In 2008, Hawaiian Airlines placed a headline order for six Airbus A350-800 models alongside six older-generation Airbus A330-200s, a two-pronged plan that was designed to modernize long-haul flying in the near term. The addition of Airbus A350 models to the fleet later was meant to add to the airline’s operational capabilities. Sales of the smallest Airbus A350 variant ultimately stalled, and the manufacturer moved to kill the program and steer customers towards re-engined Airbus A330neo variants instead.