By Robert Wall
LONDON--Airbus Group NV said on Friday it had finalized a
previously agreed deal with Hawaiian Airlines to buy six A330
widebody jets instead of the plane maker's A350 jetliner.
Hawaiian Airlines will take A330-800 wide-bodies, an upgraded
model Airbus introduced in July when the airline first agreed to
buy the type. The carrier is already an operator of the current
A330 version.
As part of the deal, Hawaiian Airlines will drop an order for
six A350-800s. The aircraft is the smallest version of Airbus's new
long-range jet, but has been unpopular with most carriers.
The A330-800 "is the right size, with the right range and costs,
and shares much commonality with our A330-200 fleet," airline Chief
Executive Mark Dunkerley said in a statement.
Airbus has been urging airlines to switch from the A350-800 to
buying either the A350-900, due for its first delivery next week to
Qatar Airways, or the A330. The European planemaker is no longer
trying to sell the A350-800.
Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com
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