Hawaiian Holdings (HA -2.42%) subsidiary Hawaiian Airlines on Monday announced a deal to buy 16 new A321neo airliners from Airbus between 2017 and 2020, and option nine more. If all options were to be exercised, Hawaiian says the deal would be worth approximately $2.8 billion at list price.
The A321neo is a fuel-efficient, long-range, single-aisle aircraft capable of reaching a 3,650-nautical-mile range. Hawaiian plans to configure them to carry 190 passengers in two classes (first and coach), and says it will use the new planes to "open new markets that are not viable for wide-body service."
Hawaiian currently flies 43 aircraft in a mixed fleet of Boeing (BA 1.51%) 717 and 767 aircraft, and Airbus A330s, with a fleet that tilts heavily toward Boeing at present. The airline has more A330s arriving over the next few years, though, and a half-dozen A350 Airbuses on order for 2017 delivery.
Monday's announcement of the A321neo purchases will work to briefly balance the airline's fleet between the two competing plane builders. However, in its statement announcing the new Airbus order, Hawaiian made clear that it will be phasing out its 16 Boeing 767s over the next 10 years, giving Airbus a decided advantage in the Hawaiian Air fleet.
