Xiamen Air's B-1303

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1303 (c/n 42943, l/n 6608) this morning. The 737-85C, their fourth delivery this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8499, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern's B-7883

Instead of the normal A330-243, a 777-39PER flew China Eastern's PVG-HNL-PVG (MU571/572) route. B-7882 (msn 43287, ln 1508) was recently delivered to China Eastern in July 2017.

According to FlightRadar24.com, China Eastern has 777-39PERs scheduled on this service up to October 8th, then returns to their A330-243s from the 9th.

Colorado State Rams Team Charter

The Colorado State University Rams football team is chartering Sun Country Airlines' N820SY "Lake Minnetonka" (c/n 39951, l/n 5166, f/n 820) for its game against the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, on Saturday. The 737-8FH is flying from FNL [Fort Collins-Loveland Regional Airport, Fort Collins, CO] as SCX8661, with a fuel stop at SFO. The team will return to Fort Collins after the game.

Earlier this summer, Sun Country began naming their 737-700s and 737-800s after lakes in their home state of Minnesota. Further information in this press release.

SilkAir's 9V-MBA

SilkAir is taking delivery of their first 737 MAX8, with 9V-MBA (c/n 44246, l/n 6535) today. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at KOA.

Xiamen Air's B-1300

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1300 (c/n 42940, l/n 6602) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8399, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1413

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1413 (c/n 63236, l/n 6606) this afternoon. The 737-81B, their third delivery this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1413, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan Airlines' B-1495

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-84P this month, with B-1495 (c/n 63614, l/n 6592) today. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1495, and will overnight at HNL.

Boeing's Zhoushan 737 MAX Center

Aviation Week reports that Boeing will open a completion center in Zhoushan, China, in late 2018, for Chinese airlines that ordered 737 MAXs. The completion center will paint the exterior, conduct customer test flights, and have a delivery center for an average of eight to ten airframes per month. Aircraft heading to Zhoushan will have the protective green layer as they cross the Pacific.

Shandong Airlines' B-1443

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1443 (c/n 61438, l/n 6600) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1443, and will overnight at HNL.

Hawaiian Airlines And Japan Airlines New Partnership

Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines announced a new partnership that will begin on March 25, 2018. The partnership includes codesharing, lounge access, and frequent flyer mileage programs. The two airlines are also planning a joint-venture in the future.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.  Top photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.

Yangtze River Airlines' B-1315

Yangtze River Airlines (now known as Suparna Airlines), is taking delivery of B-1315 (c/n 64017, l/n 6587) today. The 737-84P, their second delivery in six days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1315, and will overnight at HNL.

China United Airlines' B-1471

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1471 (c/n 63047, l/n 6576) this morning. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA471, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1449

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1449 (c/n 61689, l/n 6590) this morning. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

Xtra Airways' N917XA

Xtra Airways is ferrying N917XA (c/n 32917, l/n 1210) from GYR to GSN [Saipan International Airport, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands] (via LAX, HNL, and MAJ), as CXP8917. The 737-86J will fly the airline's GSN-NKG [Lukou International Airport, Nanjing, China] service that will launch in a few days.

The top photo shows N917XA on final approach for Runway 4R, arriving from LAX; and the above photo shows it taxiing out for departure to MAJ.

China Southern Airlines' B-1403

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1403 (c/n 63247, l/n 6586) this morning. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN103, and will overnight at HNL.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian's N811HC

‘Ohana by Hawaiian is taking delivery of their first ATR72-201F, N811HC (msn 227) today. It's the first of three ATR72 freighters for the Hawaiian Airlines subsidiary.

This ATR72-201 was originally delivered to Brit Air [DB/BZH] (France) in March 1991 as F-GHPU. In January 2003, it went to Danish Air Transport [DX/DTR] (Denmark) as F-GHPU. It was leased to Air Atlantique [4Q/APB] (France) from October 2003 to July 2004. In December 2004, it was re-registered as OY-RUC. In January 2007, it was converted to a freighter, and six months later it went to West Air Europe [WLX] Luxembourg as LX-WAB. In May 2013, it was sold to Solenta Aviation, a carrier for DHL as ZS-XCF. In September 2015, ‘Ohana acquired this ATR72 for its new cargo operations.

Nok Air's HS-DBZ

Nok Air is taking delivery of HS-DBZ "Nok Napa Proud" (c/n 61300, l/n 6585). The 737-88L, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as NOK6900, and will overnight at LIH.

United Announces Final 747 Flight To HNL

United Airlines announced today that they will have the final 747 flight, as the type is being retired from the airline's fleet. UAL747, SFO-HNL, will make the final flight on November 7th.

Further details in this United Airlines press release.

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau US Air Force

Today marks the 70th Birthday of the United States Air Force!  The HNL RareBirds team expresses our gratitude for keeping the US skies and lands safe, and to all the airmen past and present, mahalo for your service and sacrifice!

Yangtze River Airlines' B-1313

Yangtze River Airlines [Y8/YZR] (an HNA Group subsidiary) is taking delivery of B-1313 (c/n 60169, l/n 6583) today. The 737-84P, their first this year, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1313, and will overnight at HNL. Yangtze River Airlines recently re-branded as Suparna Airlines, but have yet to change the titles on this aircraft, and B-1315, the next scheduled for delivery.

Kunming Airlines B-1461

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-1461 (c/n 44934, l/n 6578) this morning. The 737-7LY, painted in a special purple and gold livery promoting the city of Teng Chong (Yunnan Province), is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1461, and will overnight at HNL.

Japan Airlines Returns To KOA

After a nearly seven year absence, Japan Airlines returns to Kona, Hawai‘i Island today. The airline returns with round-trip, daily 767-346ER service between KOA and NRT.

Japan Airlines previously had DC-10-40 service between NRT and KOA, that ended in 2010.

Shenzhen Airlines' B-1479

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1479 (c/n 61128, l/n 6581) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ1479, and will overnight at HNL.

Virgin Australia's VH-YWA

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-YWA "Cable Beach" (c/n 41042, l/n 6572) today. The 737-8FE is making its delivery flight from BFI as VOZ9940, and will overnight at KOA.

Hainan Airlines' B-1496

Hainan Airlines is taking deliver of B-1496 (c/n 43426, l/n 6574) today. The 737-84P, their second delivery in 12 days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1496, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1401

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1401 (c/n 63234, l/n 6577) today. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-1301

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1301 (c/n 42944, l/n 6573) today. The 737-85C, their second delivery in six days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8299, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai Airlines' B-1332

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1332 (c/n 63048, l/n 6570) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from  BFI as CSH9761, and will overnight at HNL.

Hawaiian Airlines Partnership With The University of Hawai‘i Athletics

Hawaiian Airlines announced that will be the official airline partner of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Athletics Department. The airline, a Diamond Level UH Corporate Partner, will provide travel to all 21 UH Mānoa's athletic teams between Hawai‘i and North America.

Further information is in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Xtra Airways To Fly Between Saipan And China

CH-Aviation reports Xtra Airways [XP/CXP] will be assigning one of their 737s for a new service between Saipan (Northern Marianas Islands) and Nanjing (China), beginning on September 20th.

Currently, Xtra Airways has a fleet of six 737-400s, and three 737-800s. Whichever 737 is assigned to this route, it should be stopping through HNL in the near future.

Xiamen Air's B-1302

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1302 (c/n 63683, l/n 6558) today. The 737-85C, their second delivery in eight days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8099, and will overnight at HNL.

Delta Bids Aloha ‘Oe To Their 747-400s

Delta Air Lines has switched from their 747-400s to 767-300s on DAL576/577 [NRT-HNL]. N669US (c/n 24224, l/n 803, f/n 6309) made the final flight from Narita this morning. It will continue onto LAX as DAL1284. Ground and cabin crews adorned N669US with a few lei to commemorate the airlines' final 747-400 flight at HNL.

A video of the event at HNL, was made and posted by dgcpinoy on his YouTube channel.

All of Delta's service between Honolulu and Japanese destinations (NRT, KIX, and NGO), are now all flown with 767-300ERs.

Island Air Transitions To All Q400 Fleet

Island Air transitioned to an all-Q400 NextGen fleet today. The airline also has two more Q400 NextGens on order from Bombardier.

The five ATR72-212s have been retired, and will be returned to Island Leasing Company (Walnut Creek, CA) in the near future. The final ATR72 flight was made by N944WP, as MKU86 [KOA-HNL].

9 Air's B-1473

9 Air is taking delivery of B-1473 (c/n 61361, l/n 6460) today. The 737-86X is making its delivery flight from BFI as JYH1473, and will overnight at HNL. B-1473 made its first flight on June 13th, and was parked on BFI's short-term storage ramp after its customer test flights. It's their third 737-86X of four that have been parked at BFI, to make its delivery flight in eleven days.

Hainan Airlines' B-1490

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1490 (c/n 62572, l/n 6553) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1490, and will overnight at HNL.

Donghai Airlines' B-1415

Donghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1415 (c/n 61276, l/n 6400) today. The 737-8LW is making its delivery flight from BFI as EPA298, and will overnight at HNL. B-1415 was first flew in May, but was placed in short-term storage at BFI.

Donghai Airlines' B-1462

Donghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1462 (c/n 61277, l/n 6547) this morning. The 737-8LW is making its delivery flight from BFI as EPA297, and will overnight at HNL. B-1462 is the 100th 737 to deliver to China this year.