Sun Country Military Charters

Sun Country Airlines 737-800s have been flying between NGF [Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, Kāne‘ohe Bay] and KOA to transport US Marines on a training exercise at the Pohakuloa Range.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3238

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of RP-C3238 (msn 5067), as it transits from CGK to SFB. This A320-214 was acquired from Cebu Pacific Air. It will be registered as N285NV at SFB.

RP-C3238 was delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in March 2012, leased from RBC. Three months later, it was sold to SMBC, and flew with Cebu Pacific until this past February, where it was stored at CGK.

OE-IAI

OE-IAI (msn 1356), a former Asiana Airlines A321-131, is ferrying from ICN (via CRK, GUM, and HNL) to SBD. It's on a lease return flight to lessor Avalon, and making an overnight stop at HNL. It will leave for SBD later today.

1356 was originally delivered to Asiana Airlines in November 2000 as HL7594, under lease from CIT. In April 2017, it was sold to Avolon, and the lease transferred. It flew with Asiana until May 2020.

OE-IAI departed HNL this afternoon, but returned after a mechanical issue.

10.20.20 UPDATE
OE-IAI departed HNL this morning for SJC.

10.21.20 UPDATE

OE-IAI departed SJC for HDO [South Texas Regional Airport, Hondo, TX].

Armée de L'Air's F-RBAQ

The Armée de L'Air's (French Air Force) F-RBAQ (msn 102) is making an overnight stop at HNL from TUS as CTM1542. This A400M-180  flight originated from ORE [Bricy Airport, Orleans, France], and is headed to PPT. It also made stops at YYT [St. John's International Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada], and TUS [Tucson, AZ].

Mokulele Airlines Acquires N2150

Mokulele Airlines' parent company, Southern Airways, has acquired N2150 (msn 208B5054) from Big Island Air. This colorful C208B Grand Caravan has the Mokulele flower logo placed on the nose section where the BIA logo once was, and subdued Mokulele titles on the fuselage. There's also a "Operated by Southern Airways Express" decal by the right passenger entry door.

It's also been reported that Mokulele is now flying under the Southern Airways Express Operating Certificate. Mokulele has already been using its parent company's 9X/FDY flight code.

Conair's C-GVFT

Conair is ferrying C-GVFT (msn E2253) from its base at Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada [YXX] to Australia for its summer firefighting season. This RJ85 arrived from OAK yesterday afternoon. It will continue onto MAJ, HIR, BNE, and DBO [Dubbo City Airport, Dubbo, Australia].

Fiji Airways Retires DQ-FJF

Fiji Airways has retired its lone 737-7X2, DQ-FJF "Island of Koro" (c/n 28878, l/n 96). This 737 was quite the frequent visitor to HNL as Fiji Airways (and previously Air Pacific) used it on the NAN-CXI-HNL, and the NAN-APW-HNL routes. It's making its retirement / lease return flight from NAN to MME [Teeside International Airport, Darlington, UK], via HNL, LAX, and BGR as FJI2002. Fiji Airways had a retirement event that they posted on their Instagram page.

DQ-FJF was delivered to Air Pacific in September 1998, named "Island of Koro". It remained in the fleet when the airline was rebranded as Fiji Airways. In September 2017, FJF was sold to Willis Lease, and leased back. It was withdrawn from service earlier this month.

Glenorchy Air's N879UT

Glenorchy Air [New Zealand] is taking delivery of N879UT (msn 208B5563). This Cessna C208B Grand Caravan is making its delivery flight from ICT [Eisenhower Airport, Wichita, KS] to ZQN [Southern Alps, Queenstown, New Zealand], via SOW [Show Low, AZ], MCE [Merced Municipal Airport, Merced, CA], HNL, PPG, and AKL. This is the airline's first Grand Caravan, and will be registered as ZK-MMZ in New Zealand.

Virgin Australia Returns Five 737-8FEs

Virgin Australia is returning five of their 737-8FEs to AerCap. Combined with the airline's financial issues, with the China Corona Virus pandemic, they are in the process of thinning out the fleet as they reorganize, and in the process of new ownership.  CH-Aviation reports that Bain Capital will acquire Virgin Australia Holdings, as it received approval from its creditors. The five 737-8FEs are flying from BNE to GYR (via HIR and HNL), ferried by Jet Test crews, are making fuel stops at HNL today.

2-VYFG, formerly VH-YFG "Hanson Bay" (c/n 40999, l/n 3941), is making its ferry flight as JTN258. It was delivered to Virgin Australia in February 2012, under lease from ILFC. AerCap acquired the lease in May 2014.

2-VYFI, formerly VH-YFI "Porpoise Bay" (c/n 41000, l/n 3963) is making its ferry flight as JTN269. It was delivered to Virgin Australia in March 2012, under lease from ILFC. AerCap acquired the lease in May 2014.

2-VYFN, formerly VH-YFN "Ballina Beach" (c/n 41009, l/n 4456) is making its ferry flight as JTN270. It was delivered to Virgin Australia in May 2013, under lease from ILFC. AerCap acquired the lease in May 2014.

2-VYFP, formerly VH-YFP "Nobby's Beach" (c/n 41011, l/n 4476) is making its ferry flight as JTN271. It was delivered to Virgin Australia in June 2013, under lease from ILFC. AerCap acquired the lease in May 2014.

2-VYFQ, formerly VH-YFQ "Whiting Beach" (c/n 41010, l/n 4494) is making its ferry flight as JTN272. It was delivered to Virgin Australia in June 2013, under lease from ILFC. AerCap acquired the lease in May 2014.

RCAF CC-150 at KOA

Seen on the south ramp Thursday, Sept 3, 2020.

Asia Pacific Airlines Expands Service

Asia Pacific Airlines has expanded mainland service to OAK, SEA, and LAX, as well as limited service to KMJ [Kumamoto, Japan]. Flights began last month, as an addition to its current service to the Federated States of Micronesia.

Air Transport International's N71CX

Our September edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to November 2004, with Air Transport International's DC-8-62H-CF, N71CX (c/n 45961, l/n 361), seen above on Taxiway RT. The ATI DC-8-62H-CFs were the backbone of their military charter service to AWK [Wake Island Airfield, WQ] and SUU [Travis AFB, Fairfield , CA] up until 2013, when 757-200Cs took over.

45961 was originally delivered to Alitalia Cargo System in June 1968 as I-DIWQ "Ciclope", it was also painted in the 1970s livery, and flew with them until June 1981. Sea & Sun Aviation purchased this DC-8 for Flying Tiger Line as N3931A. In 1986, it also flew for Air Cargo Spain. In June 1987, IAC Leasing Corporation purchased N3931A, and leased it to Hawaiian Airlines. Three months later, it was sold to First Security Bank of Utah, lease transferred, until February 1993. Hawaiian had the interior configured for 204 passengers. Later that October, it was sold to Trans American Express, and leased to Advance Air Charters as C-FHAA "The Spirit of Calgary". In November 1995, this DC-8 was acquired by Kalitta American International Airways, and re-registered as N818CK three months later. In February 1999, it was transferred to their Kitty Hawk International subsidiary for 15 months. ATI purchased this DC-8 in March 2003, registered as N71CX, and configured the interior to a combi (with 32 seats in the aft section).  In December 2009, it was sold to Cargo Aircraft Management (ATI's parent company), and leased back. It flew with ATI until January 2013. Sadly, N71CX was scrapped at MHV in April 2014.