30 September 2016

Thai Lion Air's HS-LTY

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTY (c/n 38312, l/n 6092) today. The 737-9GPER is making its delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

29 September 2016

Nevada Wolf Pack Team Charter

The University of Nevada Wolf Pack football team is chartering a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for the flight from RNO to HNL (via SFO) as SCX8651. N821SY (c/n 39952, l/n 5217), a 737-8FH, is bring the team here for its game against the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. They are scheduled to return to RNO after the game, Saturday night.

Thai Airway's HS-TGA

A chartered Thai Airways International 747-4D7 arrived this morning from Bangkok, Thailand as TG885. HS-TGA (c/n 32369, l/n 1273) flew in participants from Thailand for the 2016 International Sex Trafficking Summit. Prosecutors and Law associates from the United States and Asia gathered in Honolulu to hold discussions on the issue of Sex trafficking.

28 September 2016

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPK

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPK "Aussie Rob" (msn 19000218) is making its return ferry flight from BNA to BNE. The E-190 will overnight at HNL from VNY, continuing onto APW tomorrow morning as VOZ9902.

27 September 2016

China Eastern Airlines' B-7600

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7600 (c/n 41498, l/n 6091) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and overnight at HNL.

26 September 2016

Mokulele Ends JRF Service

Mokulele Airlines ended Cessna Grand Caravan service to and from JRF earlier this month, citing lack of profitability.

Further details in this Hawaii News Now article.

25 September 2016

Aloha Air Cargo Bids Aloha ‘Oe To The SF340AF

Aloha Air Cargo has ended their Saab SF340AF turboprop operations. N843KH was the last of the three Saab freighters to be ferried out of HNL, that left on September 14th for BGR. The cargo firm decided to concentrate on their 737-300F fleet, and the ABX Air charter for their LAX service.

Royal Thai Air Force's HS-TYU

The Royal Thai Air Force is taking delivery of HS-TYU (c/n 62445, l/n 5609) today. The 737-8Z6 (BBJ2) is flying as HSTYU. This BBJ2 was built in September 2015, was ferried to WOE [Woensdrecht Air Base, Netherlands] for cabin outfitting. It was flown to BFI for final acceptance, before making its way across the Pacific.

23 September 2016

Shenzhen Airlines' B-7750

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-7750 (c/n 61120, l/n 6083) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ903, and will overnight at HNL. B-7750 is the 100th 737NG delivery to a Chinese carrier this year.

21 September 2016

Hawaiian Airlines To Order A380s?

In a Bloomberg Technology article today, it intimated that Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley is mulling over the possibility of ordering Airbus A380s for its HNL-LAX, HNL-LAS, and HNL-NRT flights. There will be a several second-hand "Super Jumbos" to hit the market, as Singapore Airlines is set to return some of their leased A380 fleet, and leasing companies have several to offer.

The airline is also looking at further route expansion to the east coast US, and Asian destinations as they anticipate delivery of the six A330-800neos. Europe is mentioned as a possibility as well, depending on the range and load specs when the A330neos are built.


Hawaiian Airlines would have to limit the amount of A380 movements at HNL, as only two gates on the ‘Ewa Concourse are currently rated to accommodate the A380, though only via the main deck.  HNL has reinforced taxiways to handle the "Super Jumbo" as well. 

In December 2012, F-WWDD, an A380 demonstrator paid a three-day visit to HNL. Hawaiian Airlines hosted the visit, which included touch-and-go landings at KOA. It was also used as a training plane for Swissport, who handles Qantas A380 flights, when they stop here for medical diversions.

Allegiant Air's N331NV

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of their latest A319-111, N331NV (msn 2625), today. It's flying from HKG to the mainland, with a stop at HNL from GUM, before continuing onto RNO and IND.

2625 was originally delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in December 2005 as RP-C3191, and withdrawn from use this past July.

TAG Aviation's G-TCSX

TAG Aviation's Four Seasons Resorts logo jet, G-TCSX (c/n 26330, l/n 717), has made a stop at HNL as VIP619.

Lucky Air's B-7989

Lucky Air is taking delivery of B-7989 (c/n 42158, l/n 6080) today. The 737-84P, their second 737NG delivery within the past eight days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B7989, and will overnight at HNL.

20 September 2016

Hainan Airlines' B-1538

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1538 (c/n 44387, l/n 6077) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1538, and will overnight at HNL.

19 September 2016

China Eastern Airlines' B-1536

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1536 (c/n 41497, l/n 6079) today. The 737-89P is makings delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

15 September 2016

China United Airlines' B-7987

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-7987 (c/n 61694, l/n 6072) today. The 737-89P is makings delivery flight from BFI as CUA987, and will overnight at HNL.

13 September 2016

Lucky Air's B-1563

Lucky Air is taking delivery of B-1563 (c/n 39221, l/n 6066) today. The 737-74P is makings delivery flight from BFI as B1563, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-7995

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7995 (c/n 43892, l/n 6068) today. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN995, and will overnight at HNL.

10 September 2016

Shandong Airlines' B-7979

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7979 (c/n 61431, l/n 6064) today. The 737-85N is makings delivery flight from BFI as CDG7979, and will overnight at HNL.

09 September 2016

Kunming Airlines' B-7872

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-7872 (c/n 60155, l/n 6063) today. The 737-7LY is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA7872, and will overnight at HNL.

Urumqi Air's B-1569

Urumqi Air is taking delivery of B-1569 (c/n 60155, l/n 6063) this morning. The 737-84P, allocated from Hainan Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B-1569, and will overnight at HNL.

07 September 2016

Air China's B-7893

Air China is taking delivery of B-7893 (c/n 60855, l/n 6061) this morning. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA47, and will overnight at HNL.

06 September 2016

Jiangxi Air's B-1557

Jiangxi Air [RY/CJX] (China), the low-cost subsidiary of Xiamen Air, is taking delivery of their first new-build 737-85C this morning. B-1557 (c/n 42933, l/n 6017) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CJX8936, and will overnight at HNL.

01 September 2016

Korean Air's HL7637

Korean Air's HL7637 (c/n 40909, l/n 1529) is the first 747-8i to make a passenger flight to HNL, it arrived this morning from ICN as KAL53, and returned to ICN as KAL54. The 747-8B5, delivered to Korean Air this past June, is seen above taxiing to Gate 34. This flight had been previously operated with 777-3B5ERs.

Boeing's N60669

This month's edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to September 2005, and Boeing's N60669 (c/n 24231, l/n 1871) visit to HNL. This 737-42C was the testbed for Boeing's Connexion internet and satellite communications system, and was making a stop at HNL as it was on a tour of Asia.

24231 was originally delivered to Air UK Leisure [MV/UKL] (United Kingdom) in June 1990 as G-UKLC. In June 1996, it was transferred to the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines fleet, and eight months later, it was re-registered as PH-BPD. In December 2000, Boeing acquired it, and used it as their Connexion demonstrator. In 2006, it was sold to GECAS, and leased to S7 - Siberia Airlines [S7/SBI] (Russia) that June, as VP-BTH. From May 2008 to October 2013, it wore the Globus special livery. In May 2014, Kahala Aviation Leasing acquired 24231, and had it converted to a freighter. In September 2014, it was leased to JetTime [JO/JTG] (Denmark) as OY-JTL, where it continues to fly.