There’s no doubt about it. The ultimate battle for flights to Hawaii is on, and it is poised to continue and intensify. That between bellwether Hawaiian Airlines, and up and coming Hawaii behemoth Southwest Airlines.
BOH editor Jeff: “Southwest learned every trick in the Hawaii playbook directly from Hawaiian Airlines. This is a fight to the death between Hawaiian and Southwest.”
The battle of the flights.
1. The two leading Hawaii airlines are vying across a range of routes.
Southwest is constrained by its limited-range 737 aircraft. While they have broad coverage, their cross-country routes beyond Las Vegas or Phoenix require a connection. Hawaiian is constrained differently by a limited flight network. While they have some codeshare with JetBlue, that still limits how many options they have to distribute passengers beyond those nonstop flights.
Other airlines, including the legacies and Alaska, compete too, but they pale by comparison.
2. Southwest recently pulled back on mainland to Hawaii while doubling down on interisland.
In August they cut Los Angeles to Kauai and Kona, Phoenix to Kauai and Kona, Sacramento to Kauai, Kona and Maui, and San Diego to Kaua, Kona, and Maui. That reduced their mainland service by nearly 40% compared to when they were operating 37 daily flights, instead of the 23 now flying.
At the same time, Southwest increased interisland service and has decided to sell every seat on every flight for just $39 through the end of 2022. If it isn’t apparent, that is far below their cost to provide the service. In many cases, Hawaiian has matched that price on their departures that coincide with Southwest.
3. These are the sweet spots where competition means the lowest-priced flights to Hawaii.
Competition is hottest on flights from Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Jose.
3. The sub-battle of the service.
These airlines offer different things beyond just getting you from Mainland point A to your Hawaii vacation point B.
A week ago, we traveled with Hawaiian and with Southwest to share our review of how the two airlines did on inter-island service. We were completely surprised with the results; if you haven’t seen them, you may be too. They each have a unique brand, and there’s much to be said about both.
Read: Flight Reviews: Hawaiian vs. Southwest Showdown
You won’t be surprised to know that we were in the air again this week, and you’ll soon see more surprising reviews from us of flights between the west coast and Hawaii.
The battle of the pilots.
The airlines are now taking to a battle of the female pilot teams, not to be outdone by flights, routes, service, or fuel.
This week Hawaii introduced the first mother-daughter Tongan pilot team. That is an industry long dominated by men. One of the Hawaii flights BOH traveled on with Alaska Airlines this week also featured a female co-pilot coincidentally.
Captain Kamelia Zarka and her First Officer Daughter Maria Zarka pilot the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 flying interisland. The team welcomed guests, posed for selfies, and sought to encourage young girls to follow their dreams.
“Flying for Hawaiian Airlines with my daughter, side-by-side in the cockpit, was a dream come true for me. I always knew Maria would be a fantastic pilot – she’s always been brilliant and professional – but sitting next to her as she flew the plane with such skill and ease still blew me away,” Kamelia said.
Kamelia has been with Hawaiian as a flight attendant since 1992 and became a pilot in 1999. Maria came to HA from Republic Airlines earlier this year.
In lockstep with Hawaiian, Captain Holly Petitt and First Officer daughter Keely Petitt just become the first mother-daughter pilot team for Southwest.
Holly Petitt started as a flight attendant before deciding to become a pilot. She has been with SWA for 18 years. Her daughter decided as a teenager that she would follow in her mom’s footsteps and become a pilot. Keely was offered a scholarship by Southwest in 2017 and said, “Southwest was always the end goal for me. There was really never any other option.”
The two flew as a team from Denver to St. Louis in July for the first time and were the first mother-daughter duo ever at Southwest.
The battle of the power: SAF and electric airliners.
In the past few weeks, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines said they are investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). US airlines are quickly moving on this issue. Southwest’s CEO said, “SAF is critical for decarbonizing the aviation sector.” In contrast, Hawaiian’s CEO said, “This is the first step in what we hope will be a long and productive relationship that reflects both parties’ unwavering commitment to the environment and to these islands we call home.”
The airline industry is obviously a copious consumer of fuel. In 2019, that amounted to 90 billion gallons.
Read: Southwest and Hawaiian Vie For Lead | Game-Changing SAF.
When it comes to electric-powered Hawaii flights, those are on the horizon too, and Hawaiian is moving forward with those. Undoubtedly we’ll be hearing from SWA on these, and it probably won’t take long.
Read: Hawaiian Air + Mokulele Both Plan 100-Seat Electric SeaGlider.
What’s your pick: Hawaiian or Southwest?
They clearly both have distinct cultures and do very well at attracting customers.
This frenzy has to stop! Overrun facilities, shortage of employees, scarcity of car rentals and everpresent covid cannot support this onslaught on the islands. Both carriers are guilty of greed and lack of respect to all the islands as they have to deal with this madness. Better to raise prices (better for carriers) and get tourism back to sustainable levels. State government is guilty in allowing this to continue. Aloha!
Hawaiian air no comparison aloha spirit!
Well Hawaiian is our hometown, local carrier whose corporate office is here. They are a huge part of our local economy and I support local.when and wherever I can. $39 tickets are sweet, but Hawaiian has a way better safety record. I also think the open cups of water (no pog) they give out on swa is nasty… far from sanitary. Competition is good for the marketplace. Ha should bring reservations back to the US.
Competition is great for Hawaii. Hawaiian has had the market and Hawaii paid dearly for inter island travel after Aloha went out charging 200$ + round trip. So I think having competition from more carriers would be wonderful
And great for travel anywhere from Hawaii and back. Thank you for listening! Aloha
Southwest should have a direct flight from Kona to Lihue Kaua’i and back
Coming from a different perspective (living in the mainland), I made the decision to switch to SWA as my Alrline, as I’ve also been traveling across the country over the last couple years, including Hawaii…it just made sense. I have nothing bad to say about either HAL or SWA, but there are some trade offs between the two companies, and that’s something that had to be weighed in on for me to make the switch. Hawaiian’s food service is far better, but SWA’s customer service is also far better. The kicker for me was the FF mileage program, I clearly get a better program, with SWA, based on where I travel. I preboard, so ther is never an issue ther.
Hope you both are doing well? Kauai may finally happen next spring, guys. I’ll let you know.
Hi Jim.
Yes, it is interesting to contrast the offerings of the different airlines flying to and from Hawaii. Watch for some interesting input from us in that area this week, as we are busy flying around the country in order to share some first-hand experiences. Regards.
Aloha.
I fly the LAX-OGG route at least every other month. Hawaiian is my pick hands-down. I can pick my seat, and on flight 33 outbound and 34 return, the seating configuration is 2-4-2, which allows for me and my son to have our own little area. Because I have Puualani status, I avoid any baggage charges as well.
Mother daughter pilots is a bit frightening. Have they passed all of the standard qualifications? Or thrusted to the fore to satisfy the insatiable appetite of the diversity god? If I am having heart surgery I want the best. I don’t care what race, gender, family, whatever. Just want the best. If they happen to be a mother and daughter great.
Do you seriously think that HA or SWA would let them fly if they didn’t pass all their qualifications? SMH SAD
No Patrick they have not passed any pilot exams or training. Both HAL and SWA thought it would be a good photo op to allow to unqualified pilots fly a few hundred people around in a jet. They considered the possible crash and death of 100’s was worth the risk of a good “mother/daughter story”. Would it have made a difference if it was a father/son, mother/son, etc?
Come on man, think. My guess is you also believe the Earth is flat?
Doesn’t anyone see the sexist ____ in promoting a mother and daughter pilot team? This article mentioning that the aviation industry is “dominated” by men? That word alone is sexist! Noone says that the nursing Industry or the Hr department is “dominated” by women, even though it is. Has Southwest or any airline promoted a father and son pilot crew?
Really find Hawaiian very true to the spirt of Hawaii….the service was exceptional….and almost took us back pre-Covid. Much prefer Hawaiian.
Southwest wins hands down in my book. I’ve been a Hawaii resident since 1986 and remember the days f coupon books when you could walk up to the service counter & fill in the blanks for the next flight to wherever I was flying. I fly from Maui to Oahu often to visit my son & friends. I love that Southwest Airlines has brought back affordable travel to our Aloha state. Hawaii’s citizens have been fleeced by Hawaiian ever since they put Aloha out of business and became the only choice. Shame on them! Thank you Southwest for bringing back affordable travel. Plus I love 2 free checked bags & surfboards fly free on Southwest!
What are the odds that the current June 2023 Hawaiian Airlines $780 flight from Sacramento to HNL will drop once Southwest opens their summer schedule ?
thanks for your thoughts
Hi Gail.
As we just mentioned to another Sacramento friend, your airport is Hawaii flight-challenged at the moment. If you are talking about anything after the first week in June, we’d say it is highly unlikely that airfares will drop and that is in line with what to expect for summer 2023 at this point. If price is more important than convenience, San Jose has better fares by about $100 each way, or you can do a one-stop from SMF for about the same as a San Jose nonstop.
Aloha.
Hi Rob and Jeff,
This is not good news for SMF customers. Personally, I will take the hop over traveling to the Bay Area to fly hands down though. Since most of my Hawaii family live on Oahu, it’s easy to get a day or two in Oahu this way, and if the cost is virtually the same by taking the hop, then it’s a no brainer for me. This won’t be the case for many Hawaii Travelers, and I could see this being an issue for those in the Central Valley, who are looking for maximum time on the other islands that were cancelled.
Hi Jim.
Good to hear from you! Yes, SMF is challenged for now. Not sure, but we suspect that will change again.
Aloha.
Flew from Austin to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Do all the trivial analysis you want, but Hawaiian still treats passengers with more amenities than Southwest will ever have, starting with reserved seats rather than the cattle call
HA now charges a premium for aisle and window seats in coach. SWA doesn’t, you still have the ability to score a pretty decent seat by checking in 24 hours before departure @no extra cost!
Hawaiian, HELCO, Matson have all been running at a monopoly hence taking advantage of the Kama Aina. It’s too bad we need a mainland business to check these guys.
Aloha. Always fly Hawaiian first-it’s the most comfortable and Aloha of all. That said, going to the Big Isle in Oct Hawaiian did not have the return time I wanted and the fare was over twice SW’s. We are flying Hawaiian to and SW home to maui. A true comparison…..we’ll see.
Hi Ane.
Good to hear from you. Yes please let us know. That’s what we just did as well and the results were surprising.
Aloha.
I’m trying to understand the statement that Southwest is operating at a loss on the interisland flying. SW cost structure is massively lower than HA and their financial position stronger. How did the author determine the “loss”? My bet is that HA has been abusing their monopoly to make up for an inefficient operation and that is the real reason prices were so high. Author: please provide facts to back up your statement.
read this article.
https://beatofhawaii.com/these-hawaii-airfares-will-increase-250-or-more/
Having flown both, Hawaiian airlines is definitely my pick. SWA is a free for all during boarding. I’ll gladly pay a little more for the service and care we received from HA. Enjoyable article, loved seeing the mother daughter duos!
same. free- for-all is a good description. going to do it for inter-island but never for mainland destination
We prefer Hawaiian when traveling to Kaua’i. They have more legroom, small meals and plenty Aloha!
I’m happy that we have
Competing airlines for
Our Hawaiian inter
Island flights. It’s what keeps
The flights affordable and
Helps locals fly inter island
Much more frequently.
Aloha I’m Kamaaina, and I fly twice a month to Oahu. I’m very Happy that SW made it into our interisland skies. Overall to me SW out beats HA, reason for me saying that is HA was charging $250-$300 plus one way from Hilo-Hnl or Hnl-Ito before SW interrupted the interisland skies with there low price of $29 one way (2) free checkin snacks, drinks, free movie and the best service along with a bigger airplane with leg room vs HA tight squishy seats. Other than that I’m pleased that I’m saving $$$$ to be flying back and forth. HA today is more for tourists to use, vs SW alot of our locals are flying and working with them and helping to spread the Aloha to all that comes on board. Welcome SW and thank you for servicing our interislands.
Hawaiian for us!!
Mahalo!