This week we’ve already heard from the three most engaged stakeholders among Hawaii airlines. Each company is unwavering in their intention to secure a future in Hawaii air travel.
We know that Southwest Hawaii flights will go on sale in the next few months. Also, prior studies have indicated that SWA Hawaii flights might bring a price reduction of up to 25% in Hawaii tickets prices overall. With $99 to $149 airfare sales already becoming somewhat common, we know for sure that Hawaii visitors are in for great deals ahead.
Below is what the three companies just had to say on the fast-heating competition.
Alaska Airlines on competition from SWA.
Brad Tilden, CEO: “We’ve competed against Southwest Airlines for a very long time…. If I were to guess, 5, 10, 15 years from now, I would guess we’ll have an extraordinarily strong presence in Hawaii…. I think the mindset has to be competition is a good thing.”
Beat of Hawaii: Southwest will serve San Diego, San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento initially. Those routes will compete head to head with Alaska Airlines. Alaska has done a great job on these cities. But because these are not their core markets in the way that say Portland and Seattle are, this will get tough.
Hawaiian Airlines on Southwest Inter-Island plans.
CEO Peter Ingram: “Southwest… has done a masterful job of getting a lot of column inches in various publications by announcing very little. We still don’t even have a schedule of when they’re going to fly. We still don’t know when they’re going to start flying. They haven’t sold a single ticket.”
CFO Shannon Lei Okinaka: “We are not strangers to competitors in the inter-island market…. We have competed against different competitors with different aircraft types and have come out ahead each time…. I think it’s two different situations when you’re talking about Southwest making a huge investment, bringing 10 to 12 737s into the market…. That’s a completely different scenario than… repositioning aircraft amongst the islands. I still think either way, we have the right aircraft. We have the right schedule. We have already made a lot of those investments that need to be made in the business, in the community.”
Beat of Hawaii: We concur with Hawaiian’s statements about inter-island service. Full on, frequent inter-island service is probably more than Southwest will take on soon, if ever.
SWA on what’s up next to Hawaii and inter-island.
Spokesperson Brad Hawkins: “Our public commentary is thus far limited.” More will be revealed soon “so that our customers can start regarding Southwest for their long-term travel planning for Hawaii…. We intend to offer inter-island service in some combination and scale.”
Beat of Hawaii: This has been one of the most drawn out announcements we can ever remember. We’ll all be happy just to get this going at long last.
Read our Southwest Hawaii update.
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We are planning a trip to Kauai either the last week of April 2019 or the third week of June 2019. How much difference in ticket prices do you think I should expect between these two dates since the June date is in the High season. Also, what’s a good strategy for finding the lowest prices for each of these options
Do you have any thoughts on what the SWA promotional fares will look like? Do you think we’ll be able to use points?
Thank you!
Renee
Hi Renee.
We’ve suggested cheapest fares may range from $99 to $149 from most competitive cities, at least for a while. Yes you should be able to use points.
Aloha.
To: Hawaiian CFO Shannon Lei Okinaka – Please understand that you do NOT have the right price. You have been gouging the people of Hawaii for years!
Indeed! And customer service is non existent!
Southwest, please fly from Las Vegas no other airline flies direct to HawIi except Hawaiian, they need the competition
We live in Sacramento and look forward to SWA. Alaska to Hawaii is NOT a good choice. Hawaiian is good but no direct to Kauai or Big Island and they are much more expensive than Oakland to Hawaii.
Unless the savings are substantial, I’ll still fly Hawaiian nonstop from Las Vegas. The wide body jets are much more comfortable, as well as having the convenience of nonstop (at least initially).
Watching for flights from Sacramento to Maui—
HOPEULLY we can book our next trip to MAUI on Southwest !
I am dreaming of a hawaii family vacation for 6 in June 2019.
Is there any chance of the lower airline prices,ie: $149 or even $300 for that many people or are they usually just single seats that are available at the last minute?
We will originate in Missouri but are not against changing airlines and planes in Cali.
Just trying to consider all our options and would appreciate your on-site.
Thank you
Hi Karen.
Entirely too soon to know for over a year from now. If you’re traveling in 2nd 2/3 of June, expect normal or close to normal pricing. Cheapest fares will be for off-season which doesn’t include June through mid-August and holidays. Stay tuned as we learn more.
Aloha.