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.

Xiamen's B-7195

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7195 (c/n 43885, l/n 5778) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA7195, and will overnight at HNL. 

In the history of the HNL RareBirds Airliners.net Civil Aviation Forum volumes (beginning in 2003), and this website, B-7195 would be the first Leap Day delivery to stop through Hawai‘i.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPG

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPG (msn 19000195) made a stop over in Honolulu on it's way to Nashville International Airport (BNA/KBNA) for routine maintenance work. "Glenelg Beach" arrived from Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) via Faleolo International (APW/NSFA) the previous night and will make one more stop in Van Nuys (VNY/KVNY) before arriving in Nashville.

China Eastern's B-7301

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7301 (c/n 60162, l/n 5790) today. The 737-89P, leased from CDB Leasing, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

N612AX

After another fire season in Australia, a 10 Tanker Air Carrier's specially converted DC10-30 is making it's way back to the mainland. N612AX (c/n 48290 l/n 435) arrived from Avalon, Victoria via Pago Pago last night, and departed for Albuquerque, New Mexico this morning.

Asia Pacific's N86425 Emergency Landing At GUM

Asia Pacific Airlines' 727-212F, N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329), had to make a successful emergency landing at GUM today, after it's nose gear failed to deploy. None of the three aboard were injured.

Further information and video clip in this Aviation Herald article.

N504BJ

N504BJ (c/n 60686, l/n 5129), a 737-82Z BBJ2, is making a flight from GED [Delaware Coastal Airport, Georgetown, DE] to JHB [Senai Interational Aiport, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia] (via EWR, LAX, HNL and SPN). It's been purchased by the Sultan of Johor, Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. This BBJ2 will be registered as 9M-III.

Shanghai's B-7632

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7632 (c/n 41816, l/n 5759) today. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines' order book, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH556, and will overnight at HNL.

China United's B-7561

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-7561 (c/n 61681, l/n 5758) today. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA561, and will overnight at HNL.