Hawaiian plans to buy 16 new Airbus planes to open new markets, complement exist

[mhm]

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Hawaiian Airlines said Monday it plans to buy more than a dozen new Airbus planes to help it meet demand for travel between the West Coast and the islands.

The airline signed an agreement with the Toulouse, France-based airplane manufacturer to buy 16 new A321neo jets, each seating about 190 passengers in first and economy class.

The planes — to be delivered four to seven years from now — will allow Hawaiian to open new markets and boost service to cities it already flies to, the airline said. The Honolulu-based airline plans to add 1,000 jobs as part of the expansion.

"It's an exciting new chapter for our business. It underscores the confidence we have in our company and the market in which we operate," Hawaiian CEO Mark Dunkerley said in a telephone interview.

The move also ensures Hawaiian remains the "most competitive carrier in the marketplace," Dunkerley said.
http://news.yahoo.com/hawaiian-plans-buy-16-airbus-planes-open-markets-135157619.html