Delta A350 Charters

Two Delta Air Lines A350-941s are flying military charters from UTP [U-Tapao International Airport, Rayong, Thailand] to HNL. This pair of A350s are bringing home 1,350 US Army soldiers stationed at Schofield Barracks. N512DN (msn 267, f/n 3512) flying as DAL8956, and N513DZ (msn 277, f/n 3513) flying as DAL8958, with the first batch of soldiers today. The A350s will be back at HNL tomorrow with another group of soldiers.

Spotting Alert

Due to the state and counties COVID-19 "Shelter-In-Place" proclamation that lasts until April 30th, we do not recommend heading down to any of the exterior spotting locations around any of the state's airports. Hawai‘i State Sheriff's deputies are on patrol in the lots, and are warning about loitering in the lots.

Most of the international flights have been suspended. Domestic trans-Pacific passenger flights have been greatly reduced. Cargo flights are still going on as scheduled.

Harmony Airways' C-GMYC

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" dates back to December 2005, and Harmony Airways' 757-258, C-GMYC (c/n 23917, l/n 152), pictured above exiting Runway 4R on Taxiway K, after a flight from YVR.

23917 was originally delivered to El Al Airlines in November 1987 as 4X-EBL (f/n 501), under lease from Boeing Capital, and returned in January 2001. It was leased to HMY Airlines in November 2002 as C-GMYC (f/n 801). The airline re-branded as Harmony Airways in May 2004, but ceased operations in June 2007. This 757 has been sitting in storage at GWO since Harmony's closure.

Estafeta N477VX

N477VX (c/n 28861, l/n 2910), a 737-46QF owned by VX Capital Partners, is making its ferry flight from CGK to SBD, via BIK, MAJ, and HNL. The 737 due to be leased to Estafeta Cargo Area [México], and is already painted in their livery. It's scheduled to make a brief fuel stop at HNL tonight.

28861 was originally delivered to Air Europa in July 1997 as EC-GPI, leased from Boullion AS. From April 1998 to April 2001, it was sub-leased to Iberia. In July 2002, it was sold to Aviation Capital Group, and leased to Air One as EI-CXI. In July 2007, it was leased to Garuda Indonesia as PK-GZP until June 2012. Two months later, it was sold to VX Capital Partners, and converted to a freighter. Gading Sari Aviation Service was the first lessee for the freighter in March 2013 as 9M-GSB. When they shutdown in February 2015, it was transferred to Asia Cargo Express, and flew until September 2018, then stored at CGK six months later. It was painted in the Estafeta livery earlier this year, and will receive a Mexican registration upon delivery.

Hawaiian Airlines Parks Majority Of Its Fleet

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting air travel, Hawaiian Airlines has parked a majority of their 717-200, A321-271N and A330-243 fleet at HNL. The 717-200s are parked outside their Cargo facility, while the A321-271Ns have been towed to Taxiway F, and the A330-243s have been towed to Runway 8L.

Qantas Retires Their 747-400 Fleet

Accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Qantas Airways retired its remaining 747-438s. The airline had supplemental 747 flights for their SYD-HNL service for the spring schedule, but that came to a quick end. VH-OEI "Ceduna" (c/n 32913, l/n 1330) is seen above, seconds from touching down on Runway 8L.

On a related note, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also retired their 747-406 fleet this week. PH-BFE "Melbourne" (c/n 24201, l/n 763) is seen above, in a 2010 photo while on final for LAX's Runway 25L.

Miami Air International Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Aeronewsx.com reports that US charter Airlines, Miami Air International, has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Miami Air International 737-800s are frequent visitors to HNL with charters for the State of Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety; and HIK for crew transfer charters for the US Navy.

N735MA "Arlene" (c/n 37260, l/n 3688, f/n 735), is pictured above as this 737-8K5 taxies to a hardstand on a recent DPS charter flight from the mainland.

COVID-19 Relief Flights

Other than the two Wamos Air flights to take cruise ship passengers back to Europe, here is a brief list of other airlines providing assistance:

03.23.20
HAL930 | YVR | N389HA
SCX8682 | YVR | N808SY
SCX8652 | LAX | N821SY

03.24.20
HAL936 | LAX | N389HA
SCX8654 | LAX | N821SY

03.25.20
SCX8656 | LAX | N821SY
QFA6034 | SYD | VH-QPB


We will update this list as flight information becomes available.

Amazon Prime Air's N547RL

Amazon's Prime Air is taking delivery of N547RL (c/n 32348 l/n 933), a 737-83NF, leased from GECAS, and to be operated by Sun Country Airlines. It's making its delivery flight from PVG to PAE  (via PNH, SPN, and HNL), and made an overnight stop at HNL last night. Sun Country will be operating cargo flights for Amazon Prime Air within the continental US, and registered as N5261A.

32348 was originally delivered to American Trans Air in August 2001 as N306TZ, leased from GECAS, and flew with ATA until January 2005. GOL Transportes Aéreos was the next lessee, who received this 737 in April 2005 as PR-GIB. Four years later, it was subleased to Transavia as PH-HSS, for a six month period, after which the aircraft was returned to GECAS. In June 2010, it was leased to Sky Airlines as TC-SKS "Dalaman". In July 2013, it was leased to Pegasus, as TC-IZD "Buglem Sera", and flew until June 2019. A month later, it was ferried to PVG for storage, where it underwent freighter conversion.

Wamos Air Charters

Two Wamos Air 747-4H6s, EC-KXN (c/n 25773, l/n 1023, -446) and EC-MQK (c/n 28427, l/n 1147), are making charter flights from MAD to HNL, to pick up tourists from cruise liners due to the COVID-19 global health crisis. EC-KXN is flying as PLM948P, and EC-MQK is flying as PLM946P. While awaiting their departure times, both 747s will be parking on Taxiway RH.

03.34.2020 UPDATE
EC-MQK departed this morning for FRA as PLM9461, and EC-KXN departed this afternoon for LGW as PLM9481.

N257AJ

N257AJ (c/n 25857, l/n 2451), a 737-436F owned by the Bank of Utah, is making its ferry flight from TPA to HLP [Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia, via OAK, HNL, MAJ and BIK. It's making the OAK-HNL segment today. Note the Harmoni Indonesia decal on before the main entry door in the above photo.

25857 was originally delivered to British Airways in March 1993 as G-DOCX. It flew with BA until September 2015. It was sold to Automatic LLC in March 2016. Aero Acquisitions bought this 737-436 in June 2017. A year later, the Bank of Utah purchased it, and had it converted to a freighter.

25 July 2020 Update

N257AJ was acquired by Cardig Air [8F/CAD (Indonesia)] in April 2020 as PK-DJK "Asiyah".

N3755P

N3755P (msn 382G-5032), a Lockheed L-100-30 (L-382G), owned by APA Leasing [Kalispell, MT], and operated by H&T Airways, made a stop at HNL. No origin nor destination is available. H&T Airways is a contractor for the US Government.

G-KELT

G-KELT (msn 8403), an A320-251N ACJ, owned by Acropolis Aviation [United Kingdom], is making a brief fuel stop at HNL this evening from FAB [Farnborough Airfield, Farnborough, UK], via BFI as CRV1. It will continue onto AKL later in the evening.

UPS's N301UP

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to April 2005, and UPS's N301UP (c/n 27239, l/n 580, f/n 301), as it taxies to Runway 8R. This 767-34AFER is pictured above in the original UPS livery.

N301UP was delivered to UPS in October 1995, and continues to fly for UPS.

Qantas Adds 747-400 Service

RoutesOnline.com reports that Qantas Airways will be adding 747-438 flights between SYD and HNL for the month of March as QFA103/104.

Singapore Airlines Cargo's 9V-SFO

Singapore Airlines Cargo's 9V-SFO (c/n 32900, l/n 1349) has made an overnight stop at HNL. This 747-412F arrived early this morning from SYD as SIA7194, and is making a fuel stop here before continuing onto ATL.

Lucky Air's 2-AVLB

Lucky Air is ferrying 2-AVLB, a 737-700, from KMG to TUS (via GUM and HNL). It's making an overnight stop at HNL.

It's previous registration was B-5249 (c/n 33011, l/n 1291). This 737-790 was originally delivered to Alaska Airlines in March 2003 as N645AS, leased from CIT. In April 2007, it was leased to Lucky Air as B-5249. Ten years later, it was sold to Avolon Leasing, received the current livery, and continued with Lucky Air until August 2019, where it was stored at KMG.

N65070 Lost

N65070 (msn 2035), a Cessna 305 owned by Honolulu Soaring Club crashed this morning, and took the lives of both aboard.

The HNL RareBirds team expresses our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the families of the lost.

Coverage by KHON2.com

Lucky Air's 2-AVLA

Lucky Air is returning 2-AVLA (c/n 30626, l/n 1273), a 737-790, to Avolon Leasing, as it ferries from KMG to TUS (via GUM and HNL). It's making an overnight stop at HNL.

30626 was originally delivered to Alaska Airlines in January 2003 as N629AS, leased from CIT. In March 2007, it was leased to Lucky Air as B-5248. A decade later, it was sold to Avolon Leasing, and flew with Lucky Air until August 2019, where it was stored at KMG.

AeroMéxico's N966AM

AeroMéxico's 787-8 Dreamliner, N966AM (c/n 35311, l/n 155), has made a stop from ICN, as it ferries to MEX (via NRT and HNL) as AMX9870.

N966AM was delivered to AeroMéxico in March 2014 under lease from AerCap.