Boeing 787-9 "Dreamliner" to Join Hawaiian Airlines Fleet

The first of 10 aircraft expected to arrive in 2021

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Mar 06, 2018, 04:01 ET

HONOLULU, March 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Airlines has executed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) for the purchase of 10 Boeing 787-9 aircraft with purchase rights for an additional 10 aircraft, the airline announced today. The first fuel-efficient, lightweight, passenger-friendly "Dreamliner" is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2021. Hawaiian has selected the General Electric GEnx engine to power the additions to its fleet.

The 787-9 features a spacious wide-body cabin with extra-large windows. The innovative composite airframe will allow Hawaiian to pressurize Dreamliner cabins at a far lower altitude, creating a more comfortable in-cabin atmosphere. Additional features include a quiet cabin, dimmable LED window shades, and larger overhead luggage bins. This modern cabin will provide the perfect setting for Hawaiian's award winning, authentic hospitality. The Dreamliner's excellent fuel efficiency makes the 787-9 an ideal choice for Hawaiian's long-haul Asia/Pacific and North America routes.

"The Dreamliner combines excellent comfort for our guests with fantastic operational performance and will allow us to continue modernizing our fleet into the next decade," said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. "It has more seating capacity than Hawaiian's current wide-body fleet, which will allow us to further build upon our successful growth in Asia."

Hawaiian currently operates a mainline fleet of 54 aircraft: 24 Airbus A330-200 and 8 Boeing 767 wide-body aircraft, 2 A321neo and 20 717 narrow-body aircraft. The company selected the 787-9 as part of a competitive bid process that also included the Airbus A330-900.

"We were in the enviable position of choosing between two outstanding models for our flagship aircraft of the future and I couldn't be more excited about the prospect of adding the Dreamliner to Hawaiian's fleet," remarked Ingram.

"Hawaiian Airlines has been on an impressive growth trajectory, continuously expanding service between Asia and North America. It's why we are thrilled they've chosen to reach their next horizon with the 787 Dreamliner," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister. "The Dreamliner's advanced technology, unmatched fuel efficiency, and passenger-pleasing cabin will help Hawaiian optimize its fleet for the future and provide their customers with a best-in-class experience."

Hawaiian expects to finalize binding purchase agreements with Boeing and GE in the second quarter of this year. The company will also begin negotiating inclusion of the new aircraft in its contracts with the Air Line Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants, which is required prior to final approval of the purchase by the company's Board of Directors.

About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 14 years (2004-2017) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 89th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 250 daily flights system-wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and its special fare offers (@HawaiianFares), and become a fan on its Facebook page (Hawaiian Airlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.

SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines