Hawaiian Airlines Retires N481HA

Hawaiian Airlines has retired N481HA "‘Alauahio" (c/n 55126, l/n 5073, f/n 481) from its fleet. This 717-22A was delivered to the airline in July 2001, and was withdrawn from service in April 2019. It will be used as a parts bird. The Hawaiian titles, and aircraft name have been painted over.

04 August 2020 Update

N481HA made its final flight as HAL8991 to JRF today, where it will be parted out.

Nauru Airlines' VH-ONU

Nauru Airlines is ferrying VH-ONU (c/n 28732, l/n 2966) from BNE to MIA, with a stop at HNL and ONT. This 737-3U3 arrived early this morning on a direct flight from BNE. It departed this afternoon ahead of Hurricane Douglas.

28732 was originally ordered by Garuda Indonesia as PK-GGH, but was not taken up. In November 1998, Air New Zealand purchased this 737-3U3, then leased it to Winair as N930WA. Five months later, it was leased to LOT - Polish Airlines as ZK-NGD. In October 1999, Air New Zealand sold ZK-NGD to ACAP, and leased it back to the airline, then added the 737 into their fleet. In August 2014, it was sold to Nauru Airlines as VH-ONU. Its last revenue flight was on March 21, 2020, and stored at BNE.

Taiwan Government Approves China Airlines Name Change

Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (parliament) approved the name change of China Airlines today. The 60-year-old carrier will be allowed to rebrand its name, livery, and corporate identity both English and Chinese. The request to change had surfaced this past April, especially with the China Corona Virus, and the confusion between The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China.

No formal proposal nor timetable has been announced by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, but the three main contenders being tossed around are Taiwan Airlines, Formosa Airlines, and Yushan Airlines.

Further information in this Taiwan News article, Taipei Times article, and Airways Magazine article.

Qantas Retires Their 747s

Qantas Airways retired its 747 fleet today. It ends the 49-year with the "Queen Of The Skies" that began with 747-238B, VH-EBC (c/n 20011, l/n 162) in October 1971. Qantas has served HNL with four variants: -238B, -SP38, -338, and -438.

VH-OEJ "Wunala" (c/n 32914, l/n 1331) is making one last flight from SYD to LAX as QFA7474 today.

[Top]

747-338, VH-EBT "City of Wagga Wagga" (c/n 23222, l/n 602), taxiing on Taxiway RT in 2005.

[Above]

747-438, VH-OEI "Ceduna" (c/n 32913, l/n 1330), about to touchdown on Runway 8L in 2019.

Alaska Airlines Adds Service To KOA And LIH

Alaska Airlines announced today that they will launch new service from LAX. Starting December 17, 2020, they will fly three-times weekly service to KOA, and from December, 18th, fly four-times weekly service to LIH, both with 737-890s.

Further details in this Alaska Airlines press release.

US Department of Justice's N119NA

The US Department of Justice's 757-223, N119NA (c/n 24487, l/n 236), arrived from RIC [Richmond, VA] via ONT as JENA2, and parked on the North Ramp.

24487 was originally delivered to American Airlines in July 1989 as N611AM (f/n 611), and flew with the airline until April 2012. L-3 Communications Advanced Aviation LLC acquired this 757 in November 2014 as N119NA. Four months later, it was purchased by the US DOJ as N119NA.

15 July 2020 Update

N119NA brought over additional FBI Special Agents and a SWAT unit to take down a local man suspected of running a criminal organization and murder.

Further details in this Hawaii News Now report.

Thai Airways International's HS-TKQ

Thai Airways International's 777-3ALER, HS-TKQ "Khemarat" (c/n 41526, l/n 1129), made a flight from BKK to HNL as THA8084. After arrival, it taxied to HIK.

HS-TKQ departed for BKK later today as THA8085.

Omni Air International's N369AX

Our July edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to July 2004, with Omni Air International's 757-28A, N369AX (c/n 28161, l/n 723), seen above at Gate 15. It was operating the Vacations Hawai‘i Las Vegas charter service.

28161 was originally purchased by ILFC, and delivered under lease to Canada 3000 in September 1996 as C-FOON. In April 2002, it was leased to National Airlines [N7/ROK] as N543NA, which lasted only seven months. In May 2003, it was leased to Omni Air International as N369AX, and flew with Omni for four years. In December 2007, it was leased to Astraeus as G-STRY until December 2011. During its time with Astraeus, it was subleased to bmi-British Midland (May 2008 - June 2011), and Iceland Express (June - August 2011). It's next lessee from May 2012 was UTAir as VP-BAS. In January 2015, it was sold to AerCap, then leased to Azur Air as VP-BAS. In December 2016, it was sold to DHL as N826DH, and converted to a package freighter. It was transferred to its UK division as G-DHKI in August 2017. EAT Leipzig acquired this 757 in March 2019 as D-ALEV, and continues to wear the DHL livery.