Hawaiian Airlines has announced the end of its nonstop service between Honolulu and Austin, effective March 2025. While any route cancellation raises eyebrows, this news didn’t surprise those following the industry closely.
Launched in April 2021 during the pandemic’s peak, the route sought to capitalize on Austin’s growth as a tech hub and its demand for Hawaii flights. Ultimately, it did not pan out.
In discussing Hawaiian routes yesterday, we intentionally omitted to mention Austin, as we had been anticipating this announcement for some time. Regular reader Daryl asked yesterday, “Don’t hear or read much of anything about Hawaiian’s AUS/HNL nonstop? They’ve been flying it 4X a week. I’ve used it a few times since the Covid pandemic. The A330 Is very comfortable, and tailwinds usually chop a good hour off the 8-hour flight both ways.”
Despite initial optimism, the route struggled to meet long-term viability. Another reader, Daniel, shared with us, “I flew this route twice, and the planes were far from full. I’m disappointed but not shocked it’s gone.”
Another email we received added, “With Austin growing so fast, I hoped this would work. But I guess the numbers didn’t add up.”
These sentiments reflect a broader challenge facing airlines flying to Hawaii: adapting quickly to evolving markets while maintaining profitability. Rapid adaptation will also soon come to Southwest Airlines.
Shifts in Hawaii flights reflect a broader airline strategy.
Under its new Alaska Airlines ownership, Hawaiian Airlines is in the midst of fine-tuning its route network to respond to shifting demand. Cutting this route is a strategic move that will reallocate resources toward more lucrative markets, including perhaps new ones.
West Coast hubs such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle continue to see robust demand, and international routes, including the resumed Auckland service, are again in focus.
This decision underscores how the post-pandemic travel landscape has reshaped airline priorities. Some Hawaii flights launched during the pandemic, including Hawaiian’s prior Orlando route, were about keeping planes moving more than about profitability. Things have since changed drastically.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaii’s competitive landscape.
The recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Air Group introduces a new dynamic to the airline industry, particularly concerning Hawaii flights. This merger enables centralized route and fleet planning, allowing for strategic deployment of wide-body aircraft to high-demand routes, including the Airbus A330 and Boeing 787.
This perspective highlights the potential for expanded international services, leveraging Hawaiian’s fleet capabilities.
However, residents and frequent travelers from cities like Austin express concerns about the loss of nonstop wide-body service. The discontinuation of such routes will necessitate additional connections, significantly affecting travel convenience and duration.
For Alaska and Hawaiian, balancing fleet optimization with passenger needs remains a critical challenge in the evolving competitive landscape of island flights.
What do these changes mean for travelers?
For those planning trips from Austin to Hawaii, the route’s departure reflects the need for travelers to remain flexible. Connecting flights via major West Coast hubs will be the likely alternative.
This shift could also benefit popular routes, with Hawaiian and Alaska redirecting combined resources to improve frequency and services where demand remains robust.
Alaska Airlines’ decision to end its Hawaiian Airlines’ Austin route reminds us of the challenges airlines face balancing evolving travel demand and operational needs. For travelers, it’s an opportunity to explore new ways of reaching Hawaii or Austin while remaining adaptable to the ever-changing U.S. airline landscape.
Are other routes also on the chopping block?
Austin was the most obvious choice. Another possibility remains Boston, the longest domestic route in the US, on which Delta just decided to jump in. See Delta vs. Hawaiian: Shake Shack Burgers Fuel New Hawaii Flight Showdown.
We welcome your comments.
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I’m guessing the aircraft will be used HNL SEA since they increased widebody service to SEA from one a day to twice daily. I suspect that will be more profitable and obviously creates a lot more travel options to Hawaii through Alaskas biggest hub. Not sure where anyone is getting that HA is parking any 330’s. Combining these two route structures obviously means some changes. AUS was a weak market for them, surprised it lasted that long.
Sounds like Alaska airlines is the priority and let’s see move over Hawaiian Airlines. This change will mean longer layover’s coming and going so those 8-10 hour flights might be 12 or more hours. May make tourist’s second guess if Hawaii is really worth it.
My last flight on Hawaiian left lots to be desired. Service levels were well below expectations. My advice to all is vote with your feet. If they’re going to abandon you as a customer, be sure to take your business to their competitors. You’ll be the one having to make multiple connections. You deserve to feel good about where and how you spend your money.
Sadly, the 321 flight 57/58 SAN-OGG is also being cut. Only two direct flight from SAN currently, going to 1 next year. Apparently AS will now make that flight. I do fly AS to KOA But it’s certainly not the Hawaii experience that I can get from HA. We, at SAN, were truly hoping that more direct flights from here would be scheduled to get a preferential gate. I guess the higher ups think people prefer to fly in/out of L.A. (ugh)… guess I’ll be stuck flying less Aloha on AS unless I want to change planes in HNL.
The HA flight is going but there will be two alaska flights one at the current time and one later which will allow connections in SAN. I know I can’t link in the comments but cranky flier had the information on the two flight.
Thanks BOH for the update on HA’s AUS/HNL A330 nonstop. We flew it several times since it’s inception in April 2021. All the flights we were on were packed both ways. The only negative I have is that HA’s promotion of this route the Austin/San Antonio corridor of over 4 million people was non exisistent. No media advertising, nothing. I would mention it to people planning trips to HawaII, and no one I talked to had any idea. Now the only nonstop flights from Texas to HNL year round, and Maui seasonally, are American and United, and only from either DFW (AA), and IAH (UA). So we will continue to connect thru PHX, LAX or SFO to LIH where we have our timeshare in Princeville. AS connecting thru SEA is too long. Several other airlines expanded in Austin during the pandemic, and most all of those expansion flights have been discontinued. Everyone over estimated the growth in travel to and from Auatin and San Antonio post pandemic.
Doesn’t Alaska have flights to San Diego that will allow connection?
San-LIH is a seasonal run.
This should come as no surprise. The transition of tech companies to Texas has been over hyped, and tech/Honolulu is not a major industry connection. What’s needed more is increased schedules to French Polynesia, the Cooks and hopefully New Zealand. Tourist and local travel should increase as Americans also decide whether this is the time for relocation from the U.S. to more stable democracies.
Ah, I hope the economics are workable for the Boston to Honolulu route. I greatly prefer the Hawaiian experience to Delta’s in general but perhaps that will erode as the culture of the merger becomes clear.
This was in the cards long before the Alaska purchase. It was yet another underperforming route contributing to Hawaiian’s precarious financial situation. I’m guessing the folks who decided to put an A330 on that route probably didn’t do their due diligence. Wishful thinking is no way to run an airline.
If an Alaska manager decided to pull the trigger, so be it. It should have been done much earlier.
Thank you very much for all of your Hawaiian info. It is always an interesting read. Do you think the Long Beach, CA route will be chopped?
I understand the need to cut underperforming routes, but I can’t help but feel this is just the beginning of a much larger shake-up ahead for Hawaiian Airlines. The Austin route wasn’t a cash cow, but it served an important role and was Hawaiian’s only city anywhere near there. Alaska’s takeover could mean fewer widebodies overall, and that’s a big loss for anyone who values the unique experience Hawaiian used to offer on these longer routes.
Unfortunately, the airlines only care about their bottom line and how much the stockholders benefit. Unless the USDOT steps in, it will remain that way.
The writing has been on the wall for some time with this route. Hawaiian’s A330s are great for comfort, but they’re not exactly economical for routes like this. Now, with Alaska calling the shots, it’s clear they’re looking to maximize efficiency by reallocating widebodies to international and West Coast-heavy routes. What concerns me is the bigger picture—are we going to see Hawaiian lose its identity in favor of Alaska’s own playbook?
Who didn’t know that the merger would be changing everything. I just hope they don’t forget the loyal customers who made Hawaiian Airlines what it is today. It’s hard to not feel like big brother has taken over.
It feels like Hawaiian is clearly moving again towards prioritizing international routes, but I wonder if they’re losing their connection to more domestic markets. Time will tell.
With Alaska taking over, I hope at least we see more streamlined options and maybe even other new routes that make up for these losses.
This is a blow to those of us who prefer widebody comfort on long flights from Texas. Yikes. Connections just aren’t going to be the same.
It’s disappointing to see nonstop options shrinking, but I understand Hawaiian needs to focus on more profitable markets.