Hawaiian Airlines Unveils A321neo Premium Leisure Cabin Design

A321 Interior. PC: Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines today revealed a distinctive cabin design for its new A321neo fleet arriving later this year.

Airline executives say signature features of the interior concept and enhanced service “evoke the natural splendor of Hawai‘i through color and form, bringing the outdoors in and extending ‘island time’ from the moment a guest steps onboard.”

Guests will enjoy the choice of three cabin products, with intuitive seating provided by B/E Aerospace. The Premium Cabin will be appointed with leather recliners, design details and a custom lighting fixture incorporating Hawaiian’s signature ‘wave’ motif. The 45 Extra Comfort premium economy seats will offer five more inches of legroom, priority boarding and other perks. Seats in all cabins will be equipped with complimentary high-power USB outlets for device charging, while guests in the Premium Cabin and Extra Comfort seats will enjoy access to an additional AC power outlet. Pivoting overhead bins maximize the amount of space available for carry-on luggage.

A321 Interior. PC: Hawaiian Airlines.

Textiles and other materials throughout the cabin pay homage to traditional Hawaiian crafts, from bark cloth (kapa) to fishing nets. Guests will discover many details as they experience the cabin, from Hawaiian language used in signage, to unexpected textures, to custom floor and wall laminates in each lavatory. The full LED mood-lighting system has been programmed to evoke Hawaiʻi’s unmatched sunrises and sunsets, enhancing the guest’s mood at each stage along their journey.

“With each cabin, we try to integrate a sense of identity and place, while remaining fresh and modern in our design language,” said Mannis. “In that sense the A321neo has provided a superb canvas on which to project a sense of modern Hawai’i.”

A321 Interior. PC: Hawaiian Airlines.

New to Hawaiian’s guest experience, the A321neo will feature wireless streaming inflight entertainment. Guests will be able to download an application on their personal devices before they board to enjoy a wide selection of complimentary movies, TV shows, and Hawai‘i content available exclusively through the airline’s Hawaiian Skies channel. Holders for personal hand-
held devices and tablets will be integrated into the tray tables of the Premium Cabin as well as the first row of Extra Comfort, and built into the backrest of all other seats in the aircraft.

Airline executives say the core of the A321neo experience will remain Hawaiian’s service. The cabin has been designed to enhance the carrier’s signature onboard hospitality program, Mea Ho‘okipa (translation: I am host). All guests are treated to island-inspired complimentary meals and made-in-Hawai‘i snacks to go along with the airline’s presentation of the islands’ culture, people and Aloha Spirit throughout the flight.

Hawaiian expects to take delivery of 18 new A321neo aircraft between the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2020. Considered the most fuel-efficient aircraft of its type, the plane will seat 189 passengers with 16 First Class, 45 Extra Comfort and 128 Economy class seats. Sales for flights served by the new aircraft and the first dedicated routes will be announced later this year.

“We are a unique destination carrier that caters to the needs of guests traveling to, from and between the beautiful islands of Hawai‘i,” said Avi Mannis, the airline’s senior vice president of marketing. “With an 88-year legacy of authentic Hawaiian hospitality, we are rooted in a sense of place and culture that guides the sensory design elements across our fleet. Together with JPA Design, we have created an emotionally satisfying, aesthetically rich inflight experience that will transform guests in every cabin of our A321neo aircraft.”

Mannis joined Tim Manson, design director of UK–based global transport and hospitality design firm JPA Design, in making the joint design announcement on Monday at the 6th annual Passenger Experience Conference in Hamburg, Germany. They spoke at a session titled “Rethinking the Passenger’s Journey,” addressing the configuration of products, systems and processes that enable airlines to create the most comfortable customer-centric journey.

The medium-haul, single-aisle A321neo aircraft will usher in Hawaiian’s next growth era when they enter the carrier’s Western US network. The A321neos will complement Hawaiian’s fleet of long-haul, twin-aisle aircraft used for flying between Hawai‘i and the US Mainland and 11 international destinations, and its narrow-body Boeing 717 fleet flying short, interisland routes.

Hawaiian’s recent B717 and A330 aircraft cabin redesigns further differentiate its premium leisure product, creating a contemporary design language of “Earth, Sea and Sky” that is interconnected throughout the fleet.

The new interior of the mid-range A321neo completes the evolution of that design philosophy, with each interior carefully tailored to the emotional journeys and ergonomic needs of a variety of travelers.

“Hawaiian presented JPA Design with a very unique proposition and set of creative challenges,” said Manson. “Collaborating closely with the team at Hawaiian, we crafted a cabin interior that draws inspiration from Hawaii’s rich past and contemporary present. Symbolism from Hawaii’s story is woven throughout the cabin interiors, subtly immersing guests in an environment that brings an elevated authentic premium leisure experience.”