A Glimpse at Hawaiian Airline’s Airbus A321neo – Things You Should Know

Hawaiian Airlines has recently introduced the Airbus A321neo to its fleet. This new aircraft flies routes between the West Coast of the United States to Hawaii. It replaces the older Boeing 767 which previously handled the route but became an inefficient aircraft choice for this role.

In this guide, we will let you know some important details about Hawaiian’s Airbus A321neo. We will let you know the history of the aircraft type in the company, the routes the plane flies, and what are some of the things you can expect flying on this new aircraft.

When Did Hawaiian Airlines Get The Airbus A321?

Hawaiian Airlines announced in 2012 that they had made an agreement with Airbus for delivery of the Airbus A321neo. The Airbus was going to replace the airline’s aging Boeing 767.

The first delivery of the new aircraft type took place in October 2017.

Since then, the airline has acquired 14 more Airbus A321neos.

All of these aircraft were purchased brand new from Airbus meaning they have never operated with another airline.

Filling The Hawaiian Boeing 767 Role

Acquiring the Airbus A321neo made perfect sense for the airline. The Boeing 767 is an airframe that is capable of flying transcontinental flights.

Understandably, the 767 can fly between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland over the Pacific Ocean without any issues, but it severely limits some of the destinations Hawaiian Airlines can fly from and to in the United States.

Since the Boeing 767 is a larger aircraft, it requires more runway to land and take off. Typically, you see these aircraft fly out and into larger international airports. On the West Coast, that means that Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are prime candidates that can accommodate the 767 the best.

Beyond those cities, the role the 767 would play would get overlapped with the Airbus A330 and Hawaiian’s future aircraft, the Boeing 787.

The acquisition of the Airbus A321neo allows Hawaiian Airlines to fly out of more, smaller international airports on the West Coast like Long Beach Airport and Sacramento International Airport.

Also, the Airbus has more efficient engines and less maintenance costs than the Boeing 767, meaning the airline can generate more revenue per daily flight.

What Routes Does Hawaiian Airlines Use The Airbus A321 on?

The Airbus A321neo serves Hawaiian Airlines by flying its routes between Hawaii and the west coast of the United States.

Below are some of the routes we identified for Hawaiian Airlines using the Airbus A321neo. 

Here’s What to Expect When Flying on Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321NEO.

Hawaiian Airlines Seating Configuration

For Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321 flights, you can expect to find three classes of seating options. 

First Class

The first option is Hawaiian’s premiere seating arrangement on board the aircraft. There are a total of 16 “First Class” seats found on their Airbus A321s. The seats are arranged in 4 rows of 2 seats separated by the middle column.

The first-class seats can be found near the front of the airplane and take an ample amount of space, to maximize the comfort for customers paying the premium fare.

Extra Comfort Class

The next option for passengers taking a Hawaiian Airbus A321 is the “Extra Comfort Class.” There are a total of 44 seats allocated in this class. The Extra Comfort Class is found near the emergency exit rows of the plane.

Around these areas, there are 3 to 5 rows of seats, each with two columns of three seats separated by a middle aisle.

You will find the only difference between this class and the standard economy is that the Extra Comfort Class is less crowded than the economy class. Passengers will have more room to stretch their legs.

Standard Economy

The final and most basic class that you can buy a seat on a Hawaiian A321 flight is the standard economy class. Hawaiian allocates 129 seats in this class.

The standard economy class starts just before the wing and runs towards the back of the plane. It is only separated in the emergency exit rows where you will find the Extra Comfort Class.

The seats are configured in two columns of three seats separated by the middle aisle. In each column, seats are found in 20 rows of 3.

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321 Seats

The seats on Hawaiian’s A321 are comparable to what you’ll find on any airline in the United States minus the ultra-low-cost airlines, although that can even be a stretch. 

Since there are three different classes of comfort, you can find three different seating arrangements in each class, with some offering more comfort than others.

In “First Class”, you expect to find the most comfort in terms of seats. You are offered the maximum amount of legroom with nearly 39 inches of pitch. Passengers also receive the most amount of seat width in this class, coming in at around 21 inches of width.

For “Extra Comfort Class” customers, Hawaiian provides you with 35 inches of legroom with 17 inches of seat width. You have to remember that Extra Comfort is simply economy class but you’ll be seated in the Emergency exit rows which is the reason you have more legroom.

“Standard Economy” passengers on board Hawaiian’s A321 get a modest 30 inches of legroom with 21 inches of seat width. This is right on par with what most passengers in the standard economy would receive on American air carriers.

How does Hawaiian’s A321neo compare to Other American Air Carriers Using the A321neo?

When comparing Hawaiian’s Airbus A321 flight experience versus what you can expect from any of the other air carriers in the United States that operate the same aircraft, we’d say that Hawaiian is right on par with other major domestic airlines.

Ultra Low-Cost Competitors

Hawaiian Air slightly beats out the ultra-low-cost airlines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines who both use the Airbus A321.

The sheer fact that Hawaiian has a first-class option elevates it over these two airlines. But the premium economy and standard economy products found on Hawaiian are not much better than what you can expect on Frontier or Spirit.

For example, each of these airlines has an upgraded economy class with seats that have a pitch of close to 35 inches. In regular economy, they all have legrooms closer to 30 inches. The only positive difference for Hawaiian in this category is that the seats have better padding than what you would find on Frontier or Spirit.

However, passengers who have flown on Hawaiian’s Airbus A321neo have complained about how uncomfortable the seats are.

Struggles Against Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways

The two major airlines that Hawaiian Airlines struggles with concerning their Airbus A321 product are Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways. 

JetBlue and Delta both start with an economy class that has larger seat legroom than Hawaiian’s A321. They both also have 18-inch seat widths compared to Hawaiian’s 17-inch widths. 

However, Hawaiian Airlines’ first-class configuration is right on par with Delta’s first-class product. But when you compare it against JetBlue’s Mint product, Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t stand a chance.

JetBlue Mint Airbus A321s have flat seating in their business first-class seating area. Something that Hawaiian Airlines does not have. 

The only lucky thing that Hawaiian Airlines has going for itself in consideration with JetBlue Airways is that JetBlue doesn’t operate its Airbus A321neos with Mint cabins to Hawaii.

Our Final Take About Hawaiian’s Airbus A321 Experience

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321neo product is pretty good. Since flights between the West Coast and Hawaii can take 4 to 5 hours, comfort should be one of the higher concerns on a passenger list. Hawaiian Airlines and their Airbus A321 will satisfy this need. 

Comparing other options on the market like Southwest Airlines, where you are stuck with only standard economy seating, making the trip uncomfortable for most. 

With the option for customers to upgrade to a higher level of service like First Class or Extra Comfort Class, that alone leaps Hawaiian Air to compete with the domestic airlines like Alaska Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

What Others Have to Say About Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321 Experience

Here are some reactions we deemed helpful to help you decide whether flying on Hawaiian’s Airbus A321 is for you.

“Flight from Sacramento to HNL, which I’ve been flying on this airline for about 20 years. I much prefer the older Boeing plane to this narrow, low-ceilinged A321neo. Seats were narrow and uncomfortable. The poor woman next be to me tried her best to not overhang over into my seat space, and we both flew with our arms crossed for over 5 hours to avoid touching shoulders. There was no entertainment system; rather there was an empty hole in the seat-backs where you presumably insert your own tablet or phone. The whole plane reeks of cheap, cost-cutting measures, which ticks me off as I know the company is expanding its fleet and routes on the backs of its long-time customers.”

SeatGuru Reviewer

“I like the neo a lot. Those engines are so quiet, and it’s a comfortable ride. Do I like the A330 better if I’m flying Hawaiian? Oh heck yeah. But I’d probably take the A321neo to Long Beach vs the A330 to LAX any day.”

Cranky Flier

Sources

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Hawaiian-Airlines

https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/our-services/at-the-airport/our-fleet/a321neo

https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/a321neo

https://www.flightglobal.com/hawaiian-signs-mou-for-16-a321neos/108356.article