Hawaiian Airlines has placed an order for two more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and deferred the delivery of ten aircraft that were already on order, according to a filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday, January 4th. The announcement comes as the carrier looks to expand its fleet in preparation for increased demand in 2023.
A growing fleet
Currently, Hawaiian Airlines' fleet consists of 57 planes: 18 Airbus A321-200neos, 24 Airbus A330-200s, and 19 Boeing 717-200s. The carrier also has ten Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order, which, in addition to the two that it recently purchased, brings its total expected number of 787s to 12.
It is worth noting that the ten 787s on order were initially expected to begin delivery in the fourth quarter of 2022 but have since been pushed back to the fourth quarter of 2023. The airline now expects one 787 to be delivered in 2023 and three in 2024, with the rest of the aircraft to be delivered by 2027. The delay most likely has to do with a drop in travel demand due to the pandemic on Hawaiian's side and supply chain constraints on Boeing's end, though not confirmed by either party.
Revitalized demand for travel
Fortunately, travel demand has recovered and is stronger than ever for some destinations. Hawaii, in particular, is expected to receive a record number of visitors in 2023 as the tourism industry rebounds due to consumers resuming their regular spending habits. The 101-mile route from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu to Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui is expected to be the busiest route in the United States this month, with over 1,000 scheduled flights.
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In addition to tourists, Hawaii serves as a natural transit point for travelers from the continental United States to Oceania and Southeast Asia. As tourism to these areas continues to increase, Hawaiian can expect to profit. The carrier also recently signed a contract with Amazon Air that allows the cargo airline to operate ten of Hawaiian's A330-300 freighters in a move that diversifies the carrier's source of revenue and is also likely to bring increased profits this year.
Hawaiian Airlines' announcement that it is purchasing two more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners comes at a time when the carrier is looking to expand its fleet and capitalize on a revitalized demand for travel. Although its orders are subject to delays due to the pandemic and supply chain issues, the airline has managed to ensure a steady flow of revenue by operating the busiest route in the United States and breaking into the cargo industry.
The addition of 12 787s to its fleet represents a substantial upgrade that will likely be accompanied by several new routes. Other carriers would watch Hawaiian's expansion closely in the next couple of months to see where the airline does well and where they can learn from its mistakes.