Hawaiian Airlines to buy nine more Boeing jets

By Glenn Scott
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaiian Airlines, which already is replacing its inter-island aircraft, said yesterday that it is buying nine more new Boeing 767-300ER jets for its trans-Pacific flights in a deal valued at more than $1 billion.

The 264-passenger jets join seven other aircraft Hawaiian has committed to acquiring, and will replace the company's fleet of 15 aging McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft used on its Mainland routes.

The new 16-jet fleet will be phased into service beginning this fall through the first half of 2003. Company officials did not disclose the cost, but Boeing officials estimated its value at $1.1 billion.

With the new jets, which can fly 12 hours nonstop, Hawaiian will expand its potential range well beyond the West Coast to destinations as far as Europe or Asia.

"We'll fly anywhere we can make money. That's the bottom line," said Paul Casey, airline vice chairman and chief executive officer.

The goal for long-distance flights, he added, will remain the same — to bring tourists to the Islands.

Hawaiian will finance the acquisitions, the largest in the company's history, through long-term operating leases arranged through Boeing Capital Corp. and Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services.

Hawaiian President Robert Zoller said the new jets offer savings in fuel, maintenance and labor costs.

Once the new fleet is in place, Hawaiian will have one of the newest fleets in the industry. The company has ordered 13 new Boeing 717-200 jets to operate on inter-island routes. Six are in service and others are to arrive by year's end.

Rival Aloha Airlines also is adding new aircraft. Aloha has acquired five new 124-seat Boeing 737-700 jets for its West Coast routes, including new service to Orange County's John Wayne Airport.