Hawaiian Airlines signs MoU with Airbus and Rolls-Royce

Hawaiian Airlines has signed agreements with Airbus and engine maker Rolls-Royce to acquire up to 24 new long-range wide-body aircraft as the first step in a phased fleet plan that will replace its 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.

Hawaiian has signed Memoranda of Understanding with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to acquire six wide-body A330-200 aircraft and six A350XWB (Extra Wide Body) -800 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional six A330-200s and six A350XWB-800s. The agreements have a total list-price value of approximately $4.4 billion if all of the purchase rights are exercised.

In addition, Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, said the agreements with Airbus and Rolls-Royce pave the way for the company to lease additional A330 aircraft for introduction into its fleet as early as 2009, providing for growth and replacement of aircraft with leases expiring during this timeframe.

Dunkerley said, “These agreements with Airbus and Rolls-Royce are important steps in a long-range fleet plan that provides not only for fleet renewal, but also for growth in our business. We are building flexibility into the plan with some aircraft purchased, some to be leased and having options for others, which will allow us to scale the fleet according to our needs and opportunities over the next two decades.

“The Rolls-Royce powered A350XWB represents the next generation of super efficient aircraft, and the A330 is a state-of-the-art aircraft that is slightly larger, more fuel efficient and can fly farther than our current fleet. We’ll be able to open new markets with both aircraft and contribute even more to the economy of our home state. Our business, our employees and Hawaii will benefit.”

Dunkerley added that the fleet transactions represent the largest single investment in Hawaiian’s 78-year history and a clear statement of the company’s deep commitment to its home market. “We are investing in the future of both Hawaiian and Hawaii by bringing in additional aircraft. These are not just additional seats to Hawaii, they are seats that are dedicated to Hawaii year in and year out that will further diversify and extend the reach of the state’s tourism interests and provide more local jobs.”

The first A350XWB-800 will join Hawaiian’s fleet in 2017. The wide-body jet will seat 322 passengers in a two-class configuration (First and Coach) and have a range of 6,900 nautical miles, which will give Hawaiian the capability to fly nonstop between Hawaii and Asia, Australasia, the Americas and Europe. The A350 carries 24% more passengers and is 20% more fuel efficient per seat mile than Hawaiian’s current fleet.

Airbus will deliver the first new A330-200 to Hawaiian in 2012. 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.

Hawaiian said it anticipates that it will sign definitive purchase agreements in early 2008, following the completion of documentation with Airbus and Rolls-Royce.

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