In what appears to be a big fish vs. little fish scenario, two airlines close to Hawaii’s hearts are vying for a fleet of new planes and more. An order set to be announced on Tuesday by United Airlines (UAL) will foretell the arrival of more than 100 new Boeing 787 planes, which is ten times the number Hawaiian has on order.
Who do you think will get their Dreamliner plane order fulfilled first?
United is already a big Dreamliner customer with a fleet of nearly 70. They may end up with as many as 200 Dreamliners after this order. Hawaiian’s order is minuscule by comparison, with just 10 planes (plus options for 10 more). It will be interesting to see how Boeing will try to juggle its manufacturing to keep everyone happy.
United will refresh its wide-body fleet used for Hawaii and beyond.
We’ve known for quite some time that United Airlines was planning this huge wide-body aircraft order. That will become a reality with Tuesday’s formal announcement solidifying the deal. This has been confirmed via a media invite from the two companies.
United, like Hawaiian, contemplated ordering either Airbus or Boeing wide-body planes, but in the end, both deals went to Boeing. United’s current wide-body fleet of 767 and 777 planes is old, averaging more than 20 years. The company also has a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, most under five years of age. Adding more Dreamliners has significant economies of scale for UAL.
We remain excited to fly on the Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner.
This aircraft will significantly enhance Hawaiian’s decade-old fleet of A330-200 planes, which numbers 24. The new planes offer more comfort and luxury, improved fuel economy, and, importantly, the ability to add fly longer distance routes.
The Hawaiian Dreamliners will augment but not replace the existing A330 widebody fleet on certain long-haul routes. Those will include U.S. premium markets, such as New York (and possibly LA and San Francisco), plus international destinations, including Sydney, Tokyo, and London. Hawaiian COO Jon Snook said previously that the plane was for Japan, Australia, and New York.
Hawaiian’s new 787-9 can travel up to 7,635 miles on routes of up to about 14+ hours duration.
Hawaiian has been waiting for their Dreamliners for four years.
Hawaiian surprised the industry when they switched from Airbus to Boeing for this important fleet addition. When that was announced, it included firm orders for ten 787s to be equipped with business-class lie-flat suites, plus an option for an additional 10 planes. Hawaiian expected the first planes to arrive early in the decade. Of course, that did not happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- Boeing challenges obtaining FAA approvals.
- Two deadly Boeing 737 MAX accidents.
- Covid interruptions.
- Supply chain issues.
- Significant production flaws led to multiple delivery delays.
Just when will Hawaiian get its Dreamliners?
“Our two 787s that were scheduled to be delivered in 2022 are delayed, and we now expect to receive them no earlier than the first half of 2023.” That was according to Peter Ingram, but since then, much time has passed, and there’s been no further word. We hazard to guess at this point, but perhaps sometime in 2024.
Hawaiian Airlines’ premium configuration Dreamliner will include couples suites.
With the new planes, Hawaiian is focused on premium leisure market travel to the Hawaiian islands. For example, the business class seats are vastly different than those on the A330, which lack aisle access from every seat.
The new Adient Aerospace suites will have Hawaiian as their launch customer. These “cabana suites” allow the center pair of seats to be combined, as shown below.
Economy hasn’t been upgraded, yet.
Economy seating by Ascent has not yet been detailed. And no true premium economy product has been announced at this time, although we remain confident Hawaii will, by necessity, add a true premium economy product at some point soon, in order to stay competitive. We’ll share more on that topic soon.
See the new Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner interior here.
On their narrow-body fleet, United and Hawaiian will have different variants of the Airbus A321.
United is opting for 50 A321XLR planes that will replace Boeing 757 planes starting in 2025. That will bring a higher level of service to destinations that are likely to include Hawaii. The planes are longer range than Hawaiian’s earlier A321neo. The United planes will feature lie-flat business and true premium economy, while Hawaiian’s 321 fleet has neither.
Also, this week look for a “Boom” supersonic announcement.
You’ll recall that United has agreed to buy 50 Boom Overture supersonic planes, some of which we envision being used for Hawaii. An engine deal for the plane is essential to it coming to fruition and is also scheduled to be revealed this week.
More about the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
This is a long-range, mid-size, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It’s called the Dreamliner because it’s designed to provide passengers with a more comfortable and efficient flying experience, with features such as larger windows, improved cabin air pressure and lighting, and more space for luggage and overhead storage. Hawaiian Airlines will operate its fleet of Dreamliners on premium long-haul routes.
Are you more excited about United or Hawaiian?
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When an airline orders aircraft, both the price and delivery schedules are negotiated. Just like Amazon sometimes misses my delivery date, so do aircraft delivery dates. However, all of these orders are slotted and I don’t see any airlines deliveries changed due to UA’s order.
I bet I’m not the only one thinking membership in the mile high club will skyrocke, especially if they have sliding doors for more privacy. Alooooooha!
I am Excited for the United Acquisition but not so much for Hawaiian as I believe that Hawaiian has been overcharging passengers for a long time. The Rah-Rah from, and towards, Hawaiian being the home team has been overblown for too long. The Only Reason that HAL has lowered prices is that the competition is a heated one that could bring SWA the Dominant Airline to Hawaii. The HAL Commitment to Hawaii has totally changed since They Announced that they are going after Profits and no more donations.
Ernie, Hawaiian is very much a source of pride for many that live here and it’s success is Hawaii’s success. Like Bank of Hawaii, it’s one of the more successful companies in it’s field and it’s a local company. You sound like someone calling Duke Kahanamoku an over rated swimmer. The people not from Hawaii that come over here and start bashing the locals or local institutions are a major source of the conflict that exists in the tourism market.
John in No Way did I disrespect Duke, have Zero idea where you get that from. You’re Way off and out of line.
Ernie when you bash HA you are bashing a Hawaii institution, as is Duke. To suggest SWA should replace HA is an affront to the people that live in Hawaii. You can’t disrespect HA without disrespecting Tens of thousands of people that live in Hawaii….the employees and their families. If you don’t get it that defines you. Fortunately they are not the norm but people disrespectful of Hawaii coming here is a very sore spot for those that live here.
Dear John, disrespect or an honest appraisal of the situation that has existed where a company has been able to overcharge customers and previously return a small amount back into the community to keep an appreciative, loyal, Hawaii? Replace HA with SWA, that would eliminate competition and I don’t advocate that. BTW, the “Millions” that inhabit Hawaii wouldn’t either. Employees don’t set Prices, that’s left to CEO’S and others. Duke, a wonderful place and person that brought so much to Hawaii and Hawaiian Lore, apparently some should look up the word as it’s Not Negative. I Don’t Disrespect He nor Hawaiians! Hopefully this clears things up.
Yes Ernie! As often happens, people that appear at odds are not as far apart as they seem. I agree competition is good. All airlines charge more when there is no competition. Operationally SWA doesn’t know Hawaii well at all. In emergencies, Volcanoes, Hurricanes, serious economic shocks, etc HA is the only airline the State can really count on. There are a lot of uniquely Hawaiian institutions that often come under attack by outsiders was my point, including Duke.(Speaking of Duke,I hope you saw the movie Waterman? great movie!) HA is important to Hawaii. Let the people that care about Hawaii fly on Hawaiian in the same way the buy local program supports Hawaii. Some agree, some don’t. Aloha!
BTW Ernie, I’m not sure where this “Hawaiian doesn’t give back to the community” perception comes from?? I live here and see a tremendous amount of grass roots support for all manor of good causes. I saw someone elsewhere on here say something about Alaska. All the other airlines combined don’t do for Hawaii what HA has done. Much of what they do may not be used as a marketing tool, but believe me, from schools to the environment and many other good causes, the company as well as the employees do a tremendous amount. Don’t be fooled by SWA’s well known aggressive self promotion tactics. Much of what Hawaiian does is done without that. HA embodies Aloha, SWA embodies loud predatory self promotion.
Ernie I agree totally with you and then some!! However did you forget that Hawaiians are free to talk negatively about visitors/tourists etc but how dare we ever say a disparaging remark about locals or Aloha spirit. BTW if the natives want to justify paying extra and flying on HAL because the company gives a small % back to the community so be it, personally I prefer to keep my $$ in my pocket when I can. I leave it up to the individual companies to do with their profits as the deem necessary.
I wish Hawaiian Airlines had flights from ORD to either HNL or LIH direct!!!
No one cares about larger windows.
More comfortable seating, better leg room would make a huge difference to Hawaii passengers.
More importantly…perhaps a 2-5-2 seating arrangement so that families can easily sit together in the middle of the plan and couples or singles can sit without a 3rd party/stranger.
I’ve flown on one 787 flight and it was great. The cabana suites will be a nice upgrade compared to HA 330 1st class seating arrangements. HA’s lie flats have a bad design for their footrest and I wished it wasn’t even there.
Flights are still expensive. Don’t know if they’re gonna come down. The new normal. Mahalo for the info
Hi JoninSoCal.
No reason to think prices will come down on Hawaii flights other than on those same, most competitive routes from California.
Aloha.