With an eye on accelerating its plan to expand service in Asia and other markets, Hawaiian Airlines has ordered an additional Airbus A330-200 for delivery in the second quarter of 2011.
The new order effectively accelerates Hawaiian’s Air’s A330 delivery schedule, because the newly ordered aircraft (the seventh that the carrier has ordered directly from Airbus) will be delivered in the second quarter of 2011, at least nine months before any of the other six previously ordered jets.
This year, however, Hawaiian Air is taking delivery of three new leased A330-200s from leasing companies in April, May and November, so its latest ordered A330-200 ― again, this will be the first of the seven ordered aircraft to be delivered ― will be the fourth A330 that Hawaiian receives.
“Good financial performance has positioned us well to seize the opportunities to grow our business,” says Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO. “The A330 is the right aircraft for our customers and our bottom line and acquiring this additional aircraft will allow us to better capitalize on improving demand as the economic recovery gets underway.”
Placing a follow-on order for a seventh Airbus A330-200 on March 9, 2010, Hawaiian Airlines has ordered seven A330-200s directly from the manufacturer and has agreements in place to lease three more from leasing companies. Hawaiian also has purchase rights on five more A330-200s, which it could well exercise to increase capacity between 2013 (when it is due to receive its 10th ― and to date its last ― new A330) and 2017, when Hawaiian is scheduled to take delivery of the first of the six Airbus A350XWB-800s it has ordered. Hawaiian also holds options on six additional A350XWB-800s
Its latest order means Hawaiian is now acquiring 10 new A330-200s ― six ordered directly from Airbus and three taken on operating lease from lessors ― and it has secured purchase rights with Airbus for five additional aircraft. All of Hawaiian’s A330-200s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772 engines, the Trent 772 being by far the most popular engine choice for the A330.
Hawaiian also has ordered six examples of Airbus’ competitive offering to the Boeing 787, the A350XWB, and has taken options on six more. Hawaiian has chosen the A350XWB-800 version of the new widebody type, which to date is offered only with the new Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine. Hawaiian has already said it will take its A350XWB-800s with Trent XWB engines.
In addition to receiving the first of its seven ordered A330-200s in the second quarter of 2011, Hawaiian’s delivery schedule calls for it to receive the second aircraft in the first quarter of 2012; the third in the second quarter of 2012; the fourth in the first quarter of 2013; the fifth and sixth in the second quarter of 2013; and the seventh in the first quarter of 2014. The delivery schedule for Hawaiian’s A350XWBs calls for the airline to receive its first aircraft in 2017.
Hawaiian Airlines says the A330s it is acquiring will carry more passengers, fly farther, and be more fuel-efficient than the company’s existing widebody fleet of Boeing 767-300ERs. The carrier’s new A330s will seat 294 passengers ― 30 more than its 767-300ERs ― in a two-class configuration and will have an operating range of 6,050 nautical miles, allowing Hawaiian to fly nonstop between Hawaii and points in eastern Asia and all of North America.
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A highlight of Hawaiian’s A330s will be the state-of-the-art on-demand entertainment system installed in each seat-back. A high-resolution LCD touch screen monitor will allow passengers to choose from a wide selection of movies and video programs, audio channels and video games. Each system will also include a USB port allowing passengers to connect their own media players. Passengers sitting in First Class will enjoy the added benefits of having a larger monitor and iPOD compatibility.
The A330-200′s large under-floor cargo holds can also carry standard pallets and containers side-by-side, according to Airbus.
The airline’s A350XWB-800s will seat 322 passengers in a two-class configuration and will have a range of 8,300 nautical miles, allowing Hawaiian to fly nonstop between Hawaii and Asia, Australasia, the Americas, and Europe.
To date, Airbus has won orders for more than 1,000 of the various versions of the A330. More than 600 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is now flying with more than 80 airlines worldwide.
Related to this story:
- Hawaiian Airlines Orders Five More Airbus A330-200s
- Hawaiian Airlines Plans Fukuoka Service from April 2012
- Hawaiian Airlines Orders Six More Airbus A330-200s
- Garuda Indonesia Orders Six Airbus A330-200s
- Hawaiian Airlines Begins New Era with First A330 Commercial Flight
