The carrier has had to remove two seasonal flights from its summer schedule and defer the start of a new route because of the A321neo delays. Hawaiian currently operates two A321neos, but was relying on further deliveries to start the affected flights.
Hawaiian is not yet able to provide an estimate for when its remaining A321neos will be received. “While we anticipate some delays with upcoming deliveries, it is too early to know how they will be affected throughout the year as Airbus is currently adjusting its schedule to account for Pratt & Whitney’s engine retrofitting and production,” an airline spokesperson said.
The Honolulu-based carrier is scheduled to receive a total of 18 A321neos fitted with the PW11000G engine.
GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft on order are also experiencing delivery delays. Airbus stopped delivering GTF-powered neos after an issue arose in early February with the engine’s high pressure compressor (HPC) aft hub knife-edge seal that prompted an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Pratt has developed a fix that is expected to enable GTF-powered A320neo family deliveries to resume in April.
A321neo delivery delays also caused operational headaches for Hawaiian late last year. The airline had wanted to introduce its first A321neos into service before its winter peak season, but was not able to do so. The airline intends to use the new type on its network between Hawaii and the US mainland, replacing wide-bodies on some flights and also opening new routes.
The flights removed from the summer schedule are an extra flight between San Francisco and Honolulu and a flight between Oakland and Kona. Service between Oakland and Lihu’e was slated to start April 11, but has been deferred until July 15.
(Adrian Schofield - ATWOnline News)
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