Qantas VH-VZR

Qantas Airways is taking delivery of its newest 737-838. Dubbed "Coral Bay", VH-VZR (c/n 34193, l/n 3754) is seen above after arriving from Boeing Field (KBFI/BFI).

Alaska Neighbor Island Flights To Go Daily

Beginning March 12, 2012, four Alaska Airlines flights from the Bay Area to the Neighbor Islands will increase its frequencies to daily service.

ASA863: SJC-LIH
ASA868: LIH-SJC

ASA879: OAK-LIH
ASA886: LIH-OAK

ASA893: SJC-KOA
ASA894: KOA-SJC

ASA887: OAK-KOA
ASA888: KOA-OAK

Alaska Airlines press release.

KC-135's 55th Anniversary Of First Flight

Boeing Defense announced that today is the 55th anniversary of their KC-135 Stratotanker's first flight. Also known as the 717-148, the Stratotanker remains the backbone of the US Air Force's tanker fleet.

Pictured above, is 57-1508 "Hōkū-kea" (c/n 17579, l/n 188), a KC-135R, of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 203rd Aerial Refueling Squadron, departing HNL's Runway 8R. It's one of a dozen KC-135Rs that the 203rd ARS shares with the 96th ARS (active duty) as part of the US Air Force's "Total Force Integration".

Volga-Dnepr's RA-82079

Another An-124-100 Ruslan of Volga-Dnepr has been spotted in HNL. RA-82079 (c/n 9773052062157) was parked at the North Ramp hard-stands for the past few nights. Volga-Dnepr has been contracted by the U.S. Government to fly out-sized cargo for the upcoming deployment of troops to Afghanistan.

N593HA In Air Canada Colors

Hawaiian Air's 767-33AER, N593HA "Nēnē" (c/n 33424, l/n 901), has been painted in AIr Canada's colors. The lease with AWAS expired, and it's going onto to its next assignment. The Canadian registration has yet to be distributed, but the Air Canada fleet number will be 692.

Mahalo to team member Aeros for the above photo!

***10.03.11 Update***
N593HA will be registered as C-GHPN when it's integrated into the Air Canada fleet.

Shenzhen's B-5616

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5616 (c/n 39149, l/n 3755) today, and is flying as CSZ915. It is their second 737-87L to be delivered this month. B-5616 is seen above the next day, on Taxiway C, as it prepares to taxi out to "the Reef Runway" to depart for MAJ.

Air China's B-5585

Air China is taking delivery of their second 737-89L in a week. B-5585 (c/n 40029, l/n 3756) is making its delivery flight from BFI to PEK (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as CCA51 today. It's seen above, on Taxiway RT, to continue its second leg to MAJ the next day.

Use Of Our Photos

It has been brought to my attention that one of our photos has been used in a Philippines-based business publication without our consent.

I would like to re-iterate that anyone, including journalists and news outlets, who would like to use our photos here, MUST obtain the permission from the posting photographer to use the photo for their report. Otherwise, it is construed as copyright infringement! It is also poor ethics on the part of that particular publication.

Most, if not all, of our team members would love to have their photos published elsewhere, but it must be done so in an appropriate manner.

Also, the photo in question, had a copyright graphic cloned over. That, in and of itself, is outright copyright infringement.

This is the article that used my photo ...

Asiana To Offer Scheduled Service?

According to this thread from airliners.net, Asiana's ICN-HNL charters will turn into scheduled service from December 8. Asiana's website does not show this information, nor does it show HNL as a destination. However, this information is loaded and does show up in the various GDS's. You can also find this information on the various online booking and travel search sites.

The flights operate on Sunday and Thursday on the following schedule:

OZ232 ICN-HNL 2000-0900

OZ231 HNL-ICN 1100-1750 +1

The A330-300 will be used on these flights.

Luzair To Operate Japan-HNL Charters

AirlinerRoutes.com reports that Portuguese charter airline Luzair (LUZ) will fly 21 charter flights from a variety of Japanese cities to HNL. The flights will last from 13 November 2011 to 03 January 2012 using their A340-300.

Stay tuned for more details!

Northern Air Cargo 737-232F

A 737-232F, N321DL (c/n 23093, l/n 1024), from Northern Air Cargo (NAC) is parked on Aloha Air Cargo ramp. NAC is a cargo airline based in Anchorage, AK, and is owned by the Saltchuk Resources, who also owns Aloha Air Cargo. This aircraft is here temporarily to fly for Aloha Air Cargo, due to one of Aloha's aircraft is out due to maintenance.

N321DL originally was delivered to Delta Airlines in 1984 and was in service with them until 2005. The aircraft was then converted into a freighter and started flying for NAC in 2006.

Hawaiian Air's N922ME

N922ME (c/n 55184, l/n 5142) is the first of three additional Boeing 717-2BLs that Hawaiian Air is leasing from Boeing Capital. It's currently being prepped in MIA, after being stored at VCV. 

These three 717s were previously with Midwest Airlines, and N922ME was delivered in April 2005. After Midwest phased out their 717s, they were set to go to Mexicana Click, but were not taken up. Quite a few 717s were painted in Mexicana Click colors, but weren't delivered due to the airline's shutdown in August 2010. They have been in storage at VCV since.

Hawaiian Air has registrations N491HA, N492HA, AND N493HA reserved with the FAA for the three 717-2BLs. N922ME is due to arrive in September.

Royal Thai Air Force C-130

A Royal Thai Air Force C-130 has stopped over in Hawaii and is parked on Hickam's Hazardous Cargo Pad. This C-130 has its vertical stabilizer painted in a special livery celebrating the C-130's 30 years of service in the RTAF. The tail number should be L8-8/33 / 60108. For a better look at the livery on the vertical stabilizer, the airliners.net database has a couple of pictures.

Second shot taken from the new Ewa hard-stands.

Xiamen's B-5280

Xiamen Airlines' fourth of four new 737-75Cs, B-5280 (c/n 38385, l/n 3752), is making its delivery flight from BFI to XMN (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as CXA5280.

Air China's B-5583

Air China's B-5583 (c/n 40016, l/n 3749) is their newest 737-89L that is making its delivery flight from BFI to PEK (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as CCA51. It's seen above on short final for Runway 4R.

A second look at B-5583 as it taxies out to Runway 8R to depart for its second leg to MAJ, after it overnighted on the AirService Hawai‘i ramp.

China Eastern's B-5276

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5276 (c/n 37919, l/n 3741), a 737-79P. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CES299, with its first leg to HNL today. This is the first China Eastern 737 to be fitted for "high and hot ops" and the new Boeing Sky Interior, and assigned to its Sichuan subsidiary.

B-5276 is seen above on the AirService Hawai‘i ramp, and photographed with a Nikon 10-24mm ultra-wide lens I rented to shoot a wedding a few days ago.

Boeing information from their flickr.com page.

Delta To Order 100 737-900ERs

In a move to replace some their aging 757-200s, Delta Air Lines will be placing an order for 100 737-900ERs. News report state that the estimated deliveries are to start in 2013. On Hawai‘i routes, Delta currently uses their 757-200s for all flights to the Neighbor Island airports from LAX.

FlightGlobal and Bloomberg article links.

Delta Airlines "Habitat for Humanity"

Delta Airlines Habitat for Humanity special livery 767-332ER came in today as DAL608 from Narita (RJAA/NRT). N171DZ (c/n 29690, l/n 717) wears a sharp scheme that could be mistaken for a private jet if the Delta titles were not present.

China Southern's B-2259

One of China Southern's few remaining MD-90-30's is making its way across the Pacific to join the Delta Airlines fleet. B-2259 (c/n 53529, l/n 2220) is seen above at the North ramp after arriving from Majuro (PKMJ/MAJ) as CSN6999 the previous afternoon. It will be re-registered as N959DN when it joins the Delta fleet.

B-2259 was originally delivered to China Northern Airlines in February 1998. It was integrated into the CSN fleet after a merger with CBF in November 2004.

JAL Upgauging JL75/76 In September

Starting September 1st, JAL's flights JL76/75 will be upgauged to the 777-246ER on certain days through out the month. The scheduled arrival and departure times for JL76/75 are 0830HST and 1010HST respectively.