HONOLULU, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In conjunction with its
ongoing effort to reduce fuel costs, Hawaiian Airlines has signed an agreement
with Aviation Partners Boeing to purchase Blended Winglets for installation on
eight Boeing 767-300ER jets, and options to purchase seven additional pairs of
Blended Winglets.
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The winglets, which stand 11-feet tall and extend upward from the end of
each wing, will reduce the drag caused by the traditional wingtip design and
are expected to save Hawaiian up to 5 percent in fuel consumption, resulting
in a savings of more than 300,000 gallons of jet fuel annually per aircraft.
Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's president and CEO, noted that Hawaiian is one
of the industry's first B767 operators to purchase and install the winglets,
which are expected to receive FAA certification later this year.
"Being among the first airlines to install fuel-saving winglets on the
Boeing 767-300ER aircraft is another important step in Hawaiian's strategy to
be an industry leader in introducing innovations that keep costs down and help
the environment," said Dunkerley. "This technology investment keeps us at the
forefront of the industry at a critical time."
Installation of the winglets on the eight aircraft is scheduled to begin
in September 2009 and be completed in 2010.
In addition to fuel savings, other benefits of the winglets include
increasing the weight that the aircraft can carry and/or range of the
aircraft, reducing engine maintenance costs, improving take-off capabilities,
and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Aviation Partners Boeing, a joint venture of Aviation Partners Inc. and
The Boeing Company, estimates that the installation of Blended Winglets on an
aircraft saving 300,000 gallons of jet fuel can reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by more than 3,000 tons annually.
About Hawaiian Airlines
The nation's top-ranked airline for service in the 2007 Airline Quality
Ratings, Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of
the past four straight years (2004-2007) and in fewest misplaced bags for the
past three years (2005-2007) 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 (10)
than any other airline, as well as service to the Philippines, Australia,
American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 155 daily jet
flights among the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
(Nasdaq: 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/
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Web Site: http://www.HawaiianAirlines.com