United's N15712

United Airlines' fleet of 737's with the standard blended winglets are currently in the process of being retrofitted to receive the new Split-Scimitar winglets. Sporting a pair of newly fitted winglets, N15712 (c/n 28783, l/n 105) was the first 737-724 spotted in Honolulu. It will be based out of Guam and operate on United's Micronesia network.

Ellison To Sell Island Air

Hawaii News Now is reporting that Island Air owner Larry Ellison is looking to sell the airline he purchased in 2013, to an undisclosed investment group.

N135GU

N135GU (msn 340A-135), a Saab SF340A/QC, acquired by Skydive Guam, is making its ferry flight from INT (Smith Reynolds Airport, Winston-Salem, NC) to GUM, via MQY, DUX, CHD, MCE, JRF, and MAJ. It's making its overnight stop at JRF tonight. It departed INT on the 24th, and is expected to reach GUM on the 31st.

340A-135 was originally delivered to Finnaviation in November 1988 as OH-FAD. When Finnair merged with Finnaviation, OH-FAD was transferred to the Finnair fleet. In March 2000, it was sold to Flying Enterprise AB (Sweden) as SE-KCU, then transferred to the Skyways Enterprise fleet in October 2001. In September 2005, it was sold to Sky Express (Poland) as SP-KPF. In March 2008, Sky Express re-branded itself into SprintAir, and also became an all-cargo carrier, with their SF340 fleet converted to a Quick Change interior. Skydive Guam acquired this SF340 in October 2015, and had the skydiving modifications done at INT.

Xiamen's B-7176

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7176 (c/n 41393, l/n 5721) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA7176, and will overnight at HNL. B-7176 is the last 737NG delivery through Hawai‘i for 2015.

Mele Kalikimaka!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a very Merry Christmas!

China United's B-7372

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-7372 (c/n 61315, l/n 5711) this afternoon. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA732, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan's B-6063

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-6063 (c/n 41384, l/n 5538) today. The 737-84P, the third of three stored at MZJ, is making its delivery flight as CHH6063, and will overnight at HNL. This the airline's sixth 737-84P delivery within the past seven days; and the 200th 737-800 delivery flight to stop through Hawai‘i this year.

Hainan's B-6065

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-6065 (c/n 41385, l/n 5544) today. The 737-84P, the second of three that were stored at MZJ, is making its delivery flight as CHH6065, and will overnight at HNL. It's also the first of two Hainan deliveries today.

Lucky Air's B-7167

Lucky Air is taking delivery of B-7167 (c/n 41591, l/n 5710) this morning. The 737-84P, allocated from Hainan Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B7167, and will overnight at HNL.

Urumqi Air's B-7198

Urumqi Air is taking delivery of B-7198 (c/n 61324, l/n 5695) today. The 737-84P, allocated from Hainan Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B7198, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-6993

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-6993 (c/n 41505, l/n 5713) today. The 737-89P, allocated from China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH338, and will overnight at HNL.

Beijing Airlines B-3999

One of Beijing Airlines' 737-79L BBJs, B-3999 (c/n 41090, l/n 3636) is making a stop at HNL. Beijing Airline is the business jet division of Air China.

Hainan's B-6061

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-6061 (c/n 41383, l/n 5489) today. This is one of three 737-84Ps that were flown to MZJ for storage, earlier this year. It's making its delivery flight from MZJ as CHH6061, and will make an overnight stop at HNL. It's also Hainan's fourth 737-84P within the past five days.

Garuda's PK-GNV

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GNV (c/n 41815, l/n 5716) today. The 737-8U3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto TKK.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPC

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPC "Cabarita Beach" (msn 19000170) is making its way back to BNE as VOZ9902. The E190 is making its stop at HNL from VNY, and will continue onto APW tomorrow.

Shanghai's B-2875

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying B-2875 (c/n 33966, l/n 1049) to the mainland, as the 757-26D will join the Delta Air Lines fleet as N822DX. It's making its ferry flight from PVG with stops at SPN and HNL as CSH2875.

Lion's PK-LPM

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LPM (c/n 39874, l/n 5709) today. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto PNI. PK-LPM, without titles, is destined for KUL, so it will be allocated to the Malindo Air fleet.

N420XJ

N420XJ (msn 340B-420), a Saab SF340B, is ferrying from BGR [Bangor International Airport, Bangor, ME] to ADL [Adelaide International Airport, Australia], via LUM, RNT, ITO, APW, OOL and OAG. It arrived tonight from RNT at ITO, and will join the REX - Regional Express fleet.

This SF340B was originally delivered to Mesaba Airlines in June 1997. It operated as part of the Northwest Airlines Express network, then part of the Delta Air Lines network. In July 2011, it was acquired by Colgan Air, then a year later sold to Silver Airways (f/n 301).

Jin Air Starts Honolulu Route

Korean Airlines' low cost operation, Jin Air started operations today from Incheon, Republic of Korea. The flights are scheduled to run every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday as LJ601/LJ602.

Jin Air's two 777-2B5ERs formerly flew with Korean Airlines going from a total seat capacity of 261 to 355 seats. Operating today's inaugural flight was HL7743 (c/n 34208, l/n 584).

Hawaiʻi Bowl Team Charters

The 2015 Hawaiʻi Bowl features the San Diego State University Aztecs (Mountain West Conference) against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats (American Athletic Conference). Both teams arrived today from their respective cities.

The Aztecs chartered a Hawaiian Airlines 767-3CBER, N592HA "Hunakai" (c/n 33648, l/n 898), as HAL715, direct from SAN.

The Bearcats chartered an Atlas Air 767-3S1ER, N640GT, as GTI8797, which flew non-stop from CVG.

Both teams are expected to return home after the game. The Bearcats returned to CVG as GTI8800 on N640GT; and the Aztecs returned to SAN as HAL716 on N590HA.