Includes Six A350XWB-800s, Rights On Six More

On Monday, Hawaiian Airlines announced it recently signed a definitive purchase agreement with Airbus to acquire 12 new long-range widebody aircraft and secure purchase rights for an additional 12 aircraft. The signing comes after the airline reached agreements with its pilot and flight attendant unions on the introduction of new aircraft -- which had threatened to nix the deal, as ANN reported.

Airline officials say the transaction -- which follows a Memorandum of Understanding announced in November 2007 -- is the first step in a phased fleet plan designed to replace Hawaiian's current widebody 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.

Under the agreement, Hawaiian will acquire six widebody A330-200 aircraft and six A350XWB-800s, and purchase rights for an additional six A330-200s and six A350XWB-800s. The agreement has a total list-price value of approximately $4.4 billion if all of the purchase rights are exercised.

President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said the company will also move to secure additional aircraft in the leasing market for entry into service between 2009 and 2012.

"One of the key features of our fleet plan and the transaction we structured with Airbus is flexibility. With some aircraft purchased, some to be leased and having options for others, Hawaiian will be able to scale its fleet according to needs and opportunities over the next two decades," Dunkerley said. "This investment sets Hawaiian on course for future growth built on a renewed and expanded aircraft fleet and with the capability to fly nonstop between Hawaii and virtually any major visitor market in the world.

The Purchase Agreement provides for delivery of two A330-200 aircraft in calendar 2012; three A330-200 aircraft in calendar 2013; one A330-200 aircraft in calendar 2014; two A350XWB-800 aircraft in calendar 2017; two A350XWB-800 aircraft in calendar 2018; one A350XWB-800 aircraft in calendar 2019; and one A350XWB-800 aircraft in calendar 2020.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

FMI: www.hawaiianair.com, www.airbus.com