LIHUE — Hawaiian Airlines welcomed to Honolulu the first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that will shortly begin flying between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast.
LIHUE — Hawaiian Airlines welcomed to Honolulu the first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that will shortly begin flying between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast.
The company’s new fleet of single-aisle aircraft will offer guests nonstop flights to more islands, starting with service to Kauai, Maui, and the Kona Coast on the Island of Hawaii.
Hawaiian held a blessing ceremony Thursday for its first A321neo, “Maile,” named after a vine native to Hawaii and traditionally used for lei making and celebrations. Hawaiian’s A321neo is adorned with a new livery featuring a silver maile lei wrapping around the fuselage as the carrier’s “Flower of the Sky” Pualani icon gazes forward from the tail of the aircraft.
“Our new A321neos are ideal for our West Coast to Hawaii markets. They will bring Hawaiian’s unique blend of Hawaiian hospitality and industry leading operational performance to more travelers than ever,” said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “As we welcome our A321neo fleet, some of our wide-body aircraft serving the U.S. West Coast will be deployed for further long-haul expansion.”
Hawaiian’s inaugural A321neo flight is scheduled for Jan. 8 on the carrier’s existing Kahului-Oakland route. New A321neo service between Kahului and Portland will launch on Jan. 18. Hawaiian’s seasonal summer wide-body service currently offered between Lihue and Oakland will resume April 11 as a daily A321neo flight.
