Just as Southwest Hawaii flights are expanding, there’s a big storm on the horizon that may significantly impact your Hawaii travel plans.
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67 thoughts on “New Trouble Looming for Southwest Hawaii Flights”
Just as Southwest Hawaii flights are expanding, there’s a big storm on the horizon that may significantly impact your Hawaii travel plans.
Will be my second attempt to fly to Hawaii. I had to cancel in April of 2020 due to covin and got a voucher. I am now scheduled to fly with my sister in February of 2023. I am hoping dearly that I am still going to make it I’m 72 and I had hoped in 2020 to celebrate my 70th birthday time is running out on me
Southwest already has the Highest fares in the industry, they were known for low fares but those days havebeen gone for many many years now with now Premium [F Class ] product. So now its the worse product in the industry–Sad but true. We a wish them better days.
I have No Idea what Your Market is nor where you get your information from but I am Constantly receiving offers and updates from SWA that Can’t Be Beat. I know that they eventually will increase but for the 2+ years I’ve been receiving the offers the prices have either remained the same or briefly increased $10. If I had the time I would be flying all over the country and further.
To the CEO of SWA. You had a safe Airline at one time. You have acquired a airline company that had Cancer.You Did Not have the Pilots to cover that Acquired Airline. Incase they resigned on you after you bought them out. If they did? You would not be in this situation. Oh yea you can blame it on Cova 19. Government lies yes! Age of pilots need to step down. All lies. Bottom line! You expanded to large to fast. And no pilots to fill the seats. Now you turn to foreign pilots. It’s the last bid. Before you belly up your Airline. SWA the way it’s going. W
With SWA Acquisition of Air Tran in “2014”, Yes “2014”, Southwest Gained in Several Ways. Denver Based SWA gained a foothold in Additional Markets, More Aircraft and Employees along with Precious Plane Berthing Spot at Reagan International Airport as well as others. The Search for Foreign Pilots is Not Entirely New and Many Airlines are looking into the same, the Lack of Pilots is Industry Wide. SWA is in good shape but with more Pilots could be doing much better, just like Every Airline. I prefer listening to Industry Professionals instead of individuals with little to no knowledge and apparent grudges.
As a former employee of Southwest Airlines, I can confidently assure you that the inter island fares will not return to the “stratospheric” level that Hawaiian charged in the past. While the fares may increase, it would probably be a fairly modest increase.
Mark, You mean like the $220-$400 dollars I just checked for OAK to BUR? (comparable to an inter island flight) I actually think competition is a healthy thing however my issue with SWA is, as their pilot union head said, they are predatory and aggressive and proud of it. That attitude gets displayed by SWA in many ways and is offensive to Hawaiian culture. Boasting about the local jobs you want to take and putting down Hawaiian to try and promote yourself is the epitome of what locals like the least about some (not all!) outsiders moving here.
Even more telling was your CEO coming to Hawaii for his first visit ever this summer. He was on the morning news being interviewed by Howard Dicus and was the epitome of clueless about Hawaii while he sat slouched in his chair boosting how perfect SWA was for Hawaii….Auwe!
and finally this point has been made before but needs to be repeated, when you fly Hawaiian you are supporting local jobs in all categories. SWA revenue goes to the mainland, HA revenue goes to the local economy and supports Hawaii.
I think the article meant to say changing mandatory retirement age from 65 to 67 (not 67 to 65).
It actually reads “to 67 from 65”
There is only one pilot shortage solution that creates instant relief .. raise the mandatory age 65 pilot retirement or eliminate this discriminatory age policy all-together and demand Congress bases a pilot’s retirement on their individual medical/cognitive ability .. just like Canada, Australia and New Zealand!
The pilot unions selfishly are selling a misleading and false “Safety” opposition to raising the age so they can maintain the pilot shortage for their open contract negotiations.
There is no data supporting this “Safety” lie!
Just ask the 9 countries in the world and those companies that retired airline pilots fly for after 65!
Enough said!
The trouble is, as someone who’s over 65 myself, I can tell that my reflexes aren’t what they used to be, etc. So from a “safety” perspective I get the argument if you want a generalization. If you want to go with a system that is individualized, then you have to set standard tests for formative abilities, relaxes, etc. Then you have to test every pilot on an annual basis. To be “fair” you would have to test All pilots, otherwise it’s age discrimination. Then there’s the question of medical privacy. I’m sure some pilots will object to this testing saying it violates their “rights”. It’s not as easy a problem to solve as you might think.
Scares me to death at the thought of hiring pilots from out of the country with all the terrorism going on in the world! Please don’t do this SWA!!!!
Scares you to death well how about that look at all the foreigners that come in from other countries Singapore China Russia check Republican Vietnamese airlines and all the other ones that land in International airports on the West Coast and you’re scared to death about a foreign pilot managing A757.
Southwest should offer a pilot program.
So…. We thought $39 interisland flights were economically sustainable for the operators, and would last indefinitely? That’s fun.
As I often say, smart people know not to fly southwest anywhere let alone to and from Hawaii.
Ouch!
and your basis for that remark is…?
Smart ppl do in fact will fly SWA in December of this year. Due to the fact they are the cheapest. Don’t believe me? Take a look. United Airlines from SFO to Pits. $ 1450.00 to 2100.00 Economy. SWA way less than that end of story.
You must be looking at F Class Fares or UA, LOL. Southwest is the Highest fares in the industry with no seat assignments and flight attendants having a union meeting in the galley. Get rid of the unions and you can get real low fares. Ask Walmart and Pan Am.
Huh, I just looked it up, and you can get a round trip flight SFO to PIT in Dec. for under $900, and they aren’t even the cheapest. That’s Main Cabin, BTW, so the equivalent to SWA’s seating.