BREAKING: FAA Certifies The 737-7

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an amended certificate to Boeing for the 737-7 variant, that clears the way for it to enter service.

Southwest Airlines is the launch customer for the 737-7, with an order for 258 airliners, that will replace the 737-700. Other airlines who ordered the 737-7 are Allegiant Air (24), Luxair (4), Ruili Airlines (2), and SkyUp Airlines (2).

Further information in this Boeing Media Room news release, and this statement by the FAA.

Southern Airways Express Fined For FAA Violations

In two separate rulings, the Federal Aviation Administration has levied a $50,000 fine and another $263,750 fine against Southern Airways Express (Mokulele Airlines' sister-airline) for safety violations. The first fine was assessed for a weight and balanced incident in June 2024, that resulted in a tail-strike as the Cessna C208B Caravan was pushed back. The second fine was assessed for a faulty auto-pilot that lasted through 29 flights in April 2025, before the issue was addressed.

Both FAA news releases did not specify the location for the incidents and aircrafts involved. Southern Airways Express has 30 days to respond to these notices.

The Caravan above is wearing Southern's base livery, that was transferred to Mokulele last year.

Three Airlines Vie For The LNY EAS Contract

With the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract to serve LNY up again, three airlines are vying for the Federal Aviation Administration award. Incumbent Mokulele Airlines, along with Pacific Air Charters, and Cape Air have submitted bids to the FAA for the EAS. Mokulele won the previous two-year contract in 2024, and is poised to try to renew it.

Pacific Air Charters has three P2012s based at HNL, with more on order.

Cape Air, based at HYA [Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Hyannis, MA] has a fleet of 64 Cessna C402s and 30 P2012s (with 70 on order). Cape Air also has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now report.

HNL's Runway 4L Departures Only

The FAA has designated Runway 4L as a departures only runway, while Runway 4R will be used for arrivals.

Further information in this FAA Safety pdf.

Magnum Helicopters Suspends Operations

Citing on-going FAA regulatory requirements, Magnum Helicopters is suspending operations today. Many travel-related social media sites have posted that their reservations in May, June, and July have been canceled.

Kona Low Storm Impacts Flights And Operations

The "Kona Low" storm that is bringing heavy rain, high southerly winds, and thunderstorms, is impacting airlines and airport operations. Both Kamaka Air and Lāna‘i Air suspended operations today. Air traffic was put on ground holds and holding patterns for periods as storm cells sat over the state's airports. Some flights are delayed, and others face cancellation. Departing and arriving traffic patterns are also in flux, as the winds are causing the FAA to reverse, and revert, the traffic patterns.

Kīlauea Eruption Closes ITO

Due to eruption episode 43 at the Kīlauea Volcano, ash fallout, and southwesterly winds, the FAA and HDOT-A is suspending operations at ITO. The US Geological Service said that with this eruption episode, combined with winds blowing ash fall toward the eastern side of Hawai‘i, will affect air traffic, as ash will damage jet engines.

11 March 2026 UPDATE

Eruption episode 43 ended in the evening hours yesterday, and ITO was opened early this morning.

FAA To Redesign Hawai‘i Flight Paths

Hawai‘i News Now reports that the Federal Aviation Administration is in the process of redesigning the flight paths around the country, beginning in Hawai‘i. The article stated that two of the people that HNN interviewed, live in Kaimukī, where arriving traffic crosses over that part of Honolulu at 8,000 feet complained of noise.

Hardly noisy, in comparison to west O‘ahu, where aircraft of all sizes are on final approach from Kapolei to Iroquois Point, at altitudes of 3,000 feet to 500 feet respectively. There is a nightly noise-abatement curfew from 21:00 to 06:00 for Runway 8L, when all of the runways are in use.

Further information and Hawai‘i Airspace Modernization Project (HAMP) forms in this FAA weblink.

EDITORIAL

I used to live in Kaimukī for several years, and can personally say that itʻs not noisy at all for arriving traffic from the west coast. Yes, there is general aviation, and small airline traffic that crosses over metro Honolulu, but even the noise levels were not loud. Military helicopters would be the loudest, but they only overfly the city on training missions or medevac flights.

HNL One Of 40 Airports Affected By Shutdown

The US Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have listed 40 airports to reduce service due to the government shutdown. Citing safety and flight delays, the 40 airports will be required to cut domestic traffic by 10% at 40 of the largest airports in the US by 14 November.

Further information in this FAA press release.

17 November 2025 UPDATE
Following the end of the government shutdown, the FAA has rescinded the flight reductions.

FAA Issues Safety Alert For The 737-900ER

The FAA issued a Safety Alert for airlines who operate the 737-900ER, as the mid-cabin door plug design is the same as the ones on the 737-9.

This new inspection will impact flights by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines to Hawai‘i.

FAA Requires Inspections Of Some 737-9s

In light of the recent rapid decompression of the Alaska Airlines 737-9 door plug, the Federal Aviation Administration is requiring immediate grounding and inspections of 737-9 mid-cabin door plugs.

For Hawai‘i, other than Alaska Airlines, United Airlines has some west coast flights that use 737-9s, and the airline announced prior to the FAA notice, that they will voluntarily ground and inspect their fleet of 79 737-9s.

According to Airways Magazine, the EASA is adopting the FAA EAD, although the 737-9s flying in Europe are flown in high-density layouts. They also report that, globally, Aeroméxico (19), Copa Airlines (29), and Turkish Airlines (5), have also grounded their 737-9s for inspection. 

FAA Proposes Rhoades Aviation AOC Revocation

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed to revoke the Air Operators Certificate for Rhoades Aviation (dba TransAir Hawaii) for numerous safety violations. The proposal cites general violations, as well as violations with their 737-200 operations. Their four 737-200Fs have been grounded since the crash of N810TA in July 2021.  Rhoades Aviation has 15 days to respond to the FAA notice.

However, the lone passenger 737-2Q8/Adv, N413JG (c/n 23148, l/n 1059) has been operating as MUI1 quite frequently of late. It's not flying under Rhoades' RDS flight code, as it's registered to TransAir Hawaii.

TransAir Hawaii's Short SD360s have continued to operate cargo flights.

Further information in this FAA News Alert.

25 May 2022 UPDATE

According to the Star*Advertiser, Rhoades Aviation plans to dispute the FAA's proposal.

On another note, Transair Hawaii sold their 737-4Q8F, N251AU (c/n 25104, l/n 2476), to Frontera Flight Holdings this past April. It was re-registered as N388TM, and ferried from DHN to SLW. It's due to be sold to Aeronaves TSM [México].

N1

Parked over on the south ramp is N1 (c/n 1071) a Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV belonging to the Federal Aviation administration. This aircraft is also called the "Spirit of America" and serves as the main mode transportation for the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.