Hawaiian Airlines will likely not place new Airbus A321neos into revenue service until 2018 due to aircraft delivery delays, says chief executive Mark Dunkerley.
The company had previously announced the delivery delays, but Dunkerley on 20 April says he doubts Hawaiian will begin A321neo revenue flights until next year.
"Sadly, we don't think we're going to be able to get an A321neo in the air this side of New Year's," Dunkerley says during the company's first quarter earnings call.
Hawaiian expects the first A321neo to arrive in October, and two more are scheduled for delivery before the end of the year, according to Dunkerley and to Flight Fleets Analyzer.
"Once we take delivery of the aircraft currently slated for October, there's an induction period in which we have to get all kinds of important things done, like our ETOPS certification," Dunkerley says.
He calls the delays "frustrating", but reiterates Hawaiian's confidence in the type.
"This is a fleet type that we're going to operate for the next 20 years, and we're under no doubt that it is the aircraft that really will improve our competitiveness in some key markets," he says.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
