Southwest Airlines launches service to Hawai’i tomorrow, March 17, with its inaugural route between Oakland (OAK) and Honolulu (HNL). Service to Kahului (OGG) from Oakland will begin on April 7, and in May Southwest will add flights to both Hawaiian airports from San Jose (SJC).
Starting April 28, Southwest will operate inter-island service between Honolulu and Kahului four times daily. Beginning May 12, the airline will also offer four daily inter-island flights between Honolulu and Keahole (KOA).
“As we answer the call for Southwest in Hawai’i with an initial schedule of service that speaks to a long-held hope of our customers, I applaud and congratulate our people for their steady and impressive work to bring our world-famous hospitality and game-changing value to the Islands,” said Gary Kelly, chairman and CEO of Southwest Airlines.
Seats on these routes are available for booking now, with one-way fares starting as low as $29.
Tom Nealon, president of Southwest Airlines, emphasized the carrier’s value proposition: “Our Hawai’i customers will experience our everyday value in low fares that offer everybody the same brand standards: no fees to change your ticket and two checked bags fly free. We’re focused on bringing Hawai’i an authentically Southwest experience with comfort across all seating — for every customer — along with in-cabin snack enhancements for our flights between the State of Hawai’i and the U.S. mainland.”
With a mix of mainland-to-island and inter-island frequencies, the new schedule aims to provide flexible travel options for residents and visitors alike while maintaining Southwest’s signature customer benefits and straightforward fare policies.