In 2014, Hawaiian Airlines announced that it would acquire six Airbus A330-800s to modernize its widebody fleet. This would replace the carrier's existing order for six never-developed A350-800s. The airline would eventually drop its commitment to Airbus widebodies, announcing in 2018 that it would take 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The order would later be boosted to 12. With the original schedule seeing the first 787 arrive in 2021, we examine the latest update for the airline's highly anticipated next-generation widebody.

Two years behind schedule

Like other airlines worldwide, Hawaiian Airlines' Dreamliner delay combines the COVID-19 travel slowdown and Boeing's extended pause in delivering the type. However, it looks like the airline is dead set on taking its first 787 later this year, some two years behind schedule.

As per a report by Aviation Week, the carrier is confident of its target of November 2023 as the approximate time its first 787 will arrive. Indeed, in the airline's fourth quarter and full-year financial reporting for 2022, released at the end of January 2023, it stated:

"Hawaiian [...] has agreed to purchase 12 new Boeing 787-9 aircraft that are scheduled to begin arriving later this year. "

Hawaiian boeing 787
Photo: Hawaiian Airlines

In its original 2018 press statement on the initial Dreamliner order, Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram stated that the type would allow the airline to further build upon its successful growth in Asia, primarily due to its increased seating capacity over its current widebody fleet.

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The first 787 has been identified

As per data from both ch-aviation.com and Aviation Flights, we can see that Boeing has already assembled the airline's first 787-9.

This first airframe will have registration N780HA and manufacturer's serial number (MSN) 66428, with line number 1097. The aircraft was first spotted in its full Hawaiian livery in March 2021. Its first test flight would then take place months later, on June 18th. Just a few days after that, on June 22nd, the jet was ferried from Boeing facilities in Charleston to Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) in San Antonio for storage. It has remained at the facility since then.

flight path
Photo: FlightRadar24.com

Building on the A330-200, replacing the A330-800

Hawaiian Airlines' journey of modernizing its widebody fleet is rather interesting. The carrier first signed a purchase agreement in 2008, including the acquisition of six A350-800s. As detailed in a press statement, the first two A350-800s were to arrive in 2017, with another two coming in 2018. The fifth would arrive in 2019, while the final jet would arrive in 2020.

This shortened A350 variant would never be built, forcing Hawaiian to swap its order to the Airbus A330-800neo. However, as noted in a feature piece on the A330-800's lack of popularity, Hawaiian would be concerned about the aircraft's 'low acceptance' among airlines. Speaking to Business Insider, airline CEO Peter Ingram told Business Insider:

"Unfortunately, the A330-800 has not proved to be as popular in the marketplace...it doesn't make sense to remain committed to an airplane that had the risk of not being sufficiently accepted in the marketplace in the future. So the lack of orders for the A330-800 opened us up to having a competition to look at the widebody platform for us going into the decade."

Airbus a330-800
Photo: Airbus

So, with Hawaiian's plans to modernize its widebody fleet now settled, the carrier is just a few months away from taking delivery of its very first Dreamliner. Considering its current fleet of Airbus A330-200s is flying as far as Sydney, Tokyo, and New York, it will be exciting to see where the carrier will choose to deploy its 787s.

Are you excited to see the 787 join Hawaiian Airlines? Let us know by leaving a comment down below!

Sources: Aviation Week, ch-aviation.com, Aviation Flights, Business Insider

  • Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-243 N389HA
    Hawaiian Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    HA/HAL
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Honolulu International Airport, Kahului Airport
    Year Founded:
    1929
    CEO:
    Peter Ingram
    Country:
    United States