Hawaiian Airlines orders 6 new Airbus jets

Airbus has received its first order from a U.S. airline for the airplane maker’s new widebody jet.

Hawaiian Airlines has ordered six A330-800neo jets from the European aircraft manufacturer, replacing a previous order for six A350-800s. Airbus introduced the A330neo jets last week at the Farnborough Air Show in London. The airplane will compete with Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner. The first deliveries of the A330neo are expected in late 2017.

“The A330-800neo’s fuel efficiency, additional range and commonality with our existing A330 fleet makes the A330-800neo an elegant solution to our need for growth aircraft toward the end of this decade,” Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO Mark Dunkerley said in a news release.

Hawaiian Airlines operates a fleet of 18 A330-200 aircraft, with orders for 16 A321neo aircraft.

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