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LONDON—Hawaiian Airlines would consider flights to Europe if a new Airbus Group SE long-range jet would deliver the legs to get there nonstop, Chief Executive Mark Dunkerley said Wednesday.

Flying directly to Europe "looks pretty attractive," the boss of the independent U.S. carrier, which already flies to Asia, said. Any decision on whether to serve London or other destinations in Europe was still some time off, he added.

Mr. Dunkerley said the airline's current A330 widebodies can fly 13 hours, but not the extra two to make it comfortably to London. Airbus is developing an upgraded option of the plane, called the A330neo (for new engine option) that promises greater range.

Hawaiian Air has ordered six of the new planes, also designated the A330-800, for long-haul operations. Mr. Dunkerley said it was still unclear whether the plane would actually deliver the required range once built.

Hawaiian Air isn't expecting its first A330neo until 2019.

Boeing and Airbus already make longer-range planes, but Mr. Dunkerley is leery of introducing a plane type solely for European routes.

Meanwhile, the carrier next year expects to receive the first three A321neo single-aisle planes from the European plane maker. They will be used to serve cities on the U.S. West Coast to free up A330 long-range jets to serve additional Asian destinations. Where those long-range planes will be deployed hasn't been decided, Mr. Dunkerley said in an interview.

The airline also has made some initial inquiries about the Airbus A380 superjumbo, which can seat more than 500 passengers. Those discussions were mainly for informational purposes, Mr. Dunkerley said during a presentation at the Aviation Club U.K., rather than about an actual purchase of new or used planes.

Used A380 double-deckers are starting to emerge in the market. Singapore Airlines this month said it would not renew the lease on its first A380 next year and that additional planes of the type could become available.

Malaysia Airlines also has said it is looking to shed its A380s and sell or lease them to other operators.

Airbus, which has struggled to sell new A380s, is hoping the availability of used ones could boost the plane's popularity and eventually spur sales, company executive Fabrice Bré gier has said.

Airbus this year was forced to announce a production cut for the A380 amid slack demand. The plane maker has said it would build just 12 A380 planes a year starting in 2018, down from the 27 it built last year.

Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 21, 2016 13:25 ET (17:25 GMT)

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