Lufthansa Cargo's D-ALCA

This quarter's edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Lufthansa Cargo's MD-11F, D-ALCA (c/n 48781, l/n 625), departing Runway 8R for AKL, when they flew cargo for Air New Zealand from FRA to AKL, with stops at ORD and HNL. The flight would continue westbound back to FRA.

48781's History:

Jun 1998: Delivered to Lufthansa Cargo as D-ALCA.

Aug 2021: Sold to Western Global Airlines as N781SN (f/n 781).

Dec 2022: Stored at RSW [Southwest Florida Airport, Fort Meyers, FL] for five months.

May 2023: Stored at SHV [Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport, LA].

Jan 2025: Returned to service with Western Global Airlines.

Coulson Aviation's N132CG

Coulson Aviation's C-130H, N132CG (msn 382-4338), is returning to its base at TRM. This aerial firefighter is ferrying from BQB [Busselton Regional Airport, Western Australia, Australia] to TRM, via XRH, PPG and KOA.

Upcoming 737MAX Deliveries

With airlines around Asia and Oceania ordering the 737 MAX series, a majority of these airliners will stop through Hawai‘i (mainly HNL) during the first segment of their island-hopping delivery flights from Boeing Field (BFI) [map]. Boeing has indicated that the variants will be referred to as the -x without the MAX name, we will do the same.

Our own Google Sheet is documenting the 737 information below, as well as 737MAX deliveries as of 2017.

Boeing P-8As and E-7As on order for armed forces around the Pacific Rim have been added below.

This post will be continuously updated as new information becomes available.

According to the Boeing Test Fights Google Sheet and PlaneSpotters.net's 737 MAX Production List, these listed below are the airframes that have begun final assembly, made its first flight from RNT, or are being readied for delivery on the BFI flightline. Those listed below, should make a stopover in Hawai‘i on their first segment out of BFI on their delivery flights in the near future. In the past, additional information was also provided by Tyke's Aero Blog, and The Boeing Test Flights website.

DELIVERED

FERRIED TO HSN FOR COMPLETION

• • • • •

ON ORDER

737 MAX

7351 | B-208E | 63276 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE692 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___
7371 | B-209A | 63284 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE693 « VCV » Air India Express VT-___
7408 | B-209C | 63287 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE694 « VCV » Air India Express VT-___
7415 | B-208F | 63277 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE695 « BFI » Air India Express VT-___
7440 | B-20A3 | 61637 | Shanghai Airlines | -8 | BOE616 « BFI

7496 | B-209T | 63279 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE697 « BFI 

7595 | B-20C7 | 63281 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE696 « BFI » Air India Express VT-___
7613 | B-20AU | 63290 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE701  « VCV » Air India Express VT-___

7624 | B-____ | 61712 | Kunming Airlines | -8 | BOE201 « MWH » Air India Express VT-___

7691 | B-20C9 | 63283 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE704 « BFI » Boeing N244BE

7715 | B-20D6 | 65258 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE712 « MWH

7750 | B-20CL | 43836 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE342 « BFI » Air India Express VT-___
7761 | B-20DH | 60922 | Air China | -8 BOE275 « MWH

7784 | B-____ | 65253 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE716 « MWH
7795 | B-____ | 65257 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE717 « MWH
7798 | B-20DP | 61157 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE942 « MWH
7813 | B-20DJ | 60923 | Air China | -8 | BOE276 « MWH

7875 | B-____ | 65250 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE719 « VCV
7878 | B-20E2 | 61456 | Shandong Airlines | -8 | BOE878 « VCV

7887 | B-____ | 63291 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE708  « MWH

7931 | B-20DS | 60826 | Air China | -8 | BOE279 « MWH « SWA N8943Q
7948 | B-20DY | 64681 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE377 « MWH

8100 | B-____ | 43840 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE380 « MWH

8125 | B-____ | 61661 | Shanghai Airlines | -8 | BOE629 « MWH

8181 | B-____ | 60938 | Air China | -8 | BOE284 « BFI » Boeing N248BE

8194 | B-____ | 43845 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE388 « MWH

8206 | B-225Q | 60941 | Air China | -8 | BOE287 « BFI

8229 | B-____ | 61124 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE954 « BFI » Boeing N252BE « ACA C-FFIK

8235 | B-____ | 61153 | Shenzhen Airlines | -8 | BOE955 « MWH » Boeing N5573B

8248 | B-____ | 43847 | Xiamen Air | -8 | BOE391 « MWH

8254 | B-224L | 65254 | China Southern Airlines | -8 | BOE171 « VCV » Boeing N249BE

9098 | B-225S | 64317 | Hainan Airlines | -8 « RNT

9111 | HL8553 | 66541 | Jeju Air | -8 « RNT

9132 | HL8581 | 66412 | T'Way Air | -8  « RNT »

9204 | HL8566 | 63488 | Republic of Korea Air Force | -8 BBJ | BOE396 / KAL30D « HAM

• • •

P-8A and E-7A

• • • • • 

« Final Assembly / Pre-Flight Prep / First Flight from RNT

« Pre-Delivery Test Flights / Ready For Delivery
« Stored (Location [IATA])

« Duplicate Boeing test flight numbers

° New / Modified Livery
* Special Livery / Markings
» New airline and registration after re-market
» Boeing registration for ferry to HSN

» New / updated information

LOCATIONS [IATA]
RNT: Renton Municipal Airport, Renton, WA
BFI: King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle, WA

PAE: Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), Everett, WA

MWH: Grant County International Airport, Moses Lake, WA

SKF: Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX

VCV: Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, CA

NIP: Naval Air Station Jacksonville / Jacksonville Airport, Jacksonville, FL

GED: Delaware Coastal Airport, Georgetown, DE

• • • • •

NOTES

In the event that a delivery flight stops through any Hawai‘i airport other than HNL, their IATA airport code will noted after the flight number. 

Delivery flights that go through ANC, KEF, or any other non-Hawai‘i airport, will only be listed on our Google Sheet.

Due to the airworthiness directive for the 737MAX series, along with delivery deferrals, some airframes may deliver from sites other than BFI, and will be noted in the flight number information. 

If an airframe listed is sold to another airline, it will be noted with a » symbol, along with the new airline and registration. If the airframe delivers through Hawai‘i, the information will be revised with the delivery information. If it's not making a delivery flight through Hawai‘i, that listing will not be changed to the new airline, then removed upon its delivery flight. That information will be kept on our Google Sheet.

Air India Express is acquiring 55 737-8s that were built for Chinese customers, and have been re-marketed by Boeing, as part of Air India's massive order with Boeing. Akasa Air is also purchasing China-bound 737-8s re-marketed by Boeing.

Most 737s delivering to airlines in India will deliver east-bound through KEF [Keflavik International Airport, Keflavik, Iceland] as their first fuel stop. Most 737s delivering to airlines in the Republic of Korea normally delivers through ANC [Ted Stevens International Airport, Anchorage, AK] for their first fuel stop.

In the event they deliver through Hawai‘i, they will be listed on a post, and on the deliveries page.

Some of the deliveries bound for China will ferry to the Boeing China 737 Completion and Delivery Center, in Zhoushan, China, will have this » symbol following the flight number, that probably will be the Boeing test flight number assigned to the particular airframe.
...

... 

QantasLink's VH-X4F

National Jet Systems is taking delivery of VH-X4F "Rainbow Lorikeet" (msn 55340). This QantasLink-liveried A220-300 (BD-500-1A11) is making tis delivery flight from YMX to CBR, via YVR, HNL, and NAN as QLK6076. It will make an overnight atop at HNL tonight. This is National Jet Systems' first A220 for 2025, and their sixth overall.

Conair's C-GVFK

Conair's C-GVFK (msn E2268, f/n 164) is returning to its base at YXX, after its deployment for the Australian summer fire season. This RJ85 aerial firefighter is ferrying from BNE to YXX, via HIR, MAJ, HNL, and OAK. It's making an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

QanatsLink's VH-8NW

Network Aviation is taking delivery of VH-8NW "Pink Lake" (msn 2704). Southern Cross Aviation is flying this A319-132 from BQN to BNE, via PHX, KOA, and APW, as SXI2506. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

2704's History

Mar 2006: Delivered to Spirit Airlines as N516NK "Spirit of Cancun" (f/n 516), under lease from ILFC.

May 2014: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Jun 2018: Purchased by Spirit Airlines, and painted in the current livery.

___ 2020: Fleet number redesigned as 1516.

Feb 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at P08.

Mar 2024: Acquired by Gryphon Aviation Leasing.

Aug 2024: Ferried to MCN for prep to QantasLink.

Nov 2024: Ferried to MZJ.

Dec 2024: Ferried to BQN.

Smartwings' OK-SWK

Smartwings' OK-SWK (c/n 62914, l/n 9027) is making a stop at HNL from SAN as TVS4363. This 737-8 is making a tour group charter flight from PRG that left on 19 March, and is flying west. It will make an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

OK-SWK's History:

Jan 2025: Delivered to Smartwings, under lease from AerCap.

29 March 2025 UPDATE

OK-SWK departed for APW this afternoon as TVS4364, continuing their group tour charter.

N261FC Hard Landing In Kunia

N261FC (msn 28-24697), a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee 140 owned by Ai Vu, had a hard landing in a field in Kunia, north of the Royal Kunia subdivision. Thankfully, both pilots on board survived, with one transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Hawaiian Airlines' N782HA

Hawaiian Airlines is taking delivery of their third 787-9 DreamLiner, N782HA (c/n 66430, l/n 1223, f/n 782) today. It's making its delivery flight from CHS as HAL9787. Its Hawaiian name is taped over, and will be revealed when the 787 is blessed.

Virgin Australia's VH-VNR

Virgin Australia is returning VH-VNR (msn 3986) to its lessor, Avolon. This A320-232 making its ferry flight from PER to GYR, via CNS, MAJ, and KOA. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

3986's History:

Dec 2009: Delivered to Tiger Air as 9V-TAK, under ease from GECAS.

Jan 2010: Transferred to Tiger Air Australia as VH-VNK.

Jly 2013: Airline rebrands as Tigerair Australia.

Jly 2016: Acquired by Avolon, and the lease transferred.

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service, and returned to Avolon.

Mar 2022: Leased to Virgin Australia Regional as VH-VNR.

Feb 2025: Withdrawn from service.

N743AX

N743AX (c/n 22218, l/n 31), a 767-232F owned by Cargo Aircraft Management, is making a flight from SFB to SZB, via HNL and GUM. This white-tail 767 will make an overnight stop at HNL tonight. It's going to be leased to Raya Airways.

22218's History:

Dec 1982: Delivered to Delta Air Lines as N106DA (f/n 106).

___ 2005: Painted in the 2000 livery.

Apr 2007: Sold to ABX Air, re-registered as N743AX (f/n 743), and converted to a freighter.

Jly 2010: Sold to Cargo Aircraft Management, and leased to AmeriJet.

Apr 2022: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SNN.

May 2023: Ferried to ILN for storage.

Oct 2024: Ferried to SFB for storage.

Jan 2025: Ferried to DHN for pre to new lessee.

26 March 2025 UPDATE

N743AX departed for GUM this morning.

27 March 2025 UPDATE

N743AX departed GUM for SZB today.

30 March 2025 UPDATE

N743AX is re-registered as 9M-RXE

US Air Force's 74-0787

74-0787 (c/n 20684, l/n 232), an E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post (AACP), flying as TITAN29, is making a stop at HIK from ADW. This E-4B is transporting US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for visits to bases in the US Indo-Pacific Command theater. 74-0787 is assigned to the 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron / 595th Command and Control Group, based out of Offutt AFB, OK.

These 50-year-old E-4Bs, built from the 747-200B airframe, will be replaced in several years by the 747-8s acquired from Korean Air, and is being converted by the Sierra Nevada Corp.

G-KELT

Acropolis Aviation's G-KELT (msn 8403), is making a stop at HNL from MSP today. This A320-251N ACJ, flying as CRV1, is scheduled to continue onto SYD tomorrow.

27 March 2025 UPDATE

G-KELT stopped off at HNL returning from SYD.

29 March 2025 UPDATE

G-KELT departed for PBI after midnight.

Xiamen Airlines' N242BE

Boeing is ferrying Xiamen Airlines' N242BE (c/n 64677, l/n 7690) from BFI to HSN, via KOA and GUM, as BOE339. This 737-8 is heading for cabin completion at Boeing China. It was originally registered as B-20CQ, and will be re-registered upon delivery. N242BE will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

Malaysia Airlines Orders 30 More 737MAXs

Malaysia Airlines announced a confirmation of an order of an additional 30 737MAX series airliners, with an option for another 30, today. The airline says the order is broken into 18 737-8s and 12 737-10s, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. Malaysia Airlines originally ordered 25 737-8s under lease from Air Lease Corp, but was disclosed if the additional 30 will be leased or purchased.

Further information in this CH-Aviation.com article.

Honeywell International's N757HW

Honeywell International's 757-225 test airliner, N757HW (c/n 22194, l/n 5), is making a stop at JRF from PHX this afternoon, as HNW757. It's wearing the new livery with the #futureshaper titles on the tail. N757HW is heading for AVV [Avalon Airport, Melbourne, Australia], for the Avalon Airshow.

We've managed to catch N757HW at HNL a few times over the past several years.

21 March 2025 UPDATE

N757HW departed JRF for NAN this morning.

29 March 2025 UPDATE

N757HW arrived from NAN this afternoon, and will return to PHX tomorrow morning.

Zipair To Increase Fleet

As part of a new order with Boeing, Japan Airlines announced that they will transfer two 787-8s and ten 787-9s to Zipair, which will increase the fleet size to 20. The two 787-8s will join Zipair in 2026, while the ten 787-9s will be added in 2027. Japan Airlines also has ten 787-9s on order, slated for deliveries in 2027 and 2028.

Japan Airlines also announced that they are adding 17 more 737-8s to their existing order of 21, bring the total to 38. Deliveries are set to begin in FY2026.

Further information in this Aviation Week article and this Japan Airlines press release.

Xiamen Air's N230BE

Boeing is ferrying Xiamen Air's N230BE (c/n 64680, l/n 7934) from BFI to HSN, via KOA and GUM, as BOE376. This 737-8, was originally registered as B-20DX, and will be re-registered after its cabin configuration is completed. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight,

Asiana Airlines Alters Livery

If you haven't noticed, Asiana Airlines began removing the red arrow logo next to the titles, as well as the "Kumho Asiana Group" titles in the tan-colored section of the tail livery, since the merger between Korean Air and Asian Airlines was finalized this past December. With the merger, it began the slow phase out of the identity of Kumho Group's stake in Asiana. However, some of the new-builds A321-251NXs still have the Kumho logo and titles.

Mahalo to HNL RareBirds contributor Joe G Walker for pointing out the change in the Asiana livery, and for the above photo of HL8381 (msn 387), an A350-941 departing SEA as AAR271 to ICN,

Conair's C-FFQF

Conair's C-FFQF (msn 4315, f/n 391) is heading back to its base at YXX, following its assignment in Australia. This Dash8-402QAT is flying from ABX to YXX, via MEL, BNE, HIR, MAJ, HNL, and YVR, as FGD391. It will make an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

QantasLink's VH-8NU

Southern Cross International is delivering QantasLink's VH-8NU (msn 2673) from BQN to PER, via PHX, KOA, APW, and PER, as SXI2505. This A319-132 is owned by Network Aviation, and operated for QantasLink. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

2673's History

Feb 2006: Delivered to Spirit Airlines as N512NK "Spirit of Turks and Caicos Islands" (f/n 512), under lease from ILFC.

May 2014: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Jun 2018: Purchased by Spirit Airlines, and painted in the current livery.

___ 2020: Fleet number redesigned as 1512.

Dec 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at P08.

Jan 2024: Acquired by Gryphon Aviation Leasing.

Jly 2024: Ferried to BQN to prep for Network Aviation.

Zipair Resumes HNL Service

After a seasonal hiatus, Zipair resumes its three-times-weekly NRT-HNL service today. JA822J (c/n 34832, l/n 23), made Zipair's flight this morning as TZP2.

Virgin Australia Regional's VH-VKQ

Virgin Australia Regional is returning VH-VKQ (msn 4053) to Avolon, its lessor. This A320-232 is making its ferry flight from PER to P08, via CNS, APW, and KOA. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

4053's History:

Oct 2009: Delivered to Tiger Airways as 9V-TAL, under lease from GECAS.

Mar 2010: Airline rebrands as Tiger Airways Australia, and re-registered as VH-VNO.

Jly 2013: Airline rebrands as Tigerair Australia.

Dec 2016: Acquired by Avolon, and the lease transferred.

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service.

Nov 2020: Ferried to SBD for storage.

Oct 2021: Ferried to MPL for storage as OE-INN.

Mar 2022: Leased to Virgin Australia Regional as VH-VKQ.

C-FNEN

C-FNEN (msn 4453), a Dash8-402Q owned by JD Aero, is the latest Q400 bound for Sunstate Airlines to operate for QantasLink. It's making its delivery flight from YAM to BNE, via YYJ, HNL, and MAJ; and will make an overnight stop at HNL tonight. This Q400 will be re-registered as VH-84E, and is named "Launceston".

4453's History:

Oct 2013: Delivered to WestJet Encore as C-FNEN.

Oct 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at YAM.

Dec 2024: Acquired by JD Aero, and prep for QantasLink at YAM.