Strong demand from Kiwi travellers has convinced Hawaiian Airlines to launch new Auckland-Honolulu flights with its flagship Airbus A330-200 aircraft, instead of the smaller Boeing 767-300ERs it was planning to use.
The new flights, which will operate three times weekly from 14 March next year, have taken off quickly in the New Zealand market, with strong bookings to both Hawaii and the US mainland.
Hawaiian’s newest and largest aircraft type, the Airbus A330 seats 294 passengers in a two class cabin – 18 in Business Class and 276 in Economy Class. This is 30 more passengers than the Boeing 767.
The Airbus also offers a more spacious interior and in-seat video entertainment for every passenger, featuring late-release movies, television programs, interactive games, Hawaiian-themed entertainment and a range of audio channels.
The decision to upgrade to the Airbus 330 coincides with a special fare sale from Auckland to Hawaii and the US mainland.
“It was always our intention to step up to larger aircraft once our services were established and the market was supporting us,” said Peter Ingram, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Hawaiian Airlines.
“We are delighted that six months ahead of our first flight from Auckland ticket sales already are strong enough to justify upgrading to the Airbus A330, which offers 11 per cent more seats than the Boeing 767 and a superior inflight experience,” Ingram said.
Based on Hawaiian’s schedule of three flights per week from Auckland, the Airbus A330s will provide 4,680 additional seats in a full year – the equivalent of almost 18 extra Boeing 767 flights.