Hawaiin orders A350's and A330"s

The prospect of new routes between Hawaii and Australia has edged closer after Hawaiian Airlines reached labour agreements with its pilot and flight attendant unions for the introduction of the Airbus A350XWB-800.

Hawaiian this week signed a definitive purchase agreement with Airbus to acquire six of the super-efficient long-range wide-body aircraft and secure purchase rights for an additional six aircraft. It has also signed up for six A330-200s with purchase rights for six more. The total value of the deal, if all the purchase rights are exercised, will be $US4.4 billion at current list prices.

The airline signed a memorandum of understanding with the European aircraft maker last year and said in December that it could consider one-stop flights between Australia and the US East Coast using its new planes.

Hawaiian chief executive Mark Dunkerley told The Australian that the fact both aircraft were bigger and had greater range than the airline’s existing Boeing 767s would open up new markets.

He said this could include other ports in Australia.

The planes will replace Hawaiian’s current wide-body fleet of 18 aircraft, expand its long-range fleet, and enable it to fly longer non-stop routes.

Mr Dunkerley said this week the company would move to secure additional aircraft in the leasing market for entry into service between 2009 and 2012.

“One of the key features of our fleet plan and the transaction we structured with Airbus is flexibility,” he said. “With some aircraft purchased, some to be leased and having options for others, Hawaiian will be able to scale its fleet according to needs and opportunities over the next two decades.

“This investment sets Hawaiian on course for future growth built on a renewed and expanded aircraft fleet and with the capability to fly non-stop between Hawaii and virtually any major visitor market in the world.”

Source: The Australian

Edit: excuse the spelling mistake in the thread title