HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines announced Tuesday that it intends to acquire six new Airbus A330-800neo aircraft starting in 2019, to serve farther non-stop destinations from Hawaii. Hawaiian has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the six planes, with
HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines announced Tuesday that it intends to acquire six new Airbus A330-800neo aircraft starting in 2019, to serve farther non-stop destinations from Hawaii.
Hawaiian has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the six planes, with rights to purchase an additional six aircraft. It is part of the carrier’s vision to start more distant routes from Hawaii. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the aircraft have a total list-price value of approximately $2.9 billion if all of the purchase rights are exercised.
Just how the new planes will effect any direct routes to-and-from Kauai is unclear at this time, says Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Alison Croyle.
“It’s too soon to say what our route plans will be for the new A330-800neo,” Croyle said.
As a result of the new order, Hawaiian has cancelled an existing order for six Airbus A350XWB-800 aircraft, which were due for delivery in 2017. These are the familiar aircraft used by Hawaiian for inter-island flights.
Four A330-200s are scheduled for delivery by 2015, and 16 narrow-body A321neo aircraft are scheduled beginning in 2017. The A330-800neo wide-body is similar in size to Hawaiian Airline’s A330-200, but adds 400-nautical miles of range while reducing fuel consumption by 14 percent per seat. It has new cabin features and seats 294 passengers in a first-class and coach configuration.
Hawaiian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 50 aircraft, comprised of 29 long-haul A330-200s, along with 252 Boeing 767-300s, 18 Boeing 717-200s and three 48-seat ATR42-500 for neighbor island flights.
“Hawaiian Airlines has long recognized the value of innovation and today’s commitment is yet more evidence of that forward-thinking mindset,” said John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer, customers. “The A330-800neo will serve the Hawaiian network well as the airline continues to expand in Asia and grow its capacity in mature markets. The aircraft will provide unbeatable value in a very large and important segment of the wide-body market.”
