Hawaiian Airlines takes possession of first of up to 27 new, widebody Airbus aircraft

Hawaiian Airlines takes possession of new Airbus

HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines has taken possession of the first of up to 27 new, widebody Airbus aircraft that the carrier plans to integrate into its fleet over the coming decade.

The formal acceptance ceremony on Wednesday at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, included a traditional Hawaiian blessing, music and hula, and the presentation of a special Hawaiian chant written for the occasion.

“Today’s ceremony marks an important moment in the history of Hawaiian Airlines as we pursue our plans for growth and expansion,” airline President and CEO Mark Dunkerley told more than 200 Hawaiian Airlines employees who traveled some 7,760 miles to France for the event.

“These new Airbus aircraft will allow us to operate more efficiently and over greater distances, while also setting a new standard for passenger comfort and convenience,” Dunkerley said.

The new 294-seat Airbus A330-200 is slated to arrive at Honolulu International Airport on Monday. It will start service on the Honolulu-Los Angeles route in early June.

Hawaiian Airlines, whose parent company is Hawaiian Holdings Inc., said it is leasing three A330s that are joining the fleet this year, and has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus to acquire seven A330s starting next year and six A350XWB-800 aircraft starting in 2017, as well as purchase rights for an additional five A330s and six A350s.