Airbus delivers first US - Built A321neo to Hawaiian Airlines

Airbus delivered its first American-built A321-271N (c/n 8129) N212HA this week handing the aircraft over to Hawaiian Airlines on June 11. It is also the first new engine option (PW1133G) aircraft to be completed at the Airbus’ US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama.

Hawaiian flies larger Airbus A330 jets between Hawaii and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The airline just placed an order for 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, picking the long-haul jets over new Airbus A330 wide-bodies.

Hawaiian (owned by parent company Hawaiian Holdings) already had three European-made A321neo jets, using the aircraft for daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and Portland, Oregon, and Long Beach, California.

The jets will fly between San Diego and Kahului, Maui; Portland and Honolulu and Kahului; Oakland and Honolulu, Kahului and Līhu‘e, Kauai; and Los Angeles and Līhu‘e and Kona on the Island of Hawaii.

The airline is taking 17 more aircraft through 2020 and said it will announce new routes between the West Coast and Hawaii using the new jets.

Hawaiian's A321neo jets have room for 189 passengers: 16 in first class, 44 in premium economy seats and 129 in economy. Flights have wireless internet, USB outlets, wireless streaming in-flight entertainment and complimentary meals.

Airbus said the A321neo operates 15 percent more efficiently than the A321ceo (current engine option) aircraft.

SeaTac-based Alaska Air Group also has Airbus A321neo jets in its fleet, inheriting them from Virgin America.

Three of those jets have been painted with Alaska color schemes. Alaska said last year that all 10 of the new aircraft would be in service by the third quarter of 2018.

(Jim Hammerand - Puget Sound Business Journal)