Hawaiian Airlines and Airbus mark firsts in delivery of NEO aircraft
Airbus has made its first US-delivered NEO aircraft to Hawaiian Airlines, also marking a first for the airline as it took delivery of its first US-produced A321.
The aircraft, delivered from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama, is also the first new engine option aircraft (NEO) delivered from Airbus’ U.S. facility. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PW1000G high-bypass geared turbofan engine. Executives and employees from Airbus and Hawaiian, and executives from Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems witnessed the milestone delivery.
Bob Lekites, Executive Vice President-Customers, Airbus Americas said, “Airbus understands the challenging airline marketplace and has continued to stay on the cutting-edge of developing and producing aircraft that exceed industry standards in safety, efficiency and reliability. Hawaiian has recognized the Airbus commitment to innovation and we could not be more proud to deliver on this promise to them with our first U.S.-manufactured A321neo aircraft.”
“We are honored to accept the delivery of the first A321neo from the Airbus Manufacturing facility,” said Jon Snook, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Hawaiian Airlines. “The A321neo is the ideal aircraft for us to share our Hawaiian hospitality with more guests as we grow our Western U.S. network and provide greater access to our entire island chain. We look forward to more deliveries from Mobile.”
Hawaiian currently offers daily non-stop A321neo flights from Portland and Long Beach to Honolulu. The carrier will announce additional A321neo routes between the U.S. West Coast and the Hawaiian Islands as it welcomes a total of 18 aircraft through 2020.
Offering the lowest operating costs in its class, the A321 NEO operates 15 percent more efficiently than its A321 CEO predecessor and by 2020 will operate at 20 percent efficiency.
Demonstrating the adage “The Sun Never Sets on Airbus Manufacturing” – Airbus aircraft are now produced around the clock, 24 hours a day, at facilities in Mobile, Alabama; Hamburg, Germany; Toulouse, France; and Tianjin, China.
