N3408U

N3408U (c/n 34270, l/n 2420), a 737-8EH owned by World Star Aviation, is being ferried from TUS to TNA, with stops at HNL and GUM. It will undergo freighter conversion at TNA.

34270's History:

Oct 2007: Delivered to GOL as PR-GTV, under lease from GECAS.

___ 2017: Sold to World Star Aviation, and the lease was transferred.

Jun 2017: Painted in the current GOL livery.

Mar 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CNF.

Oct 2024: Ferried to TUS for onward storage.

Nov 2024: Re-registered as N3408U.

HNL Runway Night Closures

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports will conduct night closures of Runway 8L, and both Runway 4L and 4R, and at the same time Runway 8L will be shortened to 7,000 feet, as part of a rehabilitation project for Runway 8L and Taxiway A. The project is scheduled to begin on 08 September, and run until April 2027.

Night closures will begin at 22:00, and re-open at 08:00 the next morning. Here are the scheduled closures for the first phase of the project.

08 Sep to 10 Sep: Runway 8L.

08 Sep to 26 Oct: Runway 4L/22R.

26 Oct to 09 Nov: Runway 4R/22L.

Further information in this HDOT news release.

All Nippon Airways' JA988A

All Nippon Airways is taking delivery of JA988A (c/n 67002, l/n 1238). This 787-10 is making its delivery flight from CHS to HND, with overnight stops at LAX and HNL, as ANA9399. It's stopover at HNL is tonight.

Four Airlines Seek To Keep Midway Atoll ETOPS Option

Four airlines are urging the US Department of Transportation to keep Midway Atoll [MDY/PMDY] in the Northern Hawaiian Islands, as an ETOPS diversion option. Japan Airlines, ZIPAIR, WestJet Airlines, and National Airlines have approached the USDOT to keep the small airstrip open as an alternate in case of an in-flight event over the central Pacific Ocean. The cost to renovate MDY up to current standards is estimated to be $100,000,000USD. Though rarely used as an ETOPS diversion, MDY stands as an airport for ETOPS diversions if needed. MDY is included as part of the Papahānaumokuākea National Wildlife Reserve, which emcompasses the Northern Hawaiian Islands. The atoll itself, is a sanctuary for sea birds, and marine mammals such as the Hawaiian Monk Seal.

The two Japanese carriers expressed that keeping MDY open, will allow their ETOPS operation between Japan and HNL to run more efficiently. Closing MDY as an ETOPS alternate will impact hundreds of other TransPacific flights from Asia to North America, including flights to/from HNL to Japan and the Republic of Korea.

There have been several instances where airliners were forced to make preventative landings at MDY. One was in June 2011, where a Delta Air Lines 747-451 was forced to land at MDY, after it departed HNL for KIX.

Further information in this Aero South Pacific article, and an earlier article.

FAA Bans Trident Helicopters Jump-offs

The Federal Aviation Administration has banned Trident Adventures helicopters from having guests jump into the ocean from their Eurocopter AS355F2, N52ZX (msn 5515). Citing safety reasons, the FAA says that guests must remain inside the helicopter.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now report.

Virgin Australia's VH-8VJ

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-8VJ "Dundee Beach" (c/n 67043, l/n 9794). This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from MLB (following IFE enhancements) to BNE, with stops at ONT and KOA, as VOZ9947. It's overnight stop at KOA will be tonight. This is Virgin Australia's third 737-8 delivery this month.

NOAA's N43RF

With Tropical Storm Lowell passing  to the south-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, and Category 3 Hurricane Karina to the southeast of the islands, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is deploying N43RF "Miss Piggy" (msn 285A-5633) from its base at LAL to JRF, via LGB, as NOAA43.

Further weather coverage in this Fox Weather report.

01 September 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Storm Lowell has been upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane, and Karina has been upgraded to a Category 4.

Qantas Airways' VH-ZNM

On a related note to our post on the 27th regarding Qantas Airways' fleet renewal, the airline has begun seasonal 787-9 DreamLiner fleet substitution for QFA103/104 today. VH-ZNM "Mateship" (c/n 66077, l/n 1035) is making today's flight. According to FlightRadar's flight data for QFA103, it appears that over the next week, 787-9s will be doing most of the flying of the route.

Federal Express' N884FD

Federal Express' original liveried 777-FS2, N884FD "Rosie" (c/n 37137, l/n 917, f/n 884), is making its first appearance at HNL this afternoon. It's flying as FDX1413 from MEM, and will go onto OAK in the evening as FDX3815.

N884FD's History:

Feb 2011: Delivered to Federal Express, named "Ananyaa".
Aug 2026: Repainted in the original Federal Express livery, and renamed "Rosie".

China Southern Airlines' B-229V

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-229V (c/n 66427, l/n 9784) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to CAN, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM as CSN5682. This is China Southern's tenth 737-8 delivered this year.

Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors Team Charter

Hawaiian Airlines' A321-271N, N216HA "Mamane" (msn 8471, f/n 216), is flying the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors football team to SJC as ASA9681. The Rainbow Warriors are embarking on their "Week 0" road trip to face the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday afternoon.

N216HA will stay at SJC to bring home the Rainbow Warriors following the game with the same fight number.

Hawaiian Airlines has an Instagram reel on the Bows' sendoff, along with the team's Instagram post.

30 August 2026 UPDATE

N216HA brought home the Rainbow Warriors following their 37-27 loss to the Cardinal.

Aloha Air Cargo's N454KH

Aloha Air Cargo is taking delivery of N454KH (c/n 28198, l/n 2806). This white-tail 737-48EF is making its delivery flight from SNN to HNL, with stops at KEF, BGR (as N454KH), TUL and OAK, as AAH9454. It will be leased from World Star Aviation.

28198's History:

Jly 1996: Delivered to Asiana Airlines as HL7509, under lease from ILFC.

Aug 2006: Leased to Miami Air International as "Osa".

May 2014: ILFC becomes AerCap, lease transferred.

May 2016: Painted in the Trump / Pence Campaign livery as an additional campaign aircraft.

Aug 2017: Sold to Vx Capital Partners, and ferried to YLW for freighter conversion.

Oct 2017: Re-registered as N478VX.

Aug 2018: Leased to Azul Cargo as PR-AJZ "Cargo Team".

May 2022: Acquired by World Star Aviation, and the lease transferred.

Feb 2025: Withdrawn from service, and stored at VCP [Viracopos International Airport, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil]

Mar 2025: Ferried to LDE for storage.

Jan 2026: Acquired by World Star Aviation as 2-RJAZ, and ferried to VAR [Varna International Airport, Varna, Bulgaria] for storage.

Jun 2026: Ferried to SNN for preparation to lease to Aloha Air Cargo.

Qantas To Retire A330 Fleet Beginning In 2027

As part of its fleet renewal, Qantas Airways will begin retiring its 16 A330-200s and 13 A330-300s in late 2027. This move comes alongside the airline's accelerated retirement of their ten A380-800s, now scheduled to begin in 2028. Qantas has 12 A350-1000s, 12 A350-1000ULRs, and 12 787-9 DreamLiners in their order book, plus options for more airframes. The A350-1000s and 787-9s will replace the A330s, while the A350-1000ULRs will replace the A380s.

Currently, Qantas uses their A330-300s for their QFA104/103 service between SYD and HNL. Occasionally, they will substitute the smaller A330-200s. Previously, Qantas had used their 787-9s for their SYD-HNL route during the summer of 2024. It has yet to be determined which airliner type will replace the A330.

Further information in this Aviation Week article.

VH-UYN

Southern Cross International is ferrying former QantasLink's ERJ-190AR, VH-UYN (msn 19000095), from BNE to SJO, with stops at APW, JRF, and SDM, flying as SXI2626. It's overnight stop at JRF is tonight.

This E190 stopped through HNL in July 2021 as it was being delivered to Alliance Airlines as N955QQ. In Feb 2025, VH-UYN was painted in the QantasLink livery, and operated by Alliance Airlines. It's last revenue flight was operated on 21 August 2026.

Hawaiian Airlines Football Jersey Patch

The University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors football team will have a Hawaiian Airlines patch on both their home black, and road white jerseys this season. Hawaiian has been a corporate sponsor for the University of Hawai‘i for more than 30 years. The airline will provide A321-200N team charters for the Rainbow Warriors six road games this season (Stanford, Wyoming, Arizona State, Northern Illinois, UTEP, and Nevada).

The Rainbow Warriors will be the first college football team to have an airline as corporate logo affixed to their jerseys.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines news release.

Silk Way West Airlines' VQ-BBM

Silk Way West Airlines' VQ-BBM (c/n 62709, l/n 1533) is making a stop at HNL from ORD today as AZG1622. This 747-83QF will continue onto MEL after a brief fuel stop with the same flight number.

VQ-BBM'S History:

Mar 2017: Delivered to Silk Way West Airlines in the original livery.

Jly 2022: "10 Years" decals applied on center fuselage.

Jan 2026: Painted in the current livery (above photo).

QantasLink's VH-X4N

National Jet Systems is taking delivery of VH-X4N "Rock Wallaby" (msn 55463). This A220-300 is making its delivery flight from YMX to CBR, with stops at YVR, HNL, and NAN, as QLK6076. It's making its HNL overnight stop today; and will continue onto NAN tomorrow as QLK6077.

Hawai‘i National Guard Hurricane Relief Support

Ch-47F Chinooks from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard's 211th Aviation Regiment and a C-17A Globemaster III from the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron have flown hurricane relief supply and equipment missions to Hawai‘i Island to aid in the recovery from Hurricane Lala. Much of the supplies are being sent to the Ka‘u District, where most of the area was devastated by the Category 1 hurricane.

05-5146 "Spirit of Hawai‘i - Ke Aloha" (c/n F-153, l/n P-146) flew to RIV to bring back equipment from Southern California Edison that aid their crews who are assisting Hawai‘i Electric and Light Company (HELCO) in getting power restored in the most affected areas.

Further information, photos and videos in the Adjutant General of Hawai‘i's Instagram page.

Qatar Cargo's A7-BFM

Qatar Cargo's 777-FDZ, A7-BFM (c/n 62770, l/n 1520), is making a fuel stop at HNL this morning. This 777F arrived early this morning, from DFW as QTR8380, and will continue onto MEL.

QantasLink's C-FOWE

JD Aero is delivering C-FOWE (msn 4471) for Sunstate Airlines, to operate for QantasLink. This Dash8-402Q Q400 is making its delivery flight from YAM to BNE, with stops at YYR, HNL, and MAJ. Its HNL stopover is tonight. This Q400 will be registered as VH-84I after it arrives at BNE.

4471's History:

Jun 2014: Delivered to Westjet Encore as C-FOWE (f/n 413).

Apr 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at YAM.

Apr 2026: Acquired by JD Aero, and ferried to YQA for prep to Sunstate Airlines.