John Travolta Donates N707JT To Australian Museum

Actor John Travolta has donated his 707-138, N707JT "Jet Clipper Ella" (c/n 187840, l/n 388), to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society at the Shellharbour Airport, New South Wales, Australia. The actor promised to donate the 707 to the HARS, and the plan was to fly it from Florida to Australia, but was not allowed due to regulatory challenges in ferrying the airliner. So it was taken apart, and the wings, engines and other parts have already been shipped. The fuselage is now set to travel via ship.

N707JT had made numerous stops at HNL, including times when it bore a Pan American-like livery, as Travolta's late wife, actress Kelly Preston, was born and raised in Honolulu. It used to park on the AirService Hawaii (now Atlantic Aviation) ramp.

Further information in this ABC Sydney report.

Qantas Switches SYD-HNL To A330-300s

Beginning today, Qantas Airways is switching from their 787-9 DreamLiners to their A330-300s for their SYD-HNL service [QFA103/104]. VH-QPG "Mount Gambier" (msn 603) made this morning's flight.

Qantas Airways' VH-OQH

Qantas Airways is using an A380-842 for its service between MEL and HNL this morning. VH-OQH "Reginald Ansett" (msn 050) is making the flight as QFA105. Normally, this service is operated with an A330-200s. VH-OQH will depart for LAX, as QFA6001, following a brief fuel stop.

On 12 July 2025, his A380 was in

VH-OQH's History:

Jan 2011: Delivered to Qantas Airways.

Jly 2015: Painted in the "Go Wallabies" special livery for 17 months.

Jly 2020: Ferried to VCV for storage during the pandemic.

Jly 2022: Returned to service.

Oct 2023: Painted in the current livery.

Jly 2025: Involved in incident where an airbridge made contact with the No. 2 engine (12 Jly), and returned to service three days later.

Qantas Looks For More ERJ-190 For QantasLink

CH-Aviation reports that the Qantas Group is looking to acquire up to 14 second-hand ERJ-190s for their Network Aviation subsidiary. Western Australia's Network operates for QantasLink, and currently has a fleet of 14 aging Fokker F100s that the Embraers would replace. The 14 ERJ-190s would be painted in the QantasLink livery. The source of the used ERJ-190s has not been revealed, but Qantas is looking toward the 4th quarter of 2026 to begin deliveries.

Network Aviation is also recently acquired nine A319-132s from Spirit Airlines, eight have been delivered, with one delivery currently pending, to replace some of their F100 fleet. Network will also be receiving four former Jetstar Asia A320-232s later this year, as Jetstar Asia ceased operations.

This would also be QantasLink's second time with the ERJ-190 as they currently have wet-leased 30 from Alliance Airlines (pictured above).

Further information in this Qantas Group press release.

Qantas Re-Starts MEL-HNL Service

Qantas Airways has re-started three-times weekly service between MEL and HNL tonight, as QFA105/106. The A330-301 service is scheduled to arrive at HNL tomorrow morning. VH-QPG "Mount Gambier" (msn 603) is making the relaunch flight.

Qantas' VH-OQH

Qantas' A380-842, VH-OQH "Reginald Ansett" (msn 50), made a diversion to HNL from SYD this morning. It was scheduled to fly to LAX, but made a medical diversion, and will continue onto LAX later in the morning.

Qantas To Take Over MEL-HNL From Jetstar

Aeroroutes.com reports that Qantas will take over the MEL-HNL service from Jetstar from 01 May 2025. Qantas will employ its A330-200s on a thrice-weekly service, which will be one more day than the current Jetstar 787-8 service.

Qantas' VH-ZNH

Qantas Airways' 787-9 DreamLiner, VH-ZNH "Great Barrier Reef" (c/n 36241, l/n 778), with the "Go Australia" decal for the 2024 Australian Olympics and Paralympics teams, is making its first stop at HNL since the decals were applied. This 787 is flying the airlines SYD-HNL-SYD route as QFA103/104.

Qantas Airways' VH-ZNJ

Qantas Airways' VH-ZNJ "Longreach" (c/n 66074, l/n 929) is making its first appearance at HNL today. This 787-9 DreamLiner, wearing the airline's 100th anniversary special livery, is flying as QFA103/104.

19 May 2024 UPDATE

VH-ZNJ is making another appearance today.

N486AY

N486AY (c/n 23486, l/n 1286), a 737-376F owned by the Qantas Group, is ferrying from MEL to BXM [Brunswick Executive Airport, Brunswick, ME], via BNE, MAJ, HNL, and PHX. It arrived at HNL, a bit past midnight, and will depart for PHX later today.

23486's History:

Dec 1986: Delivered to Australian Airlines as VH-TAU "Enterprise".

Oct 1993: Integrated into the Qantas Airways fleet after the merger.

Oct 2002: Transferred to Jetconnect as ZK-JNF.

Sep 2006: Returned to Qantas as VH-XML.

Jun 2007: Converted to a freighter, and assigned to Australian airExpress.

May 2013: Assigned to Express Freighters, and operated under the QantasFreight brand.

Oct 2016: Star Tracks titles applied.

Oct 2018: Repainted in the current livery.

Apr 2024: Re-registered as N486AY, and withdrawn from service.

Qantas Airways' VH-ZND

Qantas Airways' special-liveried 787-9, VH-ZND "Emily Kane Kngwarreye" (c/n 63390, l/n 669), is flying the QFA103/104 route between SYD and HNL today. This DreamLiner is painted in the "Yam Dreaming" livery.

Qantas Upgauges QFA103/104 To 787-9

Beginning today, Qantas Airways is upguaging its SYD-HNL round-trip service from the A330-300 to the 787-9. VH-ZNN "Snowy River" (c/n 66078, l/n 1051) made today's flight. This upgrade is seasonal for the summer months.

Qantas Orders A350s and 787s

SimpleFlying.com reports that Qantas Airways is ordering 12 A350-1000ULRs and 12 787s (four 787-9s and eight 787-10s), along with options for additional aircraft. These aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2027, will replace Qantas’ A330-200, A330-300 and A380-800 fleets. The plan is for the 787s to replace the A330s, and the A350s to replace the A380s. Currently, Qantas serves HNL from SYD with an A330-300. A pair of Qantas' A330-200s have been undergoing freighter conversion, and will join the QantasFreight fleet.

Qantas Makes Bid To Acquire Alliance Airlines

Simple Flying reports that Qantas Airways has made a AU$614M offer to acquire the remaining shares in Alliance Airlines, whom they already have nearly 20% ownership. Alliance already has a portion of their ERJ-190AR fleet painted in QantasLink colors (top photo). This deal would make Alliance a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group. It will need approval by Australian commerce regulators before the acquisition can take place.

Alliance uses HNL as a stopover point as their ERJ-190ARs deliver from SJO to BNE.

Further information in this article by CH-Aviation.

Qantas' 100th Anniversary

Qantas Airways celebrates its 100th anniversary today. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up in white and red LEDs as their 100th anniversary-liveried 787-9, VH-ZNJ (c/n 66074, l/n 929), made a pass above the bridge.

Video footage from SamChui.com.

Qantas has been a mainstay at HNL for decades from SYD.

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.

Qantas Retires Their 747-400 Fleet

Accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Qantas Airways retired its remaining 747-438s. The airline had supplemental 747 flights for their SYD-HNL service for the spring schedule, but that came to a quick end. VH-OEI "Ceduna" (c/n 32913, l/n 1330) is seen above, seconds from touching down on Runway 8L.

On a related note, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also retired their 747-406 fleet this week. PH-BFE "Melbourne" (c/n 24201, l/n 763) is seen above, in a 2010 photo while on final for LAX's Runway 25L.

Qantas Adds 747-400 Service

RoutesOnline.com reports that Qantas Airways will be adding 747-438 flights between SYD and HNL for the month of March as QFA103/104.

Qantas Ends 747-400 Service To HNL

Qantas Airways' VH-OEI (c/n 32913, l/n 1330) made the final 747-438 service between SYD and HNL today, as the Australian flag carrier winds down its 747-438 operations. A330-300s will be the replacement type for QFA3/4.

Qantas To Upguage To Seasonal 747-400

The Australian Business Traveler reports that Qantas will upguage their QFA3/QFA4 service from their A330-300s to their 747-438s for their summer travel season (07 Dec 2018 to late-April 2019).