Hawaiian Airlines’ first A321neo arrives

Hawaiian Airlines took delivery Friday of its first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that it plans to use for West Coast markets. The planes are more economically feasible than the company’s larger A330s.

The state’s largest carrier will begin daily nonstop service between Portland, Ore., and Kahului on Jan. 18. A321neo flights between Oakland, Calif., and Lihue will begin April 11, followed by serv­ice between Los Angeles and Kona next summer.

Hawaiian’s A321neos are narrow-bodies, meaning one aisle instead of two, and will seat 186 compared with 278 in the newly reconfigured wide-body A330s.

Additional routes will be announced as more A321neos arrive through 2020.

“As A321neos arrive in greater numbers, some of the A330s presently dedicated to North America services will be freed up for further long-haul expansion,” Hawaiian President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said last week on the company’s earnings conference call. “We continue to see attractive additional opportunities to grow in Asia.”