Hawaiian Holdings Buys Turboprop Aircraft

Hawaiian Holdings has completed the purchase of its first ATR 42 twin-turboprop aircraft, and has a purchase agreement in place to acquire a second plane to be delivered in November.

The previously owned planes are being acquired from ASL Aviation Group Limited of Dublin, Ireland.

The aircraft will be used to inaugurate new passenger service to Moloka‘i and Läna‘i in 2013.

When configured for neighbor island use, the planes will seat 44 to 50 passengers.

“These are the ideal aircraft for service to the less populated islands in our state,” said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Holdings, parent company of Hawaiian Airlines. “This new service will complement the B717 jet service offered by Hawaiian Airlines as well as provide the additional service that Moloka‘i and Läna‘i residents have been requesting.”

The new turboprop service will operate separately from Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Holdings is currently developing the name and brand identity of the new entity.

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