Aviation

Hawaiian Airlines Marks 16 Consecutive Years as Most Punctual U.S. Airline

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiʻi’s hometown carrier for more than 90 years, remained the nation’s most punctual carrier in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, marking the 16th straight year its guests have enjoyed the best on-time performance in the U.S. industry.

Hawaiian’s flights averaged an 87.7 percent on-time rate in 2019, exceeding the U.S. industry average by 6.1 percentage points.

“Our more than 7,400 employees know how important it is for our guests to be on time, whether they are starting a family vacation in Hawaiʻi, or traveling between our islands for business or to visit their ʻohana, and I couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishment,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “We recently observed our 90^th anniversary and this ‘Sweet 16’ is definitely another achievement worth celebrating.”

Hawaiian has extended its on-time performance streak, which began in 2004, as it grew into a global airline that today offers a robust network of over 240 daily international, transpacific and neighbor island flights. The airline’s modern fleet of more than 60 jet aircraft provide nonstop service between Hawaiʻi and 13 gateway cities in North America – more than any other carrier – as well as an unparalleled flight schedule between the Hawaiian Islands. The airline also serves Australia (Sydney and Brisbane), American Samoa (Pago Pago), Japan (Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, and Fukuoka), New Zealand (Auckland), South Korea (Seoul), and Tahiti (Papeete).

Last year, Hawaiian launched five-times-weekly service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye (HNL) and Boston Logan (BOS) international airports. A fleet of fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo enabled Hawaiian to also start new nonstop flights between Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) and both Sacramento (SMF) and McCarran (LAS) international airports, as well as expanded service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and HNL.

Next month, the airline will introduce its third daily nonstop flight between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) and the Hawaiian Islands, several months ahead of the 2020 Olympic Summer Games.

The U.S. DOT’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Report ranking the nation’s 16 largest air carriers is available online at www.dot.gov/individuals/air-consumer/air-travel-consumer-reports.

Aviation

Airbus Final Assembly Line Adapts for A350 Freighter Production

As Airbus prepares for the final assembly of the A350 Freighter (A350F), the first large parts are already taking shape at Airbus Atlantic and Airbus Aerostructures facilities in France and Germany. Teams in Toulouse are busy getting ready for assembly activities, set to begin next year.

The A350F is the third version of the A350 family. While it shares many common features with the passenger versions, the freighter has some significant differences. These include structural reinforcements, such as stronger center-wing-box floor beams, as well as changes in size, shape, and equipment.

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The A350F’s fuselage is longer than the A350-900 but shorter than the A350-1000, providing an optimal cargo space. It also has the largest main-deck cargo door ever installed on a commercial aircraft, located on the left side of the rear fuselage.

Inside, the A350F is designed to carry large volumes of cargo. The full-length cargo-loading system supports containers and pallets, and the sidewalls are reinforced with windowless linings. A special 9g cargo barrier wall is located at the front, alongside a dedicated crew rest compartment and a courier area.

To accommodate these changes, Airbus is adapting the assembly stations at the Roger Béteille A350 FAL, where the A350-900 and -1000 are currently produced. The new geometry of the A350 Freighter requires adjustments to the jigs and tools used in the assembly line.

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Additionally, the production stations are being modified to allow staff easier access to both the interior and exterior, especially around the large cargo door frame. At Station 40, where the wing assembly takes place, a new platform plug is being tested to lift the cargo-loading system and trolleys closer to the main deck entrance during assembly.

One of the standout features of the A350 Freighter is its impressive range. With a maximum takeoff weight of about 280 metric tons and a payload capacity of up to 100 metric tons, it can operate on long-haul routes efficiently. This makes it ideal for global cargo transport, compare to the a350 vs 777, this will reducing the need for frequent refueling stops.

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The A350 Freighter’s cargo hold is also designed for flexibility, with the capacity to carry up to 109 tons of cargo. It has a wide, flat floor for easy loading and unloading and offers a total volume of 1,500 cubic meters, making it suitable for pallets, containers, and oversized items.

In addition to the physical changes to the assembly stations, Airbus is also adapting the production methods. The goal is to make the transition between building freighter and passenger versions of the a350 aircraft as smooth as possible, with minimal disruption. This approach ensures that production teams will be able to efficiently switch between the two versions once serial production begins.