New Mexico State Team Charter

The New Mexico State Aggies football team is chartering an Omni Air International 767-300ER for their road game against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. N378AX (c/n 28147, l/n 611, f/n 378), a 767-33AER, is flying the Aggies from ELP to HNL as OAE2338.

28147's History:

Apr 1996: Delivered to Alitalia as G-OITL "Arturo Ferrarin", under lease from AWAS.

Apr 1997: Re-registered as I-DEIL "Arturo Ferrarin".

Apr 2000: Acquired by SALE, and the lease was transferred.

Jly 2007: Acquired by BOC, and the lease was transferred.

Aug 2009: Acquired by Omni Air International as N378AX.

Jun 2020: Acquired by sister-company Cargo Aircraft Management, and leased back.

13 September 2026 UPDATE

The Aggies returned to ELP, aboard N378AX, as OAE2338. The departed HNL just after 01:00.

Hurricane Lowell Causes LIH Closure

As of 14:00HAST, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports has suspended operations at LIH as Category 3 Hurricane Lowell approaches Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. Inbound flights already en route are being diverted to HNL. The airport will be inspected tomorrow, and a reopening time will be announced then.

Further information in this HDOT news release.

For all of our friends on Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, please stay safe!

08 September 2026 UPDATE

HDOT-A reopened LIH at 11:20HAST.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N286GB

Asia Pacific Airlines is taking delivery of N286GB (c/n 26245, l/n 617). This 757-256F is making its delivery flight from ROW to HNL, with a brief fuel stop at LAX. It will be leased from Petrus Aviation.

AirlineVideos got N286GB landing at LAX from ROW on an Instagram Reel.

26245's History:

Aug 1994: Delivered to Iberia as EC-611 "Mexico", under lease from Sunrock Aircraft Leasing.

Oct 1994: Re-registered as EC-FYM "Mexico".

Nov 2000: Leased to National Airlines as N542NA.

Mar 2003: Sold Icelandair, and transferred to Loftledir Icelandic as TF-FIS.

Aug 2003: Leased to Sierra National Airlines for eight months.

Apr 2004: Leased to Fly Jet Green for one month.

Jun 2004: Leased to Volare Airlines for four months.

May 2007: Leased to Flyglobespan for five months.

Feb 2009: Leased to Yakutia Airlines as VQ-BCK.

May 2014: Returned to Icelandair as TF-FIS "Grímsvötn".

Nov 2019: Painted as the National Geographic logo jet.

May 2020: Converted to a freighter at SFB.

Aug 2021: Sold to Icelease as N286GB.

Jan 2022: Leased to Amerijet international.

Jly 2023: Sold to Petrus Aviation, and the lease transferred.

Dec 2023: Withdrawn from service, returned to lessor, and stored at MZJ.

10 September 2026 UPDATE

N286GB was moved to Taxiway F.

National Jet Express' N110BZ

National Jet Express is taking delivery of N110BZ (msn 19000075). This ERJ-190AR is making its delivery flight from MIA to PER, with stops at OAK, HNL, MAJ, and CNS, as AFF698. It will be registered as VH-8EC after delivery.

19000075's History:

Apr 2007 Delivered to Air Canada as C-FHNV.

Oct 2019: Sold to Nordic Aviation Capital as N975NA.

Mar 2021: Leased to Breeze Airways.

Jly 2021: Re-registered as N110BZ (f/n 110).

Aug 2024: Sold to TrueNoord Leasing, and the lease was transferred.

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

Jly 2026: Sold to Regional One, and ferried to OPF a month later.

08 September 2026 UPDATE

N110BZ departed for MAJ this morning as AFF698.

Trans Air's N413JG Returns Home

Following an eight-month plus D-Check at TNN, Trans Air's N413JG (c/n 23148, l/n 1059) returned to HNL this evening. Flying as MUI1, this 737-2Q8 departed TNN, and made stops at TSA [Shongshan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan], GUM, and MAJ. 

N413JG departed for its D-Check at TNN on 20 December 2025, as MUI1, and made stops at MAJ and GUM. This 41-year-old 737 is seen above a couple of weeks prior to it departing for TNN.

All Nippon Airways Confirms Eight More E2s

All Nippon Airways has converted the option for eight additional E190-E2s with Embraer, to add to their current order for 15 E190-E2s, for a total of 23. This move is part of the airline's fleet modernization program. ANA has options for five more E190-E2s. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2028. Though we are not sure if these E2s will deliver through HNL, we are hopeful they will.

Further information in this Embraer news release.

UNLV Team Charter

The University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels football team is chartering an Omni Air International 767-224ER for their Mountain West road game tomorrow against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. The two teams will also be playing for the Island Showdown rivalry trophy. N225AX "Kīkaha" (c/n 30434, l/n 825) is flying the Rebels as OAE2156, and will arrive this afternoon. The team will return to LAS following the game.

05 September 2026 UPDATE

The Rebels are returning to LAS before midnight as OAE2156 following their 21-6 win, and retains the Island Showdown trophy.

N49RF Returning For Hurricane Flights

NOAA's G-IV N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246) is returning to Hawai‘i for hurricane analysis flights. Flying as NOAA49, it is en route from LGB to HNL, and will arrive early this afternoon.

KOA Operations Temporarily Suspended

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports temporarily suspended operations at KOA due cracks found on Runway 17/35. The closure began at 13:35HAST, and lasted for 90 minutes. HDOT-A will do permanent repairs tonight from 23:30, and lasting to 05:00 tomorrow morning.

Further information in this HDOT-A news release.

QantasLink's VH-X4O

National Jet Systems is taking delivery of VH-X4O "Saltwater Crocodile" (msn 55470). This QantasLink-liveried A220-300 is making its delivery flight from YMX to CBR, with stops at YVR, HNL, and APW. It's making its YVR-HNL segment today as QLK6076, with an overnight stop. This is National Jet Systems second A220-300 delivery in ten days.

Hurricanes Lowell And Karina

With Category 4 Hurricane Lowell to the south of the main Hawaiian Islands, and Category 4 Hurricane Karina approaching to pass northeast of the islands, by Sunday night, the US Air Force and National Hurricane Center has deployed two WC-130J Weatherbirds from the 53rd WRS to fly into the storms.

97-5304 (msn 382-5474), flying as TEAL81, and 99-5309 (msn 382-5501), flying as TEAL82, are based out of KOA, after arriving from SUU this afternoon.

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.

04 September 2026 UPDATE

N43RF repositions to KOA.

20 September 2026 UPDATE

N43RF departs for LGB, with a stop at JRF.

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".