N7860A

N7860A (c/n 29362, l/n 1713), a former China Eastern Airlines 737-79P, is ferrying to PAE from KMG [Changshui International Airport, Kunming, China], via GUM and HNL. It's owned by AerCap, and will be leased to Southwest Airlines.

29362 was delivered to China Eastern in May 2005 as B-5096. It was fitted with Blended Winglets in late 2011, along with the green peacock feather. In February 2014, it was painted in the orange Yunnan Peacock livery; and three months later, it was sold to AerCap, and leased back. B-5096 was withdrawn from service this past April.

JAL To Resume NRT-KOA

Japan Airlines announced that they will resume daily round-trip service between NRT and KOA, on September 15, 2017, with 767-346ERs.

Further information in this Japan Airlines press release.

Air China's B-1418

Air China is taking delivery of B-1418 (c/n 60867, l/n 6414) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA47, and will overnight at HNL.

HANG F-22As Scramble To Escort AAL31

A pair of F-22A Raptors from the Hawaii‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron were scrambled to escort an American Airlines A321 arriving from LAX. N126AN (msn 6313), flying as AAL31, was subject to an attempted cockpit breach by a passenger, who was prevented then restrained by passengers and crew. An in-flight emergency was reported by the flight crew, and the FAA requested the HANG escort. The flight landed on Runway 4R without incident, while first responders readied to enter the airliner, which parked on the North Ramp. Crews from the HNL ARFF, Hawaii State Sheriff deputies, Honolulu Police, the FBI, and Homeland Security are investigating the incident.

Hawaiian Airlines LAX Terminal Move

Hawaiian Airlines will make their terminal move at LAX tonight. The airline will move their operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5, that will commence tomorrow.

For further information on other airline relocations within LAX, see "LAX On The Move".

Hebei Airlines' B-1445

Hebei Airlines is taking delivery of B-1445 (c/n 42973, l/n 6397) today. The 737-8LW is making its delivery flight from BFI as HBH1445, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1583

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1583 (c/n 63238, l/n 6394) this evening. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN158, and will overnight at HNL.

QantasFreight's VH-XNH

QantasFreight is taking delivery of VH-XNH (c/n 24796, l/n 1887) today. The 737-4S3SF is making its delivery flight from VCV as QFA7300, and will overnight at HNL. It also wears the StarTrack titles, which is an Australian parcel delivery company.

24796 was originally delivered to ILFC, then leased to Air Europe [PE/AEL] in July 1990 as G-BRKG. In April 1991, it was leased to Dan-Air London [DA/DAN] as G-TREN. In November 1992, it was transferred to the British Airways [BA/BAW] fleet, after British Airways acquired Dan-Air London. In March 1997, it was leased to British Airways' subsidiary GB Airways [GT/GBL] (UK) as G-TREN. In June 2002, it was sold to Islandsflug [HH/ICB] (Iceland), then leased to Air Miles as TF-ELV. In February 2004, it was leased to Ryanair [FR/RYR] (Ireland), and in January 2005, it was sold to Air Atlanta Icelandic [CC/ABD] (Iceland), and remained with Ryanair. Four months later, it was leased to Excel Airways [JN/XLA] (UK). In December 2005, it was leased to Xtra Airways [XP/CXP] (USA) as TF-ELV, and was registered as N43XA, three months later. From August 2007 to March 2012, it operated for Direct Air [DIA] (USA). After Direct Air closed, it remained with Xtra Airways until May 2015. It underwent freighter conversion at Dothan, GA [DHN] from February to November 2016. Last month, Express Freighters [EFA] (Australia) acquired 24796, and registered it as VH-XNH; they will operate it for QantasFreight.

Asia Pacific Airlines Retires N86425

Asia Pacific Airlines ferried N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329), a 727-212F/Adv, from GUM to IGM [Kingman Airport, Kingman, AZ], via HNL, as MGE901. This is the first of their three 727-200Fs to be retired.

Scoot Proposes SIN-KIX-HNL Service

According to an Airline Route tweet, Scoot [TZ/SCO] (Singapore) has proposed service between SIN [Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore] and HNL, via KIX. The tweet did not mention any specifics as to a start-up date, or aircraft type. This route is subject to US Department of Transportation approval. The airline currently as 13 787s (seven -8s, and six -9s), along with two more -8s on order.

Shandong Airlines' B-1436

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1436 (c/n 60164, l/n 6391) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1436, and will overnight at HNL.

Island Air's N328NG

Island Air is taking delivery of its second used Q400 NextGen, N328NG (msn 4328). It's flying from GTF (via CMA) as SXA374. This Q400 NextGen has the distinction of being the 1,000th Dash8 built. This will be the airlines' fifth Q400 NextGen, will be re-registered as N684WP, and will be named "Laulima" (Hawaiian for "Being accountable to ourselves, each other, and our guests").

Like its fleet mate, N685WP (ex N339NG), it was delivered to Colgan Air in September 2010 as N328NG, and had the 1,000th Dash8 decal. It wore the Continental Connection and United Express liveries while with Colgan. It continued with Republic Airlines following Colgan's shutdown (April 2012), until February 2016. It was sold to NAC-Nordic, and leased back in June 2015. Like N339NG, N328NG was supposed to have been leased to FlyBe, but was not taken up.

China United Airlines' B-1427

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1427 (c/n 61687, l/n 6387) today. The 737-89P its making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA427, and will overnight at HNL.

N106SZ

N106SZ (msn 14501190), an Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650 owned by the Cambe Group (Van Nuts, CA), made a stop at HNL this afternoon.

This Legacy 650 was originally delivered to Falcon Aviation Services [FVS] (United Arab Emirates) in November 2014 as A6-YMA, and re-registered as A6-LGI in April 2016. Seven months later, it was sold to the Cambe Group.

Donghai Airlines' B-7631

Donghai Airlines is taking deliver of B-7631 (c/n 61273, l/n 6008) today. The 737-83Z, which was built in July 2016, and stored at BFI following its test flights, is makings delivery flight from BFI as EPA295, and will overnight at HNL.

Island Air's N683WP

Island Air is taking delivery of their third new-build Q400, with N683WP "Kūlana Pono" (msn 4554). It's making its way from YZD to HNL, via DLH, APA, and CMA, flown by Southern Cross Aviation as SXA375. The name Kūlana Pono means "Doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason".

United Celebrates 70 Years Of Hawai‘i Service

This month, United Airlines will celebrate its 70th year of service between the US mainland and Hawai‘i. Beginning with its first flight with a DC-6 "Mainliner" from SFO, United has grown its Hawaii service through the years with DC-7s, DC-8s, DC-10s, 747s, 757s, 767s, 777s, and 787s, and serves all of the major airports in the Hawaiian Islands; with flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Newark, Washington DC, and Houston; plus international flights from Guam and Tokyo.

Island Air Celebrates Lei Day

Island Air celebrated Lei Day with a special live music performance by Kapono Nā‘ili‘ili and lei making at the airline's waiting area in the Commuter Terminal.

Hawaiian Airlines Unveils An Updated Pualani

In Hawai‘i, May 1st is known as Lei Day, today was also the unveiling of Hawaiian Airline's updated livery and branding. The airline held an event in their new Cargo Center, that was open to its employees, and the media, that featured music performances by Henry Kapono and Robert Cazimero. In the Cargo Center, Hawaiian Airlines had displays of the Pualani logo since its inception in 1973, and its subsequent updates up to 2001. After remarks by Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley, N488HA "Puaiohi" (c/n 55001, l/n 5002), was unveiled to those attending. The 2017 displays in the Cargo Center were added as the aircraft was revealed.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Miami Air's N734MA

Our May edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Miami Air's N734MA "Billie" (c/n 30039, l/n 701), a 737-8Q8, that was at HNL in November 2005. It was here on an inmate transfer flight for the federal Department of Justice.

30039 was originally delivered to ILFC in October 2000, and leased to Polynesian Airlines [PH/PAO] (Sāmoa) a month later as 5W-SAM. In May 2003, it was leased to Miami Air [LL/BSK] as N734MA "Billie". In late 2007, it was painted into the current Miami Air livery, and flew with Miami Air until April 2012. Two months later, it was leased to TACV Cabo Verde Airlines [VR/TCV] (Cape Verde) as D4-CBX. In May 2014, it was sold to AerCap, and the lease was transferred, but was seized by AerCap two years later. In October 2016, it was leased to US-Bangla Airlines [BS/UBG] (Bangladesh) as S2-AJA, where it presently flies.