QantasLink's VH-8NR

Network Aviation is taking delivery of VH-8NR "Cape Leeuwin" (msn 2485). This QantasLink-liveried A319-132 is making its delivery flight from BQN to PER, via PHX, HNL, APW, and BNE. It's being flown by Southern Cross International as SXI2443. VH-8NR departed BQN for PHX yesterday, with an overnight stop, and will make an overnight stop at HNL. The remainder of the delivery flight will be flown as SXI2441.

2485's History:

Jun 2005: Delivered to Spirit Airlines as N505NK (f/n 505), under lease from ILFC.

Nov 2007: Painted in the 2007 livery, and the name removed.

May 2014: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Sep 2015: Painted in the 2014 livery.

May 2018: Purchased by Spirit Airlines.

Jan 2020: Given fleet number 1505.

Feb 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at P08 [Coolidge Muni Airport, Coolidge, AZ].

Apr 2023: Acquired by Gryphon Aviation Leasing.

Aug 2023: Ferried to MCN for prep to QantasLink, and back to P08 a month later.

Mar 2024: Ferried to BQN [Rafael Hernandez Airport, Aguadilla, PR] to prep for Network Aviation..

Cargojet Airways' C-GAJG

Cargojet Airways 767-323ERF, C-GAJG (c/n 25446, l/n 453, f/n 642), is making a brief fuel stop at HNL from LAX this evening as CJT3205. It's flying from XCR [Vatry Chalons Airport, Paris, France] to NOU, via YHZ, LAX, HNL, and NAN.

Kamaka Air Cleared To Resume Operations

The FAA has allowed Kamaka Air to resume operations this evening, following a week-long suspension of service. Kamaka's cargo operation will return to normal service by Friday.

Runway 4R Re-opens

With the construction work on Runway 4R/22L completed, the runway will re-open today. Later this afternoon, Runway 4L/22R will close for continuous repairs similar to the work done to 4R, lasting to 02 September (weather permitting). Runway 8L will remain shortened to 8,600 feet, with Taxiway E as the last exit point; and Runway 26R will remain closed for arrivals.

The above illustration shows Runway 4L/22R closed, along with the corresponding taxiways. Because most arriving heavy traffic is required to roll to the end of Runway 4R, they are not able to turn left to taxi to the main terminal. Only flights going to the south ramp are landing on 4R, or those able to turn left at Taxiway E. Most commercial and military flights will have to land on Runway 8L, with Taxiway E as the last exit point. Runway 8R is available for full-length arrivals on request. Aircraft can cross both Runway 4s at Taxiway D or E when going between the north to south sides.

No mention was made if there should be a reversal in the traffic pattern.  Both Runway 26R and 22R would be closed for arrivals, but 26R will be open from Taxiway E for departures. 22L can be used for departures, though traffic from Terminals 1 and 2 will cross the 22s at Taxiway D or E, then down Taxiway C.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

FAA Suspends Kamaka Air's Operations

The FAA has suspended the operating certificate for Kamaka Air, Wednesday, as the airline undergoes a change in leadership. While Kamaka awaits its leadership change, they have contracted with TransAir Hawaii to cover for their services.

News coverage by KHON2 News.

9Air's B-208H

9Air is taking delivery of B-208H (c/n 61377, l/n 7323) today. This 737-8, wearing the dark blue-themed livery, is making its delivery flight from BFI to CAN, via HNL, GUM and TSN, as JYH208. This is 9Air's second of four that were built before the grounding and pandemic, that were in storage.

On a related note, 9Air has rebranded with a new logo, word mark, and livery. Their website shows the new look. The only 737 to be painted in the new livery is B-1552. It's not known if their third 737-8 (unregistered, c/n 61385, l/n 7929), in storage at MWH; or their fourth 737-8, (B-206L, c/n 61374, l/n 7263), currently at VCV, will be repainted before their deliveries.

LIH's Runway 3/21 Extension Project

HDOT announced that LIH's Runway 3/21 will be extended an additional 855 feet on the approach end of Runway 3, to bring it to a length of 7,355 feet. Taxiway A will be extended to the new end of Runway 3 as well. Runway 3/21 will close, with work will be done nightly from 23:00 to 08:00. This is part of the project to work to rehabilitate LIH's runways and taxiways.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

N480CH

N480CH (c/n 29024, l/n 131), a 737-72T BBJ owned by Crescent Heights, is making a stop at HNL from MFM [Macau International Airport, Taipa Island, Macau].

29024's History:

Nov 1998: Delivered to the Tracinda Corporation as N50TC.

Apr 2016: Acquired by Crescent Heights.

Jun 2017: Re-registered as N480CH.

N247BE

Boeing is ferrying N247BE (c/n 60939, l/n 8082) from BFI to HSN, via JRF and GUM, for painting and cabin completion at its Boeing China center in Zhoushan, China. This grey tail is going to Air China, and will receive its Chinese registration upon delivery from HSN.

Atlas Air To End Flying For Amazon Prime Air

Atlas Air announced today that their ACMI contract with Amazon Prime Air will not be renewed. The plan is for Atlas to end 767-300ERF and 737-800F service by June 2025. Atlas cites loss of revenue flying for Amazon. Atlas presently has 17 767-300ERFs and eight 737-800Fs under the Amazon Prime Air contract. The 767s will continue under the dry-lease agreement with Atlas Holdings' Titan Leasing for another three years after the initial ten-year lease ends.

Further details in this Lodestar article, and this follow-up article.

When Amazon Prime Air began flights to HNL in April 2018 from ONT, Atlas Air was the airline operating the flights. Service was weekly in the beginning, but has since progressed to daily. Eventually, LIH had flights flown by ATI, and OGG and KOA had their flights by Atlas. 

How will the move by Atlas Air affect the Hawai‘i market?  It probably won't affect Hawai‘i too much until Atlas begins phasing out its service. Currently, Atlas' Amazon Prime Air 767-300ERF flights serve KOA and OGG. GTI3750 flies from ONT to KOA, then as GTI3751 from KOA to OGG, then as GTI9858 from OGG to ONT. If anything, ATI will pick up the OGG and KOA flights.

HNL and LIH are served by Air Transport International's Amazon Prime Air flights.

Amazon Prime Air also has ACMI contracts with ABX Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines.

Delta Air Lines' N513DZ Diversion To HNL

Delat Air Lines' A350-941, N513DZ (msn 277, f/n 3513), made a diversion to HNL from its LAX-SYD route. The flight landed on Runway 8R around 02:55L. Because of duty times, the continuing leg to SYD was canceled, and the A350 towed to the ‘Ewa ramp until the flight can continue.

Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CGV

Ukraine Air Alliance's An-12BK, UR-CGV (msn 5344610) is making an overnight stop at HNL from SBD as UKL5019, tonight. It will continue onto MAJ tomorrow morning. UKL5019 is routed from LRD to PNH, via SBD, HNL, MAJ, and GUM.

02 June 2024 UPDATE

UR-CGV is returning to LRD as UKL5062.

Sentry Aloha 24-2

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard is hosting Sentry Aloha 24-2. This exercise, that begins today, and runs until mid-June, has units from the host 154th Wing, along with the following units:

F-16s from the 195th FS, Arizona Air National Guard;

F-16s from the 115th FS, Wisconsin Air National Guard;

A-10Cs from the 47th FS, Air Force Reserve Command;

F-35As from the 442nd TES; and 

F-16s from the 119th FS, New Jersey Air National Guard.

There are also various tanker assets participating as well. NGF is hosting a couple of units, as well as KOA.

Interesting factoid, the 47th FS has its roots in Hawai‘i, as it began its service in 1940 as the 47th Pursuit Squadron. It was based at Wheeler Army Air Field, as part of the 15th Pursuit Group. The 47th fighters were able to down eight Japanese Navy aircraft on 07 Dec 1941. The unit was active for World War II in the Pacific Theater, but after the war ended, it was deactivated in 1946. The unit was reactivated as the 47th Fighter Squadron in 1952, and based in Niagara Falls, New York

Kalitta Air's N740CK In-flight Emergency

The Aviation Herald reports that Kalitta Air's N740CK "Doug Kalitta Sr. 1" (c/n 24405 l/n 745) had an in-flight fire in the aft cabin, as it flew from LAX to HNL as CKS368 on 24 May. The fire was extinguished, and the flight continued onto HNL. N740CK was able to re-enter service several hours later.

China To Delay 737MAX Deliveries

CH-Aviation reports that the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is delaying any 737MAX series deliveries until the batteries that power the new 25-hour cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) are reviewed. Earlier this month, Congress mandated that the FAA requires CVRs in new-builds must have the new 25-hour CVRs, instead of the current two-hour versions. The EASA has required the use of 25-hour CVRs for the past three years. Currently, there over 60 737-8s for Chinese carriers in testing or in storage.

Cargojet Airways' C-GAJG

Cargojet Airways 767-323ERF, C-GAJG (c/n 25446, l/n 453, f/n 642), is making a pre-dawn, brief fuel stop at HNL from LAX as CJT3191. It's flying from XCR [Vatry Chalons Airport, Paris, France] to NOU, via YHZ, LAX, HNL, and NAN. The XCR-YHZ-LAX segment was flown as CJT3190, LAX-HNL-NAN, flying as CJT3191, and NAN-NOU as CJT3192.

28 May 2024 UPDATE

C-GAJG is returning to its YHM base from NOU, via NAN and HNL. The NOU-NAN-HNL segment is flown as CJT3193, and the HNL-YHM segment as CJT3194.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Jetstar Airways

Jetstar Airways is celebrating its 20th anniversary today. The Qantas Group low-cost subsidiary launched A330-200 service to HNL from SYD in Dec 2006. Nine years later, Jetstar upgraded to the 787-8, and now serves HNL from SYD (JST3/4), and MEL (JST1/2). They also had service between BNE and HNL (JST5/6), but was short-lived.

N919NX

Nexus Aviation Ventures' N919NX (msn 2919) is making its way back to TUS from XMN after it completed its freighter conversion. This A321-231F is making stops at GUM, MAJ, and HNL along the way. N919NX stopped through HNL in August 2023 on its ferry flight to XMN.

Airfast Indonesia's PK-OFM

Airfast Indonesia is taking delivery of their second of two 737-8s, PK-OFM  (c/n 64993, l/n 7100), leased from Mitsui Bussan Aerospace. It's making its delivery flight from MZJ to CGK, via HNL and GUM, as PKOFM.

64993's History

Oct 2018: Delivered to Norwegian Air Shuttle as LN-BKD, "Marco Polo" tail artwork.

Oct 2019: Sold to Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, and leased back; then subleased to Norwegian Air Sweden as SE-RYA.

Jly 2021: Withdrawn from service, and stored at ILD.

Oct 2023: Leased to Airfast Indonesia as PK-OFM, with the temporary registration of T7-OFM, and ferried from ILD to MZJ (via KEF) for storage, by Southern Cross International as SXI2370.

N353FT

Nomadic Aviation is ferrying N353FT (c/n 35378, l/n 2346) from CAN to P08, via GUM and JRF. This 737-71B, owned by Fortress Transport (FTAI) is flying as OMD254, and will make a brief late-night fuel stop at JRF. It's the second 737-71B that Nomadic is ferrying through JRF in three days, and like the other 700, this one will be parted out and scrapped by eCube.

35378's History:

Aug 2007: Delivered to China Southern Airlines as B-5250.

Nov 2013: Blended Winglets installed.

May 2022: Sold to CALC, and leased back.

May 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at URC.

Jan 2024: Ferried to CAN for storage.

May 2024: Acquired by Fortress Transport.