Hawaiian Applies For Second HND Flight

Hawaiian Airlines has applied for a second daily HND flight, that would rotate between HNL (four days per week) and KOA (three days per week). HND has opened up two additional slots for US-based flights.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Thai Lion's HS-LUQ

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LUQ (c/n 40060, l/n 5869) this afternoon. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a rare overnight stop at HNL.

China United's B-7562

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-7562 (c/n 61682, l/n 5868) this afternoon. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA562, and will overnight at HNL. B-7562 is the 9,000th 737 (combined Classic and Next Generation) built and delivered, and wears commemorative decals behind the cockpit windows.

Hawaiian Pilots To Vote To Strike

Airways News is reporting that the pilots of Hawaiian Airlines will take a strike vote authorization as negotiations between the ALPA and airline management. If all negotiations fail, the pilots would have to seek federal permission to strike. Both the airline and the pilots union are working with a federal mediator to iron out a new contract.

N460KA

N460KA (c/n 27460, l/n 3021), a 737-33AF owned by Kahala Aviation Leasing, is ferrying from TPA to SZB, with stops at SAT, SAN, HNL, MAJ, GUM, and MNL. It's headed to join the Neptune Air [N7/NEP] fleet, as the airline resumes its 737 freighter operations.

27460 was originally purchased by AWAS, and leased to Air Malta [KM/AMC] in April 1998 as 9H-ADI. In May 2008, AWAS leased it to Air New Zealand as ZK-NGR, and was returned in March 2015, where it was sold to Kahala Aviation Leasing as N460KA. During its ferry flight from CHC to TPA, it made a stop at JRF in May 2015. The freighter conversion was done at TPA, in January 2016.

Shandong's B-7566

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7566 (c/n 61425, l/n 5864) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG7566, and will overnight at HNL.

Dubai Air Wing's A6-HEH

A6-HEH (c/n 32835, l/n 1602), a 737-8AJ BBJ2 from Dubai Air Wing / Royal Flight [DUB] (United Arab Emirates), has made a stop at HNL.

Hebei's B-7227

Hebei Airlines is taking delivery of B-7227 (c/n 42967, l/n 5831) this morning. The 737-8LW is making its delivery flight from BFI as HBH7227, and will overnight at HNL.

OGG To Add New Rental Car Structure

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced that a new Consolidated Rent-A-Car (Conrac) structure will be built at the Kahului Airport. It will feature a solar-powered rail system to take passengers to and from the terminal to the new facility; and it will house 12 companies with 4,500 cars.

Further details in this HIDoT press release.

Solar Impulse 2 Departure Window Opens

The departure window for the "zero-fuel" Solar Impulse 2 opens today. The solar-powered aircraft has gone through numerous test flights with the new battery cells and cooling systems. Crews are looking four potential west coast landing sites (Phoenix, AZ; San Francisco-Bay Area; Los Angeles-SoCal Area; and Vancouver, BC).

Further information in this Solar Impulse 2 press release.


04.20.16 Update
Solar Impulse 2 plans to depart on April 21st at 0500HST (1500UTC).

Hainan's B-7173

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-7173 (c/n 43413, l/n 5853) today. The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH7173, and will overnight at HNL.

Happy 90th Birthday American Airlines!

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau! Today, American Airlines celebrates its 90th year of operations! The airline got its beginnings as Robertson Aircraft Corporation, and has evolved into the world's largest airline.

American's initial entry into the Hawai‘i market began with Trans World Airlines (TWA) in the 1960s, and American entered the Hawai‘i market in 1970. American also merged with US Airways in February 2013.

Currently, American serves HNL, OGG, KOA, and LIH from the US mainland.

Further information in this American Airlines press release.

Island Air To Return To KOA

Island Air announced today that they will re-instate service between HNL and KOA, beginning June 14th, with five daily round-trip flights.

Further information in this Island Air press release.

Donghai's B-7630

Donghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7630 (c/n 61272, l/n 5856) this morning. The 737-83Z is making its delivery flight from BFI as EPA290, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern's B-7591

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7591 (c/n 41487, l/n 5859) this afternoon. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

HANG F-22s Return From Deployment

The contingent of Hawaiʻi Air National Guard F-22s, pilots, and support crews returned today from their six-month deployment in the Middle East in the combat against Daesh (or ISIS).

Further information in this 15th Air Base Wing article.

We thank you for your service and protecting our freedoms!

Hawaiian To Add A 2nd Flight Simulator

Hawaiian Airlines announced today, that they will add a second full flight simulator at its Honolulu training facility. This second simulator will be for their A321s that they will begin receiving in the latter half of 2017. The present simulator (pictured above) is for their A330 flight crews.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Happy 90th Birthday United Airlines!

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau! United Airlines celebrates its 90th birthday today. The airline, which began flying mail out of Boise, ID as Varney Air Lines, has evolved into a global airline. United's first flight to HNL was on 01 May 1947, from SFO, flown by a DC-6 "Mainliner". The airline's then-president William A. "Pat" Patterson was born in Waipahu, thus one of United's Boeing 377 Stratocruisers was named "Mainliner Waipahu".

Currently United serves HNL, OGG, KOA, LIH, and ITO; and has flights from the Continental US, Japan, and the Pacific.


Further information on United's history, in their press release.

Shanghai's B-7397

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7397 (c/n 42153, l/n 5846) today. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines' order book, is makings delivery flight from BFI as CSH9761, and will overnight at HNL.

Alaska To Buyout Virgin America

Alaska Airlines announced today that they are buying out Virgin America for an aggregate price of $4 billion, and creating the west coast's premier carrier. The buyout will expand Alaska's presence in California, as Virgin America's two hubs are at SFO and LAX. Of course, this buyout will require government approval that is expected by January 2017.

Alaska will decide the future of Virgin America's 60 A319s and A320s (as well as the latter's orders with Airbus), as it could either keep the VRD fleet, or sell it off and order more 737s.

Further information in this Alaska Airlines press release, and this Virgin America press release.

Mokulele Awarded SoCal EAS Contract

CH-Aviation.com reports that Mokulele Airlines has been awarded the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract that connects IPL [Imperial County Airport, El Centro, CA] and LAX. The two-year contract begins on May 1st, that runs to April 30, 2018, and the airline will assign two of their Cessna C208B Grand Caravans for this contract.

Xiamen Air's B-2866

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to September 2004, with this Xiamen Airlines 757-25C, pictured above climbing out from a Runway 8R departure. B-2866 (c/n 34009, l/n 1048) was making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA2866, and continued onto MAJ, SPN, and XMN.

B-2866 continues to fly for Xiamen Air, and was painted in the current livery in late 2012.

N24848

N24848 (c/n 24848, l/n 325), a 767-383ER owned by Well Fargo Bank Northwest, is ferrying from BKK to ROW as JTN5126, and is making an overnight stop at JRF. It was most recently with Business Air [8B/BCC] (Thailand), but has been in storage at BKK since the airline's shutdown in January 2015. Upon landing at JRF, it was noted that the two center windshields suffered cracks on the outer pane, but the crews feel it's safe enough to continue on to ROW.

24848 was originally delivered to SAS Scandinavian Airlines in September 1990 as SE-DKS, and re-registered as OY-KDN two months later. In October 2003, it was sold to Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management, and leased to Arkefly [OR/TFL] (Netherlands) as PH-AHY, to which it was subleased to Air Holland [GG/HLN] (Netherlands) for four months, then leased to BelgiumExel [HXL] for 11 months, then to Vietnam Airlines [VN/HVN] for three months before to would fly for ArkeFly (June 2005). It flew for the Dutch carrier until October 2010, when it placed into storage at SNN until January 2011. In March 2011, it was delivered to Business Air as HS-BID, and flew until the airline's shutdown in January 2015. The airline rebranded itself as Intira Airlines in July 2015, but has yet to begin operations, even though their website claims to start service in October 2015. WFBN acquired this 767 in February 2016 as N24848.

Air China's B-7181

Air China is taking delivery of B-7181 (c/n 44912, l/n 5839) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPF

Another monthly transit of a Virgin Australia EMB-190 arrived today from Brisbane via Apia, Sāmoa as VOZ9901. VH-ZPF "Whitehaven Beach" (c/n 19000193) will continue on to Embraer's Maintenance facility in Nashville, TN, via Van Nuys, CA.

ACLU And State Agree Aircraft Photography Around HNL

Honolulu Civil Beat reports that the ACLU and the State Attorney General's Office agreed that amateur aviation photographers and the general public can photograph aircraft from public property around HNL

Schuman Aviation's N135PB Used In "Hawai‘i Five-0" Episode

Schuman Aviation's Piper PA-31-350, N135PB (msn 31-7952035) was trucked from their Makani Kai Air ramp, and used as a beached aircraft prop for an episode of CBS's "Hawai‘i Five-0". The Piper was recently retired in favor of the Makani Kai Air's Cessna Grand Caravans.

China Eastern's B-7590

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7590 (c/n 41485, l/n 5832) this afternoon. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9002, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-7396

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7396 (c/n 42152, l/n 5827) this afternoon. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH7396, and will overnight at HNL. This is Shanghai's third 737-89P delivery within the past 11 days.


03.26.16 Update
B-7396 extended its HNL stay by one day, and left for MAJ today.

Lion Air's PK-LPR

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LPR (c/n 39881, l/n 5829) tonight. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make a brief late-night fuel stop at HNL.

Aloha ʻOe Skinny Dragons

MCAF Kāne‘ohe Bayʻs Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4) "Skinny Dragons" P-3C Orions have begun their "Aloha Deployment". Upon return form their deployment, they will transition to the P-8A Poseidon, and relocate to NAS Whidbey Island, WA. The "Skinny Dragons" are the first of three P-3C squadrons based at MCAF Kāne‘ohe Bay to make the transition and the move, and ends a 50-year run being based on O‘ahu. US Navy anti-submarine aircraft were once based at the now-closed NAS Barbers Point (now the Kalaeloa Airport). 

Further details in this Navy.mil article.

Terrorists Attack On BRU

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those injured and killed, and their families and friends, in the terrorist attacks on BRU [Brussels National Airport, Zaventem, Belgium] and the Maelbeek Metro Station, this morning. 

N332CC

N332CC (c/n 30231, l/n 515), a 737-86N owned by International Aviation & Capital Management, is ferrying from UTP [Utapao International Airport, Rayong, Thailand] to GYR, with stops at GUM and KOA.

30231 was originally purchased by GECAS, and leased to Pegasus Airlines in April 2000 as TC-APL. In December 2003, it was leased to China Xinhua Airlines as B-5081, and was painted in the 2007 Hainan livery in 2008. In April 2015, it was sold to International Aviation & Capital Management, and leased to City Airways five months later, as HS-GTH.

Sun Country Brings Home UH Men's Basketball Team

A Sun Country Airlines 737-8FH brought home the University of Hawai‘i Men's Basketball team from GEG, after its second-round loss in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. N821SY (c/n 39952, l/n 5217), flying as SCX8650, left GEG this morning, and arrived at HNL this afternoon.

Shanghai's B-7633

Shanghai Airline is taking delivery of B-7633 (c/n 41583, l/n 5820) today. The 737-89P, allocated from parent company China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from HNL as CSH633, and will overnight at HNL.

SF Airlines' N166CR

SF Airlines' N166CR is making its way from GYR to SZX, via HNL and GUM. It went to GYR in August 2015 for freighter conversion.

N943NZ

N943NZ (c/n 24443, l/n 2398), a 737-476 for Toll Airwork [HT/PST] (New Zealand), is making its way from DHN to AKL (via OAK, HNL, and APW).

24443 was originally delivered to Australian Airlines in November 1992 as VH-TJR. After the merger with Qantas in 1993, it was transferred to the latter's fleet that October, and named "Cockatiel". It was withdrawn from the Qantas fleet in October 2013, and ferried to VCV two months later. It was ferried to DHN for freighter conversion in May 2015.

OK Air's B-7373

Okay Airways is taking delivery of B-7373 (c/n 43412, l/n 5797) today. The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as OKA7373, and will overnight at HNL.

N881TM

N881TM (c/n 28643, l/n 828), a 737-86N owned by GECAS, is making its ferry flight from CGK to TUS, and is making a stop at HNL.

28643 was originally leased to Pegasus [PC/PGT] in April 2001 as TC-APK. It was sub-leased to Khalifa Airways [K6/KGW] (Algeria) for a few months in late 2002 & early 2003. In July 2003, it was leased to Shenzhen Airlines as B-5050 in the original livery; and in 2009, it was painted in the modified 2009 livery. It was returned to GECAS in December 2015, where it was ferried from SZX to CGK for storage.

Shanghai's B-7861

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7861 (c/n 44384, l/n 5803) this afternoon. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines' order book, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH856, and will overnight at HNL.

Asia Pacific's N757QM Enters Service

Asia Pacific Airlines has put N757QM into service, after receiving its clearance from the FAA. Flying as MGE757, it has been flying freight between HNL, GUM and MAJ.

Delta Begins 737-900ER Proving Flights

Delta Air Lines is making its first 737-932ER proving flight from SEA to HNL, as the airline will switch from their 757-200s to their 737-932ERs in April. N853DN (c/n 31964, l/n 5776, f/n 3853) made the flight as DAL9932.


03.18.16 Update
N853DN is returning to SEA today as DAL9931.

N208CR

N208CR (c/n 28724, l/n 662), a 767-338ER, is ferrying from VCV to China for SF Airlines.

28724 was originally delivered to Qantas Airways in June 1997 as VH-OGR "City of Corowa", and served with Australian flag carrier until September 2014, when it stored at ASP. In November 2015, it was ferried to VCV, sold to WFBN, and converted to a freighter. It was sold to SF Airlines, and will receive its Chinese registration upon delivery.

N330XW

N330XW (c/n 33017, l/n 1446), a 737-8BK owned by CIT Leasing, is making its ferry flight from CGK to OKC (via GUM, and HNL).

33017 was purchased by CIT Leasing, and leased to Virgin Blue, then subleased to Pacific Blue in February 2004 as ZK-PBC "Missy Mainlander". A year later, it was returned to Virgin Blue as VH-VOX "Missy Mainlander". In May 2011, when Virgin Blue and V Australia were consolidated as Virgin Australia, VH-VOX was transferred over, and renamed "Coolum Beach". It was withdrawn from service in December 2015, and ferried to CGK for storage in January 2016.


03.17.16 Update
N330XW, painted all-white, for OKC today.

United To Retire Their 747-400s In 2018

According to Airways News, United Airlines announced that they will retire their entire fleet of 22 747-400s in 2018. United will be taking delivery of A350-1000XWBs and 777-300ERs, that will take over the 747-400 routes. The airline also placed an order of 25 more 737-700s.

Xiamen's B-7196

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7196 (c/n 43386, l/n 5813) today. The 737-85C, leased from ICBC, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA7196, and will overnight at HNL. This is Xiamen's third 737-85C delivery within the past 13 days.

Nok Air's HS-DBV

Nok Air is taking delivery of HS-DBV "Nok Phu Pha" (c/n 61295, l/n 5810) today. The 737-88L is makings delivery flight from BFI as HSDBV, and will overnight at HNL.

10th Anniversary Logo

Today, we are unveiling our HNL RareBirds 10th Anniversary logo, that will be our profile photo for our social media accounts (Twitter and Facebook), and our email icon.

Alaska Airlines' Total Eclipse Flight

Today's Alaska Airlines flight ASA870, from ANC to HNL, will have the distinction of flying through the shadow of a total solar eclipse, of which the path is north of the Hawaiian Islands. To make the window of the solar eclipse, ASA870's departure from ANC will be delayed by 25 minutes. N459AS (c/n 36352, l/n 4832), a 737-990ER, is making the flight.

Further information is in this Alaska Airlines blog post.

Xiamen Air's B-7197

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7197 (c/n 42925, l/n 5805) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA7197, and will overnight at HNL.

Northern Air Cargo's N361NC Returns

Northern Air Cargo's N361NC (c/n 23260 l/n 1164) returned to Hawai‘i to work for sister-company Aloha Air Cargo. The 737-301FS first came to Hawai‘i in December 2013 to back fill Aloha Air Cargo's retirement of N841AL until their first 737-330F arrived.

Austrian Airways' OE-LPA

In what appears to be an around-the-world charter, Austrian Airways' OE-LPA (c/n 28698, l/n 87), made a stop at KOA today. The 777-2Z9ER arrived from MSY as AUA2911, and originated in ZRH. It's scheduled to depart for NRT on Monday, March 7th.

N463VX

N463VX (c/n 27632, l/n 2857), a 737-48E, is ferrying from GYR to PVG, with stops at OAK, HNL, MAJ, and GUM. It's owned by V63A-734 LLC (San Francisco, CA). FlightRadar24.com had it listed as a 737-48E(SF), but no cargo door cutout was visible. It will be converted into a freighter at PVG.

27632 was originally purchased by ILFC, and was leased to Asiana Airlines in February 1997 as HL7512. In June 2006, it was leased to Air One [AP/ADH] (Italy) as EI-DOV until November 2010. In June 2011, it was leased to Bluebird Airways [BBG] (Greece) as SX-TZE "Nikolas", until January 2016. It wore their original livery, as well as the current livery; and was also sold to AerCap in May 2014. After its lease expired, it was ferried to GYR for storage. V63A-734 LLC took ownership of this 737-48E on 12 February 2016.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-82079

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' RA-82079 (c/n 9773052062157, l/n 08-01) has made a stop at HNL as VDA1928. It arrived today from PDX, and will leave for POM tomorrow morning. On the upper fuselage, it's wearing a 25th Anniversary decal.

Mahalo to MattO for the photo!

ATA's N187AT

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to January 1998, with American Trans Air's (ATA) L-1011-385-1 Tristar 50, N871AT (msn 193C-1077), seen above taxiing on Taxiway RT to Runway 26L.

This Tristar was originally delivered to Delta Air Lines in May 1974 as N707DA, built as a Tristar 1. In March 1984, it was sold to Boeing, and was converted to a Tristar 50. In July 1985, American Trans Air took delivery of this L-1011 as N187AT. It flew with ATA until October 2001, where it was stored at VCV. It's been reported that this Tristar 50 was scrapped in November 2002.

Island Air To Discontinue LNY

Island Air announced today that they will discontinue service to LNY on March 31, 2016, as part of the restructuring of the airline.

Further information in this Island Air press release.