Airbus To Terminate A380 Production

Airbus EADS announced today, that they will end their A380 production in 2021, once all of the orders are delivered. Citing lowered demand for very large airliners, and a few key order cancellations, the European aviation conglomerate will terminate the "Super Jumbo".

Airbus' F-WWDD (msn 004), their A380-861 testbed/demonstrator paid a visit to HNL in December 2012 as part sales call to Hawaiian Airlines, and ground training for Swissport.

All Nippon Airways is still scheduled to convert one of their 787-9 flights to the Honu-liveried A380 in May.

Further information in this ATW Online article.

Southern Airways Express Buys Mokulele Airlines

Georgia-based Southern Airways Express has purchased Kona-based Mokulele Airlines, and its Hawai‘i and California operations. Like Mokulele, Southern Airways Express is an operator of the Cessna C208B Grand Caravan, and will increase its flight network around the country. As part of the deal, Mokulele Airlines will retain its name, but will come under the Southern Airways operating certificate.

Further information in this Global Newswire article.

50 Years!

Today, the Boeing 747 celebrates its 50th anniversary of its first flight!

HNL has seen practically every variant of the "Queen of the Skies", with Pan American and United serving with the -100, to Korean Air and UPS with the 747-8.

Fiji Airways DQ-FJH

Fiji Airways is ferrying DQ-FJH "Island of Gau" (c/n 29969, l/n 339) from NAN to SBD, via HNL. This 737-8X2 is flying from NAN to HNL as FJI2008, and HNL to SBD as FJI2009. It's due to be parted out, and scrapped.

DQ-FJH was delivered to Air Pacific (the former name of Fiji Airways) in August 1999. In September 2017, it was sold to WLFC, and leased back. This airliner was a frequent visitor to HNL from APW and NAN.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-82078

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' An-124-100, RA-82078 (c/n 9773054559153, l/n 07-10), is making a stop at HNL from AFW [Fort Worth Airport, TX] as VDA1618. It's scheduled to continue onto GUM tomorrow.

N846AU

N846AU (c/n 24846, l/n 309), a 767-383ER, owned by Automatic Leasing LLC, is ferrying from UTP [U-Tapao International Airport, Ban Chang, Thailand] to GYR, via HNL today.

24846 was originally delivered to SAS Scandinavian Airlines in June 1990 as SE-DKR "Aase Viking". Four months later, it was re-registered as LN-RCE. In December 2004, it was sold to Icelandair as TF-FIC, and did a two-year lease with Israir from March 2005 to November 2007. Two months later, it was sold to VARIG Brazil as PR-VAO, and flew with the airline until its closure several months later. In May 2013, it was acquired by Automatic Leasing LLC, and leased to Asia  Atlantic Airlines as HS-AAB, where it flew until July 2018, and stored at UTP.

Southwest Airlines' N8329B

Southwest Airlines is performing the first of several proving runs today, before the airline can commence service between the US west coast and Hawai‘i. N8329B (c/n 37006, l/n 4294, f/n 8329), a 737-8H4, is making today's proving flight from OAK as SWA8725, that will arrive this afternoon.

Lanmei Airlines' XA-VAH

Carlyle Aviation Partners is ferrying a former Viva Aerobus [VB/VIV] A320-232, XA-VAH (msn 3743), from MTY [General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, Monterrey, México] to PNH [Pochentong International Airport, Phnom Penh, Cambodia]  as it will join the Lanmei Airlines [LQ/MKR] fleet. This A320 will make stops at TIJ [General Abelardo L Rodriguez International Airport, Tijuana, México] as VIV1, HNL as VIV2, MAJ as VIV3, GUM as VIV4, and HKG as VIV5.

3743 was originally purchased by ILFC, and leased to Jetstar Airways in January 2009 as VH-VQB. In May 2014, it was sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred. In January 2015, it was leased to Viva Aerobus as XA-VAH. In December 2016, it was sold to Apollo Aviation, and was withdrawn from service in December 2018, when it was sold to Carlyle Aviation Partners.


02.06.19 UPDATE
It was re-registered as XU-901, and ferried from HKG to PHN.

Kamaka Air's N954RJ

Our February edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Kamaka Air's Beech C-45H, N954RJ (msn AF-5). It was modified with the Tradewind single vertical tail, and tricycle landing gear package. It was retired in 2006.

RAAF's A39-001

A Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A, A39-001 (MSN 747), dropped in for a fuel stop yesterday afternoon.

Antonov Airlines' UR-82072

Antonov Airlines' An-124-100-150, UR-82072 (c/n 9773053359136, l/n 07-05), is making a stop at HNL, from COS (via OAK) as ADB3081.

Japan TransOcean Air's JA12RK

Japan TransOcean Air is taking delivery of JA12RK (c/n 61483, l/n 7342) today. This 737-8Q3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as JTA9851, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Antonov Airlines' UR-82007

Antonov Airlines' An-124-100M, UR-82007 (c/n 19530501005, l/n 01-05), is making a stop at HNL this evening from COS (via OAK) as ADB3080. It will continue onto SPN tomorrow with the same flight number.

Hainan Airlines' B-207T

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-207T (c/n 62181, l/n 7311) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH207, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CAJ

A Ukraine Air Alliance An-12BK, UR-CAJ (msn 8346106) is making a stop from OAK today. No flight number is listed.

Sun Country To Add Seasonal SFO Service

Sun Country Airlines announced this morning that they will begin seasonal 737-800 service between SFO and HNL. The launch date is scheduled for May 18th, and will run up to 4 flights per week, until August 18th.

Hawaiian Airlines' Final 767 Revenue Flight

Hawaiian Airlines' N594HA "‘Ulili" (c/n 23275, l/n 136, f/n 594) is making the airline's final 767-300 revenue flight today. This 767-332EM is flying as HAL19 from SMF, and will arrive to a blessing and media event.

Aloha ‘Oe N582HA

Hawaiian Airlines is ferrying N582HA "Ake Ake" (c/n 28139, l/n 857) to GYR this morning. This 767-33AER is making its retirement flight as HAL8082.

Aloha ‘Oe N581HA

Hawaiian Airlines is ferrying N581HA "Manu O Ku" (c/n 28141, l/n 853) to GYR. This 767-33AER is making its retirement flight as HAL8081.

Aloha ‘Oe Herb Kelleher

The HNL RareBirds team expresses our thoughts, condolences, and prayers to the Southwest Airlines ‘ohana for the passing of their founder, Herb Kelleher, who passed away today.

He was instrumental in proving that low-cost carriers with the heart of customer service could exist, and made it a successful business. Though he retired years ago, his vision created affordable flights across the country. His vision will extend to the Hawaiian Islands in a mere few months.

Fiji Airways' DQ-FAD

Fiji Airways is taking delivery of DQ-FAD "Island of Gau" (c/n 64308, l/n 7313) this evening. This 737 MAX 8, making a very rare New Year's Day delivery flight, is flying from BFI as FJI2001, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Asiana Airlines' HL7266

Our January edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to March 1995, with Asiana Airlines' 767-38EER, HL7266 (c/n 25347, l/n 399), seen above taxiing out to Runway 26L, on Taxiway RT. When Asiana launched their initial service between SEL and HNL, it was with their 767-38EER fleet. It ended a few years later, but the airline returned with A330-300 service several years later.

HL7266 was originally delivered to Asiana in November 1991, and flew with the airline for seven years. In December 1998, it was acquired by Canadian Airlines International [CP/CDN] as C-GDUZ. When Air Canada took over Canadian Airlines in March 2001, the latter's fleet was transferred to the former's fleet. C-GDUZ was assigned the fleet number 646. In 2010, it was painted in the mint green livery. In July 2017, C-GDUZ was transferred to the Air Canada Rouge fleet.

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou! 🎉🎆🎇

Happy New Year!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a blessed and prosperous 2019!

China Airlines B-18918

Finally making an appearance into HNL, is China Airlines' Carbon fiber liveried A350-941, B-18918 (MSN 239), it is the last of 14 ordered by the airline.

Fuzhou Airlines' B-207M

Fuzhou Airlines is taking delivery of B-207M (c/n 43620, l/n 7320) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as B207M, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Shenzhen Airlines' B-207D

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-207D (c/n 61139, l/n 7255) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ909, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

N777UK

N777UK (c/n 30867, l/n 348), a 777-212ER, owned by the Bank of Utah, and operated by Access Industries, is making a fuel stop at HNL from SYD this morning. It will continue onto SXM [Sint Maarten] this afternoon.

Hainan Airlines' B-207S

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-207S (c/n 60707, l/n 7265) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH207, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Hebei Airlines' B-207W

Hebei Airlines is taking delivery of B-207W (c/n 42968, l/n 7339) today. This 737-8LW is making its delivery flight from BFI as HBH3230, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Uzbekistan Airlines Charters

Uzbekistan Airlines [HY/UZB] is performing 787-8 charter flights from NGO [Chubu Airport, Nagoya, Japan] for the New Year's travel season. Beginning today, for the next week, the airline will be flying in vacationers on travel packages from an undetermined Japanese travel agency.

UK-78701 (c/n 38363, l/n 470) is making the first of five charter flights.

Kunming Airlines' B-206Z

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-206Z (c/n 43953, l/n 7200) this evening. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA8001, and will be making an overnight stop at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1123

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1123 (c/n 63232, l/n 7116) this afternoon. This 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN8755, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Air China's B-1180

Air China is taking delivery of B-1180 (c/n 60905, l/n 7275) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA84, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

ANA Announces A380 HNL Service

All Nippon Airways announced their A380 operations that will launch on Friday, May 24, 2019 in this press release.

Mele Kalikimaka! 🎄🤙🏻

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a blessed and joyous Merry Christmas!

Lucky Air's B-1143

Lucky Air is taking delivery of B-1143 (c/n 61852, l/n 7203) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1143, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

N908JK

N908JK (c/n 30741, l/n 823), a 737-7BX, owned by Contrail Aviation Support, is ferrying from UTP [Utapao International Airport, Rayong, Thailand] to MZJ, via GUM and HNL.

30741 was originally delivered to Midway Airlines in April 2001 as N366ML, under lease from GECAS. In November 2002, GECAS leased this 737-7BX to Shenzhen Airlines as B-5025, and flew with the airline until earlier this month, when it was withdrawn from service, and sold to Contrail Aviation Support.

Silkway West Airlines' VP-BCV

Silkway West Airlines' [7L/AZG] (Azerbaijan) 747-4H6F, VP-BCV (c/n 29902, l/n 1374), is making a stop from LUX to DAC, via ORD, TUS, HNL, and SPN. The TUS-HNL-SPN leg is listed as AZG7446.

Shandong Airlines' B-205C

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-205C (c/n 61444, l/n 7160) today. This 737 MAX 8, the second wearing the "China Quality Award" decal on the aft section of the fuselage, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG9005, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

China United Airlines' B-207Z

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-207Z (c/n 63077, l/n 7332) today. This 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA207, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Lucky Air's B-207P

Lucky Air is taking delivery of B-207P (c/n 43617, l/n 7290) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as B207P, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Lion Air's PK-LPY

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LPY (c/n 43214, l/n 7329) this evening. This 737-9GPER is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL. PK-LPY is the 200th 737 delivery flight to stop through Hawai‘i this year.

China Southern Airlines' B-1170

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1170 (c/n 62879, l/n 7170) today. This 737 MAX 8, the airlines' 35th 737 delivery this year, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN8752, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Joy Air's B-208V

Joy Air [JR/JOY] (China) is taking delivery of B-208V (c/n 60467, l/n 7322) today. This 737-8ME, with Okay Airways markings on the Blended Winglets, is making its delivery flight from BFI as JOY 2085, and will make an overnight stop at BFI.

Japan TransOcean Air's JA11RK

Japan TransOcean Air is taking delivery of JA11RK (c/n 61484, l/n 7312) today.  This 737-8Q3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as JTA9851, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Donghai Airlines' B-204N

Donghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-204N (c/n 43899, l/n 7302) today. This 737-83Z is making its delivery flight from BFI as EPA302, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

China Eastern Airlines' B-208D

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-208D (c/n 61693, l/n 7317) today. This 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES500, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-205L

China Southern Airlines is taking deliver of B-205L (c/n 62882, l/n 7288) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN8755, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Urumqi Air B-206P

Urumqi Air is taking delivery of B-206P (c/n 64861, l/n 7206) today. This 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as B206P, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

China Eastern Airlines' B-207X

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-207X (c/n 63078, l/n 7307) today. This 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Shenzhen Airlines' B-207E

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-207E (c/n 61140, l/n 7271) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ207E, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Shandong Airlines' B-207F

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-207F (c/n 61445, l/n 7283) this morning. This 737 MAX 8, the first to wear the "China Quality Award" on the aft section of the fuselage, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG9005, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

ATAC's N323AX Crashes

ATAC's N323AX (msn 41H-679995), a Hawker Hunter FMK.58, went down in waters south of Honolulu. The pilot was able to eject, and rescued by a nearby sailboat. The 60-year-old British-made fighter was here with another Hawker Hunter for the Sentry Aloha exercise, along with sister-ship N324AX.

Flight route from FlightRadar24.com.

Yakutia Airlines' VP-BGA

Yakutia Airlines [R3/SYL] (Russia) has acquired a former Air China 737-8Z0 as VP-BGA (c/n 30071, l/n 381), and is making a stop at HNL from GUM and PEK, and will continue onto TUS.

30071 was originally delivered to China Southwest Airlines in October 1999 as B-2510. When Air China acquired China Southwest in 2002, the latter's fleet was transferred to the former's fleet. B-2510 flew for Air China until January 2017, when it had been placed in storage at PEK.

China Southern Airlines' B-205P

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-205P (c/n 63275, l/n 7281) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN8751, and will make an overnight stop at HNL. This is the first time that China Southern has assigned a flight code that is not associated with the registration number (in part or whole).

Shanghai Airlines' B-2570

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying B-2570 (c/n 27941, l/n 770), a 767-36D, to the desert for retirement. Its making its ferry flight from PVG (via GUM and HNL) as CSH9008. This the last of Shanghai Airlines' 767-300s to leave their fleet.

B-2570 was delivered to Shanghai Airlines in October 1999 in the original livery. From May 2008 to December 2010, it wore the Star Alliance special livery. It was withdrawn from service this past September.

Hainan Airlines' B-207H

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-207H (c/n 60706, l/n 7228) today. This 737 MAX 8, their second delivery in seven days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH307, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Fuzhou Airlines' B-207C

Fuzhou Airlines is taking delivery fo its first 737 MAX 8 today. B-207C (c/n 43567, l/n 7238) is making its delivery flight from BFI as B207C, and will make an overnight stop at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-1136

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1136 (c/n 43831, l/n 7148) today. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8199, and will make an overnight stop at HNL. It has markings on each side of the nose section noting that it's the "2000th Boeing jet for China".

EVA Air's N602EV

Our December edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes way back to December 1995, and EVA Air's N602EV (c/n 25117, l/n 370). This 767-3T7ER is seen above on Taxiway RT, as it taxied to Runway 26L for departure to TPE. The airline had a brief run with 767-300ER service between HNL and TPE.

25117 was originally delivered to EVA Air in May 1991 as B-16602. In August 1994, it was sold to SALE, and leased back as N602EV. In June 2005, it was sold to Aircastle, then leased to Aeroflot [SU/AFL] as VP-BWV "A. Kuprin". It was returned to Aircastle in March 2012. Five months later, it was leased to Orient Thai Airlines [OX/OEA] as HS-BKC. As with many other airliners in the Orient Thai fleet, this 767 wore a hybrid livery with the new titles, and the Aeroflot base livery. In the following month, it was subleased to Saudi Arabian Airlines for two months. After its return to Orient Thai, it flew with the airline until September 2013. It has since been placed in storage at CEW [Bob Sikes Airport, Crestview, FL], where it sits today.