flying the OGG service, as well as some of the KOA flights.

United Upgrades KOA-DEN To Daily

United Airlines announced that they will upgrade its summer KOA-DEN (UAL1731/1758) 757-200 service from weekly to daily, effective June 8th.

Further details in this West Hawai‘i Today article.