Agreement Paves the Way for Long-Range Fleet and Route Expansion
HONOLULU, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Having reached key labor agreements with
its pilot and flight attendant unions on the introduction of new aircraft,
Hawaiian Airlines today announced that it has signed a definitive purchase
agreement with Airbus to acquire 12 new long-range wide-body aircraft and
secure purchase rights for an additional 12 aircraft.
The transaction, which follows a Memorandum of Understanding announced in
November 2007, is the first step in a phased fleet plan designed to replace
Hawaiian's current wide-body fleet of 18 aircraft, expand its long-range
fleet, and enable it to open new routes to more distant markets on a nonstop
basis from Hawaii.
Under the signed Purchase Agreement, Hawaiian is acquiring six wide-body
A330-200 aircraft and six A350XWB-800 (Extra Wide-Body) aircraft, and purchase
rights for an additional six A330-200s and six A350XWB-800s. The agreement has
a total list-price value of approximately $4.4 billion if all of the purchase
rights are exercised.
With Hawaiian's long-term fleet direction now established, President and
CEO Mark Dunkerley said the company will 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. 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,"
Dunkerley said.
"This investment sets Hawaiian on course for future growth built on a
renewed and expanded aircraft fleet and with the capability to fly nonstop
between Hawaii and virtually any major visitor market in the world.
"I want to thank and commend the leadership of our unions for
demonstrating a shared vision and commitment to building a successful and
profitable future for Hawaiian that serves the interests of our customers and
employees, maximizes shareholder value and contributes even more to the growth
of Hawaii's tourism economy," Dunkerley added.
The Purchase Agreement provides for delivery of two A330-200 aircraft in
calendar 2012; three A330-200 aircraft in calendar 2013; one A330-200 aircraft
in calendar 2014; two A350XWB-800 aircraft in calendar 2017; two A350XWB-800
aircraft in calendar 2018; one A350XWB-800 aircraft in calendar 2019; and one
A350XWB-800 aircraft in calendar 2020.
The wide-body twin-engine, twin-aisle A330-200 will seat 305 passengers in
a two-class configuration. With an operating range of 5,500 nautical miles,
the A330 can fly significantly farther than Hawaiian's current fleet and will
provide the ability to serve all of North America and points in eastern Asia
nonstop from Hawaii. In addition, the A330 carries 45 more passengers and is
more fuel-efficient than Hawaiian's current fleet.
The extra-wide-body A350XWB-800 will seat 322 passengers in a two-class
configuration and have a range of 8,300 nautical miles, which will give
Hawaiian the capability to fly nonstop between Hawaii and Asia, Australasia,
the Americas and Europe. The A350 carries 24 percent more passengers and is 20
percent more fuel-efficient per seat mile than Hawaiian's current fleet.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
About Hawaiian Airlines
The nation's top-ranked airline for service in the 2007 Airline Quality
Ratings, Hawaiian also led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for 2004,
2005 and 2006 (including a record 36 consecutive months from November 2003 to
October 2006,) and in fewest misplaced bags for 2005 and 2006, as reported by
the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Conde Nast
Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian as the top
domestic airline serving Hawaii.
Now in its 79th year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the
state's biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the second largest
provider of passenger air service between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii.
Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities than
any other airline (nine), as well as service to Australia, American Samoa and
Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 100 daily jet flights among the
Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Amex:
HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com.
SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.
CONTACT: Keoni Wagner of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., +1-808-838-6778,
Keoni.Wagner@HawaiianAir.com