Three Airlines Vie For The LNY EAS Contract

With the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract to serve LNY up again, three airlines are vying for the Federal Aviation Administration award. Incumbent Mokulele Airlines, along with Pacific Air Charters, and Cape Air have submitted bids to the FAA for the EAS. Mokulele won the previous two-year contract in 2024, and is poised to try to renew it.

Pacific Air Charters has three P2012s based at HNL, with more on order.

Cape Air, based at HYA [Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Hyannis, MA] has a fleet of 64 Cessna C402s and 30 P2012s (with 70 on order). Cape Air also has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now report.

Singapore Airlines' 9V-MBZ

Singapore Airlines is taking delivery of 9V-MBZ (c/n 44269, l/n 9732) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to SIN, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as SIA8890.

Hawaiian Airlines' N375HA oneWorld Logo Jet

After a few delays, Hawaiian Airlines' A330-243 oneWorld logo jet, N375HA "Humu" (msn 1606) returned home this morning from SIN as ASA9980. It's scheduled to re-enter service later this morning to SYD as ASA851.

Omega Tanker's N235UL

Omega Tanker's KDC-10-30CF, N235UL (c/n 46956, l/n 235), is making a stop at HNL from VCV as OME21. This is N235UL's first visit to HNL since entering service.

46956's History:

Dec 1976: Delivered to Martinair as PH-MBP "Hong Kong" as a DC-10-30CF.

Nov 1977: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for one month.

Oct 1978: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for one month.

Jan 1979: Leased to Philippine Airlines for one year.

Aug 1982: Leased to Caribbean Airlines (duration unknown).

___ 1985: Leased to Air Seychelles (duration unknown).

Feb 1995: Sold to the Koninklijlke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force), converted to a tanker transport, assigned to 334 Squadron, and registered as T-235 "Jan Scheffer".

___ 2004: Tail painted to commemorate 334 Squadron 60th Anniversary.

Dec 2005: Painted in grey camouflage.

Jun 2014: 70th Anniversary tail art added.

Jun 2019: 75th Anniversary tail art added.

Oct 2021: withdrawn from service, and stored at VCV

Dec 2021: Sold to Omega Tanker, and re-registered as N235UL.

Jun 2026: N235UL enters service for Omega.

17 July 2026 UPDATE

N235UL flies out on refueling mission as OME12.

18 July 2026 UPDATE

N235UL departs for DNA as OME12.

HL8508

HL8508 (c/n 41987, l/n 11), a 787-8 BBJ DreamLiner owned by Samsung, and operated by Korean Air, is making a stop at HNL from GMP as KAL2903.

17 July 2026 UPDATE

HL8508 departed for ICN this evening as KAL2444.

Hawaiian Airlines' N479HA "Moana" Special Livery

Hawaiian Airlines has applied decals for the live-action version of "Moana" to one of its 717-22As. N479HA "‘Akepa" (c/n 55124, l/n 5069, f/n 479) will wear the decals for its inter-island flights. It re-entered service this morning as ASA1096 [HNL-OGG].

Sun Country Airlines' N839SY

Sun Country Airlines' N839SY (c/n 42083, l/n 6232, f/n 839) is making a stop at HNL, from LAX this afternoon as SCX8655. This 737-8JP is scheduled to return to LAX tomorrow as SCX8656.

MKK Night Closures

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports will close MKK nightly from 20-23 July 2026 for runway repairs and airfield maintenance.

Further information in this HDOT-A news release.

VQ-CCQ

Bank of America Leasing is having VQ-CCQ (msn 3857) ferried from CGK to TUS, with stops at GUM, MAJ, and HNL. It's overnight stop at HNL is tonight.

3857's History:

Apr 2009: Leased to Aer Lingus as EI-DVJ "St Macartan / Macarthain", under lease fromRBS.

Jun 2009: Acquired by Bank of America Leasing, and the lease transferred.

Jan 2023: Withdrawn from service.

May 2023: Leased to Cebu Pacific as RP-C4160.

Aug 2023: "let's fly every Juan" special titles painted on the port side.

Feb 2026: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to CGK for storage.

N192CP

N192CP (msn 1509), a PC-12/47E, owned by Bank of Hawai‘i, is ferrying from LNK [Lincoln Airport, Lincoln, NE] to HNL, with stops at MCE and ACV [California Redwood Coast -  Humboldt County Airport, Arcata/Eureka, CA].

N192CP's History:

Dec 2014: Delivered to Jerugu LLC.

Sep 2023: Sold to D Rob Burris.

Mar 2024: Sold to Barrier Leasing.

May 2026: Sold to Bank of Hawai‘i.

16 July 2026 UPDATE

N192CP flew to JRF for test flights today, then returned to HNL, and parked in the Royal Air hangar.

Multi-National MRTT Fleet's T-061

T-061 (msn 2030), an A330-243 MRTT, from the Multi-National Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet, operated by the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force), is making a stop at HIK from YAMB tonight, as MMF68.

VP-BEL

Orient Global Singapore's 737-74T BBJ, VP-BEL (c/n 29139, l/n 189), is making a stop at HNL from NRT today.

13 July 2026 UPDATE

VP-BEL departed for PAE this afternoon.

N530XT

Gryphon Trading, a Bank of Utah trustee, is ferrying their A320-232, N530XT (msn 4931), from ASP to P08, with stops at CNS, TRW, and KOA. This A320 is slated to be parted out and scrapped. Its stop at KOA is this evening.

4931's History:

Dec 2011: Delivered to Tiger Airways as 9V-TRD, under lease from Pembroke.

Jly 2013: Airline re-brands as Tigerair.

Jly 2017: Sold to Itochu, leased to Scoot as 9V-TRD, and named "Felix".

Jan 2024: Leased to Jetstar Asia as 9V-JSY.

Jly 2025: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SIN.

Oct 2025: Acquired by Jetstar Airways as VH-X3R, ferried to ASP for storage; never inducted into service.

Jun 2026: Acquired by Gryphon Trading as N530XT.

09 July 2026 UPDATE

N530XT departed for P08 for storage, early this morning.

VP-CYW

VP-CYW (msn 4228), an A319-115CJ ACJ owned by Bliss Surplus Ltd [China], and operated by Business Aviation Asia, is making a stop at HNL from KIX today.

09 July 2026 UPDATE

VP-CYW departed for LAS this morning.

Federal Express' N605FE

Federal Express is ferrying N605FE "April Star" (c/n 48514, l/n 515, f/n 605) from MEM to HNL as FDX619 tonight. The express forwarder also has N643FE "Haley" (c/n 48486, l/n 509, f/n 605) here, parked on the ‘Ewa Ramp, since the grounding in November. N605FE is scheduled to depart for LAX tomorrow evening.

Malaysia Airlines' 9M-MVS

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MVS (c/n 68154, l/n 9712) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to KUL, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as MAS5041.

RIMPAC Maritime Patrol Aircraft Display

Maritime patrol aircraft participating in RIMPAC 2026 were on display this morning at Marine Corps Air Field Kāne‘ohe Bay. A P-8A Poseidon from the US Navy's VP-40 "Fighting Marlins" and a Kawasaki P-1 from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's 5 Kokutai were on display. Commanders from the US Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Republic of Korea Navy were also on hand at the event. There were also P-8As from the US Navy's VP-4 and RAAF's 11 Squadron departing the base for sorties, as a well as an RCAF CP-140 Aurora performing touch and go landings.

Here is a link to our YouTube video of the event.

VP-CTT

Phenix Jet Cayman's VP-CTT (c/n 38751, l/n 3796) is making a stop at HNL today from GED, with a stop at LAX, as CPJ88. This is this 737-7ZH BBJ's second HNL stopover this year. VP-CTT arrived at GED on 26 May, and the airport has a facility that specializes in business jet cabin interiors.

11 July 2026 UPDATE

VP-CTT departed for NRT this afternoon as CPJ88.

Lynden Air Cargo's N401LC

Lynden Air Cargo's L-100-30, N401LC (msn 382-4606) is making as stop at HNL from ANC as LYC519.

07 July 2026 UPDATE

N401LC departed for AWK this morning.

08 July 2026 UPDATE

N401LC is returning to HNL, from AWK, this afternoon.

09 July 2026 UPDATE

N401LC departed for AWK this morning as LYC519.

Hawaiian Airlines' N381HA "Moana" Special Livery

Hawaiian Airlines has applied "Moana" decals on to N381HA "Hōkūle‘a" (msn 1114, f/n 381), for promotion of the Disney live-action motion picture. This A330-243 is flying to SEA this afternoon as ASA822, and return tomorrow as ASA821.