Hawaiian Airlines is on a tear today with its largest and most significant route expansion ever announced that includes Texas and Florida. The company has just unveiled flights starting next year between Hawaii and Austin, Orlando, and Ontario (California). Kudos to them for being forward-thinking and doing so at such a challenging time. The airline just said that in addition, it will add another California route, with daily flights from Long Beach to Maui.
Peter Ingram, Hawaiian CEO said “We are delighted to bring our superior value proposition to travelers visiting Hawaii from Austin, Ontario and Orlando, while adding service to Maui from Long Beach.”
Read on for route details including start dates, aircraft types and more.
New routes begin next year, starting as follows.
Long Beach to Maui starts March 16, 2021, and will operate five times weekly.
Service will be on narrow-body, 189-seat, A321 aircraft. This is a significant expansion for Hawaiian at Long Beach, which previously only had service to Honolulu. BOH: This appears to be an excellent Southwest pre-emptive, strategic move in all-important Southern California. Maui is becoming arguably the most important of Hawaii’s destination airports on its own, with good connectivity state-wide.
Ontario to Honolulu starts March 16, 2021, and will operate five times weekly.
Service will be on narrow-body, 189-seat, A321 aircraft. This is the return of a prior route and once that has been asked for repeatedly. BOH: This and Long Beach both help fill some significant gaps before another airlines positions itself. We’ve previously used the Ontario route ourselves and found it very helpful traveling to Orange County and to the Inland Empire.
Orlando to Honolulu starts March 11, 2021 , and will operate twice weekly.
Service will be on wide-body, 278-seat, A330 aircraft. The Hawaii bellwether sees Orlando as one of the largest domestic travel markets without nonstop Hawaii service. It will also be a popular destination for those of us in Hawaii. This is the third Hawaiian east coast route, following New York and Boston. BOH: This is another interesting move. Orlando is a market that will need to be developed in much the same way the airline previously did with New York and is continuing to do with Boston.
Austin to Honolulu starts on April 21, and will operate twice weekly.
Service will be on wide-body, 278-seat, A330 aircraft. This route is Hawaiian’s first foray into the middle part of the USA. BOH: Since Austin is one of the fastest-growing metropolises in the country, this is a good bet, although it too will need work. It also avoids competitor-rich Dallas and Houston. We don’t expect it to be the airline’s last mid-continent opportunity.
Which route interests you the most? For us, it’s Florida because both of your editors have family there. We also like Ontario for our second choice.
Beat of Hawaii photo at Diamond Head Oahu.
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John says
I’ve been hoping for the Ontario route for a long time. I can hardly believe that it is finally happening! This will open up access to Hawaii for thousands who simply didn’t want to drive over 2 hours through heavy traffic to LAX.
Mama G. says
Thanks for the good news. Excited about Austin. United flies from Houston but the fares are never competitive. Even though Dallas is an option, Austin is a shorter drive for us.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Mama.
The good news too is that will put pressure on the prices from both Houston and Dallas.
Aloha.