Xiamen Air's B-1137

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of a second 737 MAX 8 today, with B-1137 (c/n 43857, l/n 7064). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8299, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-1118

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of their first of two 737 MAX 8s today, with B-1118 (c/n 43830, l/n 7050). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8199, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Lion Air's PK-LPU

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LPU (c/n 43211, l/n 7134) today. This 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Shandong Airlines' B-1120

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1120 (c/n 43858, l/n 7070) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1120, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

United Airlines Brings Home LLWS Champs

United Airlines' flight UAL363, EWR-HNL, brought home the Honolulu All-Stars team that won Sunday's Little League World Series. N78060 (c/n 29455, l/n 866, f/n 0060), a 767-424ER arrived this afternoon with a true Hawaiian blessing of rain showers as the flight landed and taxied to Gate F2. The team was greeted by local politicians, fans, and the media as they walked out of the Jetway. A welcoming ceremony was held in the Diamond Head Tour Group area.

Centurion Cargo's N987AR

Centurion Cargo's MD-11F, N987AR "Petete" (c/n 48427, l/n 471), is making another FEMA relief supply flight from MIA (via DFW) as KYE551 today. It will depart for ATL later this afternoon, with the same flight number.

China Southern Airlines' B-1121

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1121 (c/n 43950, l/n 7035) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1121, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Antonov Airlines' UR-82029

Antonov Airlines' UR-82029 (c/n 19530502630, l/n 02-10), an An-124-100, has brought in relief supplies for Hurricane Lane from DFW (via LAX), as ADB2574. It will depart for OAK as ADB274F, later this morning.

Hurricane Lane Aircraft Evacuations

As Hurricane Lane pushes slowly northward, and has cleared the east side of Hawai‘i Island, airlines in Honolulu have ferried their aircraft to JRF and ITO to ride out the storm.

Going to Hilo, Hawaiian Airlines ferried some of their 717-200 fleet; ‘Ohana by Hawaiian ferried their ATR42 and ATR72 fleet; Aloha Air Cargo ferried their 737-300 fleet; and TransAir ferried their 737-200.

Going to Kalaleloa Airport, Kamaka Air and Makani Kai Air moved their C208s; and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters moved their EC-130 fleet; where they were placed into Hangar 111.

Canadians Add Extra Flights

Both Air Canada and WestJet Airlines are adding an extra flight each to aid in tourists from Canada wishing to return in advance of Hurricane Lane.

Air Canada is bringing in C-FRSI (c/n 37176, l/n 527), a 787-9, as ACA7071 from YVR. It will return to YVR as ACA2112.

WestJet is bringing in C-FRAX (c/n 60510, l/n 6384), a 737 MAX 8, as WJA8977 from YYC. It will return to YYC as WJA4361.

Centurion Air Cargo's N904AR

Centurion Air Cargo's 747-428FER, N904AR (c/n 33907, l/n 1361), is bringing in relief supplies in advance of Hurricane Lane as KYE1738, from MIA via SFO. It will return to SFO later tonight as KYE541.

Hainan Airlines' B-1131

Hainan Airlines' second of two 737-84Ps, B-1131 (c/n 62576, l/n 7097), is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1131, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Hainan Airlines' B-206F

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of a pair of 737-84Ps today. The first one, B-206F (c/n 64019, l/n 7099), is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH206, and will make an overnight stop at HNL. B-206F is the 100th 737 delivery to China for 2018.

Air Changan's B-1162

Air Changan is taking delivery of B-1162 (c/n 64858, l/n 7112) this evening. This 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1162, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

AirAsia X's 9M-XXT

AirAsia X's "Xcintillating PhoeniX" liveried A330-343, 9M-XXT (msn 1549), made the KUL-KIX-HNL service (XAX1/2) today.

Hurricane Tracking Aircraft

With Hurricane Lane making a close path near the Hawaiian Islands, NOAA has dispatched both their WP-3D, N42RF and Gulfstream IV, N49RF, along with two WC-130Js from the US Air Force to fly into the hurricane to take measurements.

Armeé de l'Air's F-RBAG

Armeé de l'Air's A400M, F-RBAG "Ville de Cambrai" (msn 0019), has made a stop at HNL, as it transits to French Polynesia from France.

Urumqi Air's B-205U

Urumqi Air is taking delivery of B-205U (c/n 64855, l/n 7094) today. This 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as HNA738, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1298

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1298 (c/n 63265, l/n 7081) this morning. This 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1298, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian Launches Cargo Operations

‘Ohana by Hawaiian launched their ATR72-212F cargo operations today, with N810HC "Ala‘oli" (msn 423) making the initial flights to Hilo and Līhu‘e, to deliver relief supplies to the communities affected by the April rains (Kaua‘i), and the volcanic eruption displacements (Hawai‘i Island).

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Lion Air's PK-LQP

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LQP (c/n 43000, l/n 7058) this evening. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

Kunming Airlines' B-1107

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-1107 (c/n 43912, l/n 7084) today. This 737-8LY is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1107, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-1116

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1116 (c/n 42959, l/n 7028) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8599, and will overnight at HNL.

Air China's B-1220

Air China is taking deliver of B-1220 (c/n 60899, l/n 7023) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA48, and will overnight art HNL.

Lack Of Firefighting Aircraft In Hawai‘i

With the five brush fires raging in Hawai‘i, two on O‘ahu's west side in Mākaha and Wai‘anae, two on Hawai‘i Island (Waikoloa and Keauhou), and one in Maui (Kula). We've been asked why there are no firefighting aircraft based in Hawai‘i? Each of the counties fire departments have helicopters, but nothing larger than an MD500 that can carry 200-300 gallon baskets. The county can request assistance from the US Army / Hawai‘i Army National Guard UH-60s.

Firebombers based on the US mainland have been assigned to fight fires in the western US.

In the case of the two O‘ahu fires, a firebomber could help the Honolulu Fire Department and Federal Fire Department, especially with both fire threatening properties, and has consumed a few structures.

In the case of the Hawai‘i Island fires, they are both burning in remote areas, with the Waikoloa fire consuming over 13,000 acres. 

The State of Hawai‘i could invest in a company (via public-private partnership) to man a few aircraft that could drop very large amounts of water to fight fires around the island chain. When not being used in Hawai‘i, the aircraft could be wet-leased to fight fires elsewhere.  The Kalaeloa Airport [JRF] would be a great place to park the aircraft, as space is dwindling at HNL.

Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CAK

Another An-12BK from the Ukraine Air Alliance, UR-CAK (msn 6343707), is making a stop at HNL as UKL4073.

AirAsia X's 9M-XXU

AirAsia X's A330-343 X-Men logo jet, 9M-XXU (msn 1581), came in today on their daily run from KUL (via KIX).

Okay Airways' B-1291

Okay Airways is taking delivery of B-1291 (c/n 63491, l/n 7078) this afternoon. This 737-9KFER is making its delivery flight from BFI as OKA1291, and will overnight at HNL.

OE-IGZ

Aircraft lessor AerCap is ferrying OE-IGZ (c/n 28258, l/n 1315), a 737-75C, from XMN to the mainland, following its lease expiration with Xiamen Air.

28258 was originally purchased by ILFC, and leased to Xiamen Air in May 2003 as B-5039. Sometime during 2012, it was painted in the current livery.

Shan Xi Airlines' B-5135

Our August edition of "HNLRareBirds Classic" goes back thirteen years to the delivery flight of Shan Xi Airlines' 737-84P, B-5135 (c/n 32603, l/n 1766).

B-5135 was delivered to Shan Xi Airlines, which is part of the Hainan Air Group in August 2005. A few months later, it was transferred to the Hainan Airlines fleet, but operated it for Shan Xi, and in July 2006, it was returned to Shan Xi, where it continues to fly today. In early 2011, it was painted in the 2007 Hainan red and yellow livery. At the end of 2017, it was painted in the current Hainan livery.