HA looking at A330neo
 

I knew it coming! Hawaiian is looking for A330neo. There is Farnborough Air Show next week. Hopefully they will order it.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/id...40711?irpc=932

Perhaps, if they will converted the existing orders from A350-800 into A350-900XWB.

Let the speculation begin.

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I agree with you. I think they will switch from A358XWB to A359XWB. I think the A350-900XWB has more range and it has more capabilities. I think A350-900XWB is the right choice.

A359 is too much airplane for HA. Even if you factor in growth, I still don't think they need the extra seats and the range.

A338 will have the range to reach most of the plausible/economically viable Chinese airports from HNL, and A339 will give HA meaningful capacity lift over A332 to Tokyo and Los Angeles - the only 2 place they can conceivably use a bigger airplane year-round and multiple daily without tanking yield.

My guess is HA will opt for a combination of A338 and A339. Although it is still my opinion that the best airplane for HA is 787.

HA looking at A330neo
 

Well, it's official!!

Hawaiian will switch into A330-800neo. They will cancelled 6 A350-800XWB order. Is scheduled to be delivery in 2019.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/hawaiian-add-airbus-a330-800neo-200500049.html

Official press release: http://investor.hawaiianairlines.com...935&highlight=

Potential routes for A330-800neo:

HNL-SIN 6,711 miles
HNL-BKK 6,592 miles
HNL-KUL 6,822 miles
HNL-CGK 6,725 miles
HNL-SGN 6,299 miles

The range is 7,400nm. I think the entire A330-800neo has more capabilities, increase the range, and more fuel-efficient.

I think they have order more than 6 A330-800neo.

The press release says that the new planes' range is only 400 mi more than the current 330s. I thought that the 350s were supposed to have much more range, enabling travel to places as distant as Europe. Does the change from the 350 to the 330 bring with it a fundamental change in prospects for serving distant markets?

Yes, the A350 has more range. However, about six carriers are ordering the A350-800 in small amounts. Many more carriers are ordering the A350-900 and 1000 series planes. Airbus has hinted they may cancel production of the A350-800 at the time they have announced A330-800neo series at the Farnborough Air Show. They have more reason to cancel production of the series, now that HA has replaced their 350-800 order with 330-800s instead.

To note, HA expects deliveries of the A330-800 in 2019, two years later than their original order for the A350-800.

This. Of all the carriers who initially placed 350-800 orders, HA was seen as the last "hold-out" that hadn't either cancelled, switched to another aircraft type, or had -900s already on order up to this point.

With HA having switched over now, the last big hurdle to standing down the 350-800 has been overcome.

As this is only an MOU and not an official order, I suspect there is much more to this story than we know today. I too wonder how the 330-800neo is an effective replacement for the 350.

Airbus probably said, confidentially, we aren't going to build the plane you want - we'll make you a sweet deal to convert your order. So pick your poison, would you like:

1) A plane that isn't going to get built.

2) A plane far to large for your market and more expensive

3) A plane you are already familiar with - that has a bit more range - and saves 15% in fuel. And, I'd convert your order now, because we think there will be a lot of demand for this plane, get in line while you can.

I suspect door #3 was the best option available. You don't take the A330neo, what other option do you have?

I would agree with those statements, but will add a 4th. HAL could have taken their business to Boeing, simple as that.

Agreed - but then you'd have a mixed fleet of long-haul aircraft (Airbus/Boeing) - for a place the size of HA, that would be a headache during irregular operations, schedule changes, maintenance, training, pilots, etc...

You mean like today? There has been a mixed fleet since 2010 and it will be until 2020. Equipment swaps during an irops situation can be managed, which is one of the reasons why there are reserve crews. Going to Boeing for the 787 is not as far fetched as people think. Yes, it would be expensive to bring on a new type, but those costs are apart of a much bigger picture that nobody but the bean counters see.