Where The Island Air's Q400s Ended Up

In doing a search of the PlaneSpotters.net database, here are where the former Island Air Q400s were leased to following the airline's closure, and lease returns:

N681WP "‘Ola Kūpono" (msn 4543) was bought by WestJet Encore as C-FWEW (f/n 451).

N682WP "Na‘au Pono" (msn 4546) was bought by WestJet Encore as C-GEWR (f/n 452).

N683WP "Kulana Pono" (msn 4554) has been leased by Elix Aviation Capital to JamboJet [JM/JMA] (Kenya) this past February as 5Y-JXE (f/n JJ4).

N684WP "Laulima" (msn 4328) has been leased by NAC to Spicejet [SG/SEJ] (India) in November 2017 as VT-SUX.

and

N685WP "Po‘okela" (msn 4339) has also been leased by NAC to SpiceJet in November 2017 as VT-SUY.

VP-BEL

VP-BEL (c/n 29139, l/n 189), a 737-74T BBJ, owned by Orient Global Aviation, has made a stop at HNL.

It was also photographed at HNL in 2014.

Hainan Airlines' B-1387

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1387 (c/n 62196, l/n 6758) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1387, and will overnight at ITO. This is one of very few delivery flights to stop at the Hilo International Airport.

China United Airlines' B-1277

China United Airlines' second 737-89P delivery today, is B-1277 (c/n 63061, l/n 6892). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA277, and will overnight at HNL.

China United Airlines' B-1278

China United Airlines is taking delivery of two 737-89Ps today. B-1278 (c/n 63060, l/n 6905) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA278, and will overnight at HNL.

Thai Lion Air HS-LSI

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LSI (c/n 42992, l/n 6816) this evening. This 737 MAX 9 is making its delivery flight as TLM1, and will make a fuel stop at HNL.

D-APGS

D-APGS (msn 3046), an A319-115CJ, owned by K5-Aviation (Germany), is making a stop at HNL.

Southwest Airlines Announces Service To Four Airports

World Airline News reports that Southwest Airlines announced that they will serve all four major Hawai‘i airports (HNL, OGG, KOA, and LIH), as part of their planned 737 MAX 8 Hawai‘i service from west coast gateway cities. The airline is still mum on inter-island service, which has been heavily rumored.

China Southern Airlines' B-1236

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1236 (c/n 63259, l/n 6918) this morning. This 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1236, and will overnight at HNL.

2-MSII

2-MSII (c/n 40151, l/n 4640), a former Malaysia Airlines 737-8H6, is ferrying from KUL to MZJ. It was delivered to Malaysia Airlines in October 2013 as 9M-MSI, and flew until September 2017, when it was withdrawn from service in September 2017. It was acquired by Orix Aircraft Corporation, and will be stored at MZJ.

All Nippon Airways Unveils More A380 Honu Liveries

World Airline News reports that All Nippon Airways has unveiled two additional "Honu" (Hawaiian for green sea turtle) color themes for the three A380-800s they will be using exclusively for the Tōkyo - Honolulu service, beginning in spring 2019. Initially unveiled in 2017, the honu livery featured a blue turtle. Now there will also be an orange honu, and a green honu. The blue A380 will be named "Lani" (sky), the orange A380 will be named "Ka La" (sunset), and the green A380 will be named "Kai" (ocean).

Virgin Americas Brand's Last Day

Today, marks the last day of the Virgin America brand, as the airline will become solely Alaska Airlines. VRD1948 (SFO-LAX) was the final Virgin America flight this evening.

Shanghai Airlines's B-1261

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1261 (c/n 61629, l/n 6796) this morning. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH9761, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong Airlines' B-1227

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery fo B-1227 (c/n 43908, l/n 6916) this morning. This 737-85N, their second delivery within a week, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1227, and will overnight at HNL.

Mokulele Airlines To Relocate To Terminal 3

On 29 May 2018, Mokulele Airlines will relocate their operations to "Terminal 3", where Hardstands 4 and 5 are currently. Their driveway will be through the security gate located between the United Airlines Cargo and Delta Air Lines Cargo facilities off of Aolele Street. Their check-in, terminal, and baggage claim will reportedly operate out of temporary structures.

WestJet Airlines' C-FRYV

WestJet Airlines has switched from their 767-338ERs to their 737 MAX 8s on their flights between Hawai‘i and the Province of Alberta. C-FRYV (c/n 60514, l/n 6819) made the first flight today from YYC to OGG as WJA1850, and was to fly to YEG as WJA1885, but the flight was diverted to HNL.

Qantas To Upguage To Seasonal 747-400

The Australian Business Traveler reports that Qantas will upguage their QFA3/QFA4 service from their A330-300s to their 747-438s for their summer travel season (07 Dec 2018 to late-April 2019).

N675AN

N675AN (c/n 29425, l/n 817), a former American Airlines 757-223, is ferrying from VQQ [Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL] to SZX [Shenzhen, China], via TUS [Tuscon, AZ], HNL and GUM, headed to join the SF Airlines fleet. It will be re-registered as B-1231.

29425 was originally delivered to American Airlines in August 1998 as N675AN (f/n 5EG). It had Blended Winglets installed in 2008, and flew with American until August 2015, where it was placed into storage at ROW [Roswell, NM]. In January 2017, it was sold to Jetran, and ferried six months later to VQQ for freighter conversion. After conversion, it was acquired by SF Airlines.

United To End Guam Turboprop Service

United Airlines announced that they will end their United Express (Cape Air [9K/KAP]) ATR42 turboprop service on Guam, effective May 31, 2018. United will switch over to mainline 737-824 service, beginning on June 1, 2018. This was also United Express' last turboprop service. Seen above is, N42836 (msn 200) is one of the three ATR42-320s for Cape Air, and was photographed in August 2004, as it made its delivery flight to GUM.

It's not known when Cape Air will ferry their three ATR42s to the mainland, and which route they'll take.

Further information in this World Airline News article.

N42386 was originally delivered to Bar Harbor Airlines (Continental Connection operator) [AJC] in August 1990. In July 1991, it was acquired by ExpressJet Airlines [EV/ASQ], and continued in the Continental Connection network, after Bar Harbor shutdown. In May 2004, it was sold to Cape Air (another Continental Connection operator), and ferried three months later to its island-hopping operations on Guam (f/n 836). When United Airlines merged with Continental Airlines in 2010, Cape Air and its fleet became part of the United Express network.

Kona Air Shuttle Seeks Partnership

CH-Aviation.com reports that the Kona Air Shuttle is seeking additional partners as they seek to expand members-only service between KOA and Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA. 

The current service is between KOA an OAK, is operated by a Kaiser Air [KI/KAI] 737-86N, N733KA (c/n 28643, l/n 828), as KAI99.

Far Eastern Air Transport To Buy 11 737 MAX 8s

World Airline News reports that Far Eastern Air Transport [FE/FEA] (Taiwan) will purchase 11 737 MAX 8s, that will be delivered over the next five years, beginning in the first quarter of 2019. The 737 MAX 8s will replace the airline's eight MD-80s, that average 23.7 years old.

Shandong Airlines' B-1226

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1226 (c/n 61439, l/n 6902) this morning. This 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1226, and will overnight at HNL.

Jiangxi Air's B-1268

Jiangxi Air is taking delivery of B-1268 (c/n 63688, l/n 6901) this morning. This 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CJX8967, and will overnight at HNL. For its legs out of HNL, the flight code will change to CJX8989.

Азросибиръ N25299

N25299 (msn 108M01), a Mil Mi-17 helicopter, has arrived at JRF to be part of the motion picture "Triple Frontier", being filmed on O‘ahu. The Soviet-era built helicopter (1984) with "Аэросибиръ" titles will be based at JRF, throughout its stay here. This Mi-17 has "Ми-8МТЬ-1" on both sides of the nose section, as the Mi-17 is an advanced version of the Mi-8. This helicopter is owned by Vertol Systems Co, Inc (Hillsboro, OR).

Hainan Airlines' B-1103

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1103 (c/n 44400, l/n 6894) today. This 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1103, and will overnight at HNL.

V Air's N805AV

Avianca [AV/AVA] (Colombia) is taking delivery of N805AV (msn 6009), leased from Wells Fargo Bank Northwest. This A321-231SL, still in the V Air livery, is making its delivery flight from TPE [Taipei, Taiwan] to TUS [Tucson, AZ], with stops at GUM, HNL, where it will get the Avianca livery and interior configuration.

6009 was originally delivered to TransAsia Airways [GE/TNA] (Taiwan) in March 2014 as B-22608. It was leased to V Air [ZV/VAX] (Taiwan), TransAsia's low-cost subsidiary from October 2014 to October 2016 as B-22610. This A321 remained in the above V Air livery after the airline shutdown. However, TransAsia also shutdown in November 2016. The airframe was acquired by WFBN, and stored at TPE.

Lion Air to Buy 50 737 MAX 10s

Lion Air and Boeing announced that the Indonesian airline group will purchase 50 737 MAX 10s, to go along with their other outstanding 737 MAX orders for the MAX 8 and MAX 9. It hasn't been determined which the group's airlines will get the MAX 10s first.

Further information in this Boeing Airplanes press release.

SilkAir's 9V-MBD

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MBD (c/n 44241, l/n 6828) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at KOA.

Amazon Prime Air's N1217A

Amazon Prime Air's N1217A (c/n 25865, l/n 430, f/n 17A), a 767-375ERF, made a round-trip flight from ONT as GTI3598 (and GTI3599 on the return leg), and operated by Atlas Air. The flight arrived last evening, and returned this afternoon.

We're trying to find out if this was a proving flight for Amazon Prime Air.

N1217A was previously registered as N631GT, and stopped through HNL in November 2016, on its way to QPG for freighter conversion.

Surinam Airways' N348JS

Surinam Airways is taking delivery of N348JS (c/n 34538, l/n 1853). This 737-79L, leased from DAE Capital, is making its delivery flight from CTU [Chengdu, China] to PBM [Zanderij International Airport, Paramaribo, Suriname], via GUM, HNL, ELP [El Paso, TX], and MIA [Miami, FL].

34538 was originally delivered to Air China in January 2006 as B-5203, leased from AWAS. In August 2017, it was sold to DAE Capital, and the lease with Air China was transferred. 34538 was returned to DAE Capital earlier this month.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3197

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of a former Cebu Pacific Air A319-111, RP-C3197 (msn 2852). It's making its delivery flight from CAN [Guangzhou, China] to GYR [Goodyear, AZ], via GUM and HNL, as RPC3197.

RP-C3197 was delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in August 2006, and flew with the airline until this past January. It was ferried from Manila to Guangzhou for maintenance and repaint.

TransAsia Airways' N810AV

Avianca [AV/AVA] (Colombia) is taking delivery of N810AV (msn 6294), leased from Wells Fargo Bank Northwest. This A321-231SL, still in the TransAsia Airways livery, is making its delivery flight from TPE [Taipei, Taiwan] to TUS [Tucson, AZ], with stops at GUM, HNL, where it will get the Avianca livery and interior configuration.

6294 was originally delivered to TransAsia Airways [GE/TNA] (Taiwan) in September 2014 as B-22610. It was leased to V Air [ZV/VAX] (Taiwan), TransAsia's low-cost subsidiary from June 2015 to October 2016 as B-22610. This A321 was returned to its parent company in full livery after V Air shutdown. However, TransAsia also shutdown in November 2016. The airframe was acquired by WFBN, and stored at TPE.

N935UW

N935UW (c/n 27201, l/n 605), a former American Airlines 757-2B7, is ferrying from GYR [Goodyear, AZ] to CTU [Chengdu, China] (via HNL and GUM), for freighter conversion.

27201 was originally delivered to US Air in March 1994 as N622AU. It was repainted to the navy blue / grey livery as the airline rebranded itself as US Airways in February 1997. In late 2004, it became one of the airline's Star*Alliance logojets, that it would wear until 2010. In January 2007, it was sold to Aircastle and leased back to US Airways, then re-registered as N935UW (f/n 935); and two years later, had Blended Winglets installed. After its time wearing the Star*Alliance special livery, it was painted in the final US Airways livery in late 2010. In December 2013, it was transferred into the American Airlines, as they acquired US Airways. American Airlines returned N935UW to Aircastle in October 2017, and stored it at Goodyear, AZ.

ATA's N331TZ

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" recognizes the 10th anniversary of the closure of American Trans Air (ATA), with this November 2005 photo of N331TZ (c/n 30660, l/n 1330). This 737-83N is seen above, departing from Runway 8L. ATA shut down its operations on 02 April 2008, three days after Aloha Airlines closed its doors.

30660 was delivered to American Trans Air in June 2003, leased from ILFC as N331TZ. It was returned to ILFC in early 2006, then leased to SpiceJet [SG/SEJ] (India) in April 2006 as VT-SPH "Saffron". In March 2012, it was returned to ILFC, and two months later, leased to T'Way Air [TW/TWB] (Republic of Korea) as HL8286. In May 2014, this 737-83N was acquired by AerCap, and the lease transferred to T'Way, where it continues to fly today.

Happy Easter!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a Happy Easter!