Keeping an eye on Hawaii airfares and airline competition yields fascinating results in a rapidly evolving competitive environment. This morning, for example, we see that there’s a considerable number of flights that the airlines are hoping to soon significantly raise fares on. So caveat emptor, and buy these soon just in case these new fares stick. There’s a good chance they will.
The $39 fares are still out there. It’s not every seat, seven days a week anymore. — Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines CEO.
Last week, when Hawaiian had their earnings call, they said that there were changes afoot in their competition with Southwest Airlines. And we see that reflected today. Peter Ingram addressed the $39 interisland airfares, saying, “It’s not every seat, seven days a week anymore, but it is, generally, sort of four days a week – $39 and a little bit higher on the weekends, and pretty broadly available, although not last seat availability.”
What that means is that the airlines no longer have the cheapest seats available on all days or all flights, and that is already clear from the highly variable fares you’ll see below. Interisland airfares (Honolulu to Maui, for example) will now go for as high as $165 one-way on the most in-demand dates and times.
We’ve said before that the $39 Hawaii airfares are simply too good (for travelers) to last. For the airlines, those fares represent a net to them of just $26, which is only a fraction of what their cost is to provide the service.
Fares indicated below were valid as of 10 AM on February 7 but are subject to change up to five times daily as inventory and competition vary.
Southwest’s Hawaii Airfare Plan
Southwest still has fares from $39 for now, but as Hawaiian said, it is no longer a guaranteed price on every seat. So how high do these go? We are finding fares up to $94 one-way, as seen below.
Here’s how it breaks down monthly:
- February: Airfares from $39 to $74 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increase ≤190%.
- March: Airfares from $39 to $69 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increased ≤177%.
- April: Airfares from $39 to $79 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increased ≤203%.
- May: Airfares from $39 to $79 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increased ≤203%.
- June: Airfares from $59 to $94 each way. There are no cheapest days of the week. Increased ≤241%.
- July: Airfares from $59 to $79 each way. There are no cheapest days of the week. Increased ≤203%.
- August: Airfares from $59 to $64 each way. There are no cheapest days of the week. Increased ≤164%.
Hawaiian’s Hawaii Airfare Plan.
Hawaii has even more variability in prices than does Southwest, touching pre-competition prices of up to $165.
Here’s how it breaks down monthly:
- February: Airfares from $39 to $165 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increase ≤372%.
- March Airfares from $39 to $94 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increased ≤241%.
- April: Airfares from $39 to $94 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increased ≤241%.
- May: Airfares from $39 to $124 each way. The cheapest days are Monday through Thursday. Increased ≤318%.
- June: Airfares from $59 to $94 each way. There are no cheapest days. Increased ≤241%.
- July: Airfares from $59 to $94 each way. There are no cheapest days. Increased ≤241%.
- August: Airfares from $59 to $94 each way. There are no cheapest days. Increased ≤241%.
Regarding interisland competition, Ingram concluded, “And the fact of the matter is we have to continue to compete. We do have better schedule and service and great reliability and great employees. But we all know that you’ve got to be cost-competitive, and you’ve got to be price-competitive in this business. So, we’re going to continue to compete, and we ultimately know that we’re going to be successful.”
How does this impact your Hawaii travel plans.
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The CEO at Hawaiian Air should have the $39 fares to the outer islands for Kama’aina only!!! 7 days a week so family and friends can visit each other! To get the Kama’aina fare you will have to provide a State of Hawaii Issued ID! No utility bills showing the you live here should not be accepted….only state of Hawaii ID!! We, who live here pay the high rents, high food prices, high taxes therefore, a kind gesture would be nice for the Kama’aina Hawaiian Airlines!!!!!!!!!
Hello “Beat of Hawaii” …. I would like you to review the impact of Tourism changes to today when Hawaii implemented “longer” runways to bring more flights in from Japan. I think the impact on Tourism is relfected on Government actions. Gary V
Hawaiian air / Bezos air / Amazon air , he already has 15 % of it (hawaiian air) and did express that he is/wants to have Amazon air, he does own 14 acres on Maui. However i am sure he has Hawaiis best interests in mind after all he does live here sometimes.Hawaiian air like any other corporation is all about the money.This is a capitalist country and they worked and built it good 4 them, however dont fool youself its about the money. I as a consumer, especially with todays economy have to choose where to spend and make that choice wisely.Competition is grest for the economy and the consumer. Monoply baaad for consumer.
SEA to HNL, for the flight times I’d want (no overnight, nothing arriving really late), are $2000 per person, round trip, for main economy on Alaska Airlines right now. The absolute lowest fair is $1100 per person, and that is with overnight hotel stays in each direction (so you lose a day actually in HI and add hotel costs on each end).
I’m not quite sure what is going on, but that knocks HI out as something we’ll do for vacations, and we won’t be able to visit our friends there. I get things are expensive but this seems like a lot. Contrast, same week, 2021, was $745.20 for all 3 of us – round trip.
Travel is getting harder & harder on the pocketbook for seniors.
I was flying HNL-OGG on Hawaiian last week and was surprised that when I changed flights from Thursday to Friday that it was $20 more.
Sounds like the same business plan the ceo of disney announced awhile back. They are just gonna keep raising the prices to see how high they can go untill business falls off. And just like disney people feel some missguided loyalty to a name.The only voice we have that they will hear has a picture of a deceased president on it and where we choose to spend it.
As I have said previously that the loser in the inter Island travel will be the one to “Blink First” and in this case the spots on the Hawaiian Leopard haven’t changed one bit. Raising the prices as much as they have, with even more to come, should tell even the most ardent supporters of Hawaiian about their commitment, which is to expanding their own wallets. Can hardly wait for the next Blink or Two! Thank You BOH for this glimpse into the future and of what to expect tomorrow, great job!
Hi Ernie.
Thank you! It will be interesting to see what happens this spring as it will be telltale.
Aloha.
You do realize that Hawaiian would have to charge at least $59 tickets to even break even on their inter island? They weren’t profitable for a reason last quarter. I still heavily support Hawaiian because of their local roots and ties to the Hawaiian people they’ve been serving for over 90 years. Mahalo
As do I Maureen, HA’s experience is invaluable to the State. Some people care about Hawaii and what is good for the big picture and others could care less.
$39 fares were an attempt by SWA to break into the market. HA’s fares are very fair.
Interesting to note, SWA, despite having half the flights has a 22 point lower load factor on on their inter island flights. They are both losing money inter island, SWA much more. I would think HA’s loss was more due to the weak Japan market. HA weathered 30 years of fare wars, many worse than this when they were no where near as financially well positioned as they are now. They won’t be leaving Hawaii obviously.
Has anyone asked Hawaiian why their jets emit more CO2 after lunch than before? I’m fairly sure that Oahu and Maui aren’t drifting apart.
It must be from Eating too heavy of a Lunch!
That is an odd one….I’m guessing maybe they take average load factors? The heavier the payload the more fuel they would burn. Certain flights would be heavier then others on average. Also busy times of day would average slightly longer average flight times….
Those cheap fares were never every seat every day. Off topic, but why oh why are there no direct flights from Hilo to Lihue, where of course people in Hilo practically have to pay double.