Hawaiian Airlines has welcomed its first A330 featuring its new 18-seat Premium cabin. The highly customized Premium seats were created by Italian manufacturer Optimares, and are upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather. Arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration, the seats fold out into 180° beds that are 20.5in wide and 76in long. Passengers have access to multiple power ports, including two USB connections and one A/C outlet.
Hawaiian’s current A330-200 seats 294 passengers, with 18 in business/first class, 40 in Extra Comfort and 236 in the main cabin. In the new configuration, the aircraft seats 278 passengers, with 18 in the Premium cabin, 68 in Extra Comfort and 192 in the main cabin. Seat pitch in the main cabin remains 31in. IFE is accessed via large-format tablets, which rest on an adjustable telescoping arm.
Hawaiian collaborated with California-based consultancy PaulWylde to incorporate flowing curves evocative of the winds and ocean, organic textures and pops of bright saturated color in its Premium Cabin. The airline’s island branding is reflected in earth, sand and sea tones alongside natural materials. There is an adjustable privacy partition of natural reeds embedded in resin, and a panel between the premium and main cabins depicting a constellation in twinkling fiber-optic lights. The constellation is Makali’i, which was instrumental in guiding early Polynesian explorers on their Pacific journeys. It was also high in the sky during the airline’s first flight on November 11, 1929, and inspired the name of Hawaiian’s first A330.
Hawaiian unveiled plans for its Premium cabin in 2015. As part of the upgrade, Hawaiian is also adding 28 additional Extra Comfort seats to the A330 in response to growing demand for its premium economy service. The Extra Comfort option features a seat with 36in of pitch, priority boarding, complimentary on-demand in-seat entertainment, and a personal power outlet.
The newly outfitted A330 will enter service on the carrier’s US West Coast network in June 2016, with the Premium cabin providing a ‘surprise and delight’ feature for guests. Sales for the Premium cabin are expected to commence in the fall, when the first dedicated routes will be revealed, along with new signature service elements and amenities. Hawaiian will phase installation of additional A330 Premium cabins starting in the fall through early 2018. It will have 23 A330s by this summer after taking delivery of its final aircraft type on order. Hawaiian operates its A330 aircraft on the majority of its North American and international routes.
