Hawaiian Airlines Launches Service To Long Beach

Today, Hawaiian Airlines launched daily A321-271N service between Daugherty Field, Long Beach, CA [LGB] and HNL as HAL70/69. N204HA "‘Ōhia Lehua" is making the inaugural flight, that depart from Gate 59. Hawaiian held pre-boarding festivities with remarks by President and CEO Peter Ingram. N204HA is seen above departing from Runway 8R for LGB.


Our California partner, Michael Carter, also had coverage on his Aero Pacific Flightlines website.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Mokulele Airlines Holds Terminal 3 Blessing

Mokulele Airlines held a blessing ceremony and festivities for today's passengers at their new facilities at HNL's Terminal 3. Passengers were treated to remarks by Mokulele President Robert McKinney, a prayer and blessing by New Hope Legacy's Senior Pastor Makana Delovio, and entertainment by Anuhea Jenkins (accompanied by Jason Sensation).

Mokulele brought in N847MA from KOA, which was recently painted in the airline's new livery in the teal variation.

The airline, using North Ramp Hardstand 1C, can handle four Caravans at any time (Gates H1-H4), and can expand up to six if need be. They will also launch service between HNL and LUP (Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i) tomorrow, as they received the FAA's EAS contract. Mokulele also has the EAS contract to provide passenger service to HNM (Hāna, Maui).

New HNL Terminal And Gate Designations

Beginning tomorrow, 01 June 2018, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation's Airports Division has given the terminals with alphabetical designations, the gates with alpha-numeric designations, and the baggage claim numeric designations at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport. Please refer to the above illustration for the changes.

AirAsia X To Go Daily For Three Months

Airways Magazine reports that AirAsia X plans to go daily on its KUL-KIX-HNL A330-300 service from 18 August to 27 October.

Air New Zealand's ZK-OKD Diversion

Air New Zealand's 777-219ER, ZK-OKD (c/n 29401, l/n 550), flying as ANZ23 [YVR-AKL], made a diversion to HNL early this morning. The flight arrived around 0140HST, after its weather radar was knocked from turbulence. Repairs were made, and the flight to AKL resumed, but returned as the issue re-appeared. It's scheduled to continue onto AKL as ANZ6077 on Friday.

HDOT Breaks Ground On Mauka Extension

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) held a ground breaking and blessing ceremony for the new Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal (to be known as Terminal 1) at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport today. When completed (estimated to be by the end of 2020), it will be able to handle six of Hawaiian Airlines' A330-243s or 787-9s wide-bodies, or eleven 717-200s or A321-271Ns narrow-bodies.

Demolition of the Commuter Terminal and parking lot will begin on Friday, June 1st.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

News coverage by KHON.

Shanghai Airlines' B-2498

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying B-2498 (c/n 27684, l/n 849) from PVG to MZJ, via SPN and HNL. This 767-36D is making its retirement flight as CSH9765.

B-2498 was delivered to Shanghai Airlines in August 2001, and withdrawn from service in March 2018.

Mokulele Airlines Opens Terminal 3

Mokulele Airlines opens operations at the new Terminal 3 today. The inter-island airline moved its operations across the airport to the Diamond Head (east) end, as the Commuter Terminal was closed to make way for the Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal.

Fiji Airways' DQ-FJW Diversion

Fiji Airways' flight FJI811, from LAX to NAN, made a diversion to HNL after a fight broke on board between an Australian national and two passengers. Flight attendants restrained him, and the flight crew made the decision to divert, where the assailant was taken into custody by the FBI. Fiji Airways'  A330-343, DQ-FJW (msn 1692), was the airliner involved.

Further information in this Hawaii News Now article.

Centurion Air Cargo's N987AR

A new visitor on the Kona ramp today, is Centurion Air Cargo's [WE/CWC] MD-11F, N987AR (c/n 48427, l/n 471) on a flight from MIA (via LAX). It's flying for Sky Lease Cargo [GG/KYE] as KYE4855.

Lanmei Airlines' XU-963

Lanmei Airlines [LQ/MRK] (Kampuchea) is taking delivery of XU-963 (msn 3463) today. This A319-132 is delivering from TAP [Tapachula, México] to PHN [Ponchentong International Airport, Phnom Penh, Kampuchea], via HNL, GUM, and CAN as MRK3463.

Air China's B-1221

Air China is taking delivery of B-1221 (c/n 60984, l/n 6915) this morning. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA48, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-1288

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of their first 737 MAX 8, this morning. B-1288 (c/n 42956, l/n 6942) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8199, and will overnight at HNL.

According to this Boeing Mediaroom press release, B-1288 is also Xiamen Air's 200th 737 delivered to the airline.

NASA's N992NA

NASA's Gulfstream III, N992NA (msn 309), arrived at HNL today. It's mission will be to overfly the the volcanic activity on the east side of Hawai‘i Island. The G-III is equipped with NASA's UAVSAR (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar) pod mounted on the underside.

FlightRadar24.com has the flight track over the Puna side of Hawai‘i Island.

Japan TransOcean Air's JA08RK

Japan TransOcean Air is taking delivery of JA08RK (c/n 61481, l/n 6948) this afternoon. This 737-8Q3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as JTA9851, and will overnight at HNL.

Air New Zealand Wet-Leases 9H-SUN

Air New Zealand has wet-leased an A340-312 from Hi Fly Malta [5M/HFM]. 9H-SUN (msn 367) is operating Air New Zealand's ANZ9/10 (AKL-HNL-AKL) service, while ANZ's 787-9s have its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines repaired. The Telegraph reports that the FAA, EASA, and the engine manufacturer notified airlines using the Trent 1000 to limit ETOPS flights to 140 minutes away from airports. According to our sources, this lease will be for about three weeks.

367 was originally delivered to AOM French Airlines [IW/AOM] in December 2000 as F-GTUA, under lease from Flightlease. In October 2003, it was leased to SriLankan Airlines [UL/ALK] as 4R-ADE. From 2007 to 2014, Macquarie AirFinance owned this A340. Castlelake bought this Airbus in 2014, and is the current owner. SriLankan Airlines returned this A340 in October 2015. Three months later, it was leased to Hi Fly Malta as 9H-SUN, where it flies as a white tail. From June to December 2017, it leased to Corsair [SS/CRL].

China Southern Airlines' B-1241

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1241 (c/n 63262, l/n 6952) this morning. This 737-81B, their second delivery this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1241, and will overnight at HNL.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N705AA Ferried

Asia Pacific Airlines is ferrying N705AA (c/n 22462, l/n 1751) to MCI [Kansas City, MO] from GUM, via TKK, PNI, HNL, PHX and IGM [Kingman, AZ] for a "C" Check.

On another note, sister ships N319NE (c/n 21349, l/n 1289), and N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329), both 727-212Fs, had their registrations canceled by Asia Pacific Airlines, and being used for parts for 705.

Shandong Airlines' B-1273

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1273 (c/n 43909, l/n 6950) today. This 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1273, and will overnight at HNL.

Sun Country Airlines Launches HNL Service

Today, Sun Country Airlines launched its four-times-weekly service between MSP and HNL, via LAX. The MSP-LAX segment is operated SCX421/430, and the LAX-HNL segment is operated as SCX721/730.

N821SY "Lake Mille Lacs" (c/n 39952, l/n 5217) made the maiden flight from MSP to HNL, via LAX, and will be based at LAX.

Mahalo to Charlie Alfa for the photo of N821SY on final for Runway 8L.

Lion Air's PK-LQO

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LQO (c/n 42998, l/n 6911) this afternoon. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto GUM.

Koloa Aviation Upgrades N820MS To G-V

Koloa Aviation has added a second Gulfstream jet. They upgraded N820MS, from the G-IV (msn 1147) to the G-V (msn 626), and has a new livery. Their G-IV has been re-registered as N820MG.

Mokulele Airlines To Relocate To Terminal 3

As part of the HNL's modernization program, Mokulele Airlines is being relocated to Terminal 3, on the Diamond Head end of the airport this week. The new location will begin operations on Tuesday, May 29th. The move comes as the Commuter Terminal will be torn down to make way for the Inter-island Terminal's Mauka Extension construction project.

Located behind the Delta Air Lines Cargo facility, Mokulele will be using Hardstand 1C for their flight operations, where they will four spots for their Grand Caravans.

Hebei Airlines' B-1258

Hebei Airlines is taking delivery of B-1258 (c/n 42978, l/n 6939) today. This 737-8LW is making its delivery flight from BFI as HBH1258, and will overnight at HNL.

N723AC

N723AC (c/n 30034, l/n 1275), a 737-75C, is ferrying from XMN [Gaoqi International Airport, Xiamen, China] to GYR [Goodyear, AZ], via GUM and HNL.

30034 was originally delivered to Xiamen Airlines in February 2003 as B-5028, under lease from ILFC. In May 2014, B-5028 was sold to ILFC, and its lease transferred. In 2016, it was painted in the current livery. It was withdrawn from service in April 2018.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1255

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1255 (c/n 61699, l/n 6937) this afternoon. This 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

WestJet Airlines Unveils New Livery

WestJet Airlines unveiled a new livery that will be featured on their ten 787-9 Dreamliners, that will begin deliveries in the first quarter of 2019. New deliveries of their 737 MAX 8 fleet will feature this new livery, beginning in June. The existing fleet will be repainted as they go through their heavy maintenance checks.

Further information and links in this WestJet press release.

China Southern Airlines' B-1239

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1239 (c/n 63260, l/n 6933) this morning. This 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1239, and will overnight at HNL.

N594HA Returns

Hawaiian Airlines has brought back N594HA "‘Ulili" (c/n 23275, l/n 136) from retirement at MZJ as HAL9975. The airline made the move, as deliveries of their A321-271Ns have been delayed due to the modifications to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G Geared Turbofan engines.

N205HA "Kalo" (msn 8092, f/n 205) is ready for delivery at XFW. Both N208HA (msn 8123, f/n 208) and N209HA (msn 8186, f/n 209) are at XFW, but have yet to make their first flights.

Southwest Airlines Says They Will Fly Inter-Island

On an appearance on Hawai News Now's "Sunrise" morning news show, representatives from Southwest Airlines said that they will launch their west coast to Hawai‘i service with 737-8H4s, then transition to the 737 MAX 8s. The first four west coast cities will be all in California: Oakland, San José, Sacramento, and San Diego. Also, they intend to launch inter-island service once service is established.

Shenzhen Airlines' B-1376

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1376 (c/n 61123, l/n 6932) today. This 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ1376, and will overnight at HNL.

American Airlines Winter Season ORD-HNL Service

American Airlines announced today that the winter season service between ORD and HNL will return on 19 December 2018, though this year, it will be with their 787-8s.

In the past, American used their DC-10-30s (1990s), and their 767-300ERs (2000s, and 2010s).

Further information in this American Airlines press release.

Samaritan's Purse N782SP To Assist Kaua‘i Flood Victims

Samaritan's Purse will be flying in disaster relief supplies for those affected by the torrential rains and flooding in the northern end of Kaua‘i. Their DC-8-72CF, N782SP (c/n 46013, l/n 427) will fly from GSO [Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro, NC] to LIH [Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i] as NSP8. They will bring in relief supplies and personnel to assist with cleanup efforts in Hanalei, and surrounding areas.

Further information in this Samaritan's Purse webpage.

N782SP was here at HNL in December 2017 on a stopover.

Federal Express' N614FE

Our May edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to 1998. with FedEx's MD-11F, N614FE "Christy Allison" (c/n 48258, l/n 507, f/n 614), seen above on Taxiway RT.

N614FE was delivered to Federal Express in November 1992. It was originally ordered by American Airlines as N1759, but was not taken up. This MD-11F continues to fly with FedEx, with the aircraft's name shortened to "Christy".

SilkAir's 9V-MBE

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MBE (c/n 44242, l/n 6890) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at KOA.