Hawaiian Airlines Plans to Fly 787 Dreamliners to West Coast, New York and Sydney
Hawaiian Airlines has revealed its plans to use its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which are expected to join its fleet in 2023. The airline’s CEO Peter Ingram said in an interview that the 787s will initially fly to destinations on the West Coast where overnight maintenance is available, but the airline also has ambitions to use them for longer routes such as New York and Sydney.
“We’re going to start with places where we have maintenance capability overnight. So that’s going to be places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland,” Ingram said. “But places like New York and Sydney are in our aspirations as well. We think the 787 is a great airplane for those markets.”
Hawaiian Airlines has ordered 10 787-9 Dreamliners from Boeing, with options for another 10. The 787-9 can seat up to 290 passengers and fly up to 7,635 nautical miles. Ingram said the 787s will offer more comfort and efficiency than the Airbus A330s that currently serve most of the airline’s long-haul routes.
“The 787 is a more fuel-efficient airplane than the A330. It’s also a more comfortable airplane for our guests. It has lower cabin altitude, higher humidity, bigger windows, smoother ride technology. So we think it’s going to be a great guest experience,” he said.
Ingram also said that Hawaiian Airlines is working on installing new satellite internet equipment on its aircraft that will enable free wifi on transpacific routes. He said the installation should begin by early 2023 and take about a year to complete.
“We’re very excited about that. We think that’s going to be a great enhancement for our guests,” he said.
Hawaiian Airlines is the largest carrier in Hawaii and operates flights to North America, Asia and Oceania. The airline has been gradually resuming its international service as travel restrictions ease amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ingram said he expects demand for travel to Hawaii to remain strong as more people get vaccinated and seek leisure destinations.