Hawaiian pilots fly without collective agreement - Curt Lewis

Hawaiian Airlines to add A330s, A321neos; pilots issue strike warning

Hawaiian Airlines has agreed to purchase an additional Airbus A330-200, bringing its A330 fleet to 24 by the end of the fourth quarter of 2017. The Honolulu-based carrier will also lease two more A321neos.

According to Hawaiian, the newly ordered aircraft will enable it to early retire its Boeing 767 fleet by the end of 2018.

"The addition of these three aircraft provide for low- to mid-single-digit capacity growth over the remainder of the decade," Hawaiian Airlines EVP and CCO Peter Ingram said. "At the same time, the accelerated retirement of the Boeing 767s from our fleet will simplify our operation and allow us to be more efficient."

Hawaiian had previously announced plans to phase in 16 new A321neos beginning in 2017. Today's signed letters of intent with two lessors for the delivery of additional aircraft in early 2018 will bring its total fleet of A321neos to 18 by 2020.

Hawaiian's current fleet includes 23 Airbus A330-200 widebody, twin-aisle aircraft used on long-haul routes between Hawaii and the US west coast. The airline also operates 20 narrowbody Boeing 717-200s and three ATR 42s.

Separately, Hawaiian pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), met with investors in New York Dec. 5 and warned the flying public of a potential strike after the recent breakdown in negotiations regarding a new contract.

"Hawaiian pilots have offered a contract that will keep the airline competitive, profitable and that it can afford to pay-and that will pay pilots market-rate wages. However, despite months of negotiations, Hawaiian pilots still don't have a contract. With negotiations having broken off, and the National Mediation Board (NMB) scheduling no more meetings, Hawaiian pilots have no choice but to prepare for a strike," ALPA Hawaiian-Master Executive Council chairman Hoon Lee said.