SWA and Hawaiian are two completely different airlines and two completely different business models. To even remotely think merging Hawaiian into a mainland company and taking it’s identity and what it does for Hawaii is absurd and actually disrespectful to Hawaii. Hawaiian is the only airline the state can count on. As SWA has just shown mainland airlines treat Hawaii as an afterthought and will add or cut routes at will. Hawaiian is the only airline that is solely focused on serving Hawaii. Of all the mainland airlines SWA would actually be the worst, but there is no way the shifting of Hawaiians assets to the mainland is a good idea.
Another thing Locals can count on Hawaiian Airlines for is increasing their fares and taking advantage of Hawaiʻi residents as soon as opportunities present themselves.
Aloha. SWA is a very well run company that consistently delivers a great product. I suspect you will see a plethora of new flights options when the FAA finally quits dragging their feet and certifies the Max 7. This plane will allow greater range and more economical operation inter island. As a longtime fan of SWA and as a resident of Hawaii, I am very grateful for Southwest and their ongoing commitment to the overall well being of Hawaii’s residents. Remember, they maintained their routes with mostly empty planes all through the ridiculous pandemic lockdown. Thank you Southwest Airlines for free bags, an all American made fleet, and great customer service!
The 737 max is not a great inter island airplane. It was designed for economical long haul flying, not short inter island flights. . The FAA isn’t “dragging their feet”, they are making sure it’s safe, that’s their job. Your comment on “American” made rings weak given the criminal negligence of Boeing with the 737 max debacle. Truly a tragedy and the result of corporate greed by a once great company that changed from putting the focus on quality and safety to maximizing shareholder value. People died because of it.
Yup Boeing how’d that outsourcing work out? Save a buck or two did you? This is what happens when accountants and marketing people run engineeering companies.
Oh man. That’s funny. SW is a horrible airline that does lack luster maintenance on its aircraft. The Max is not a safe aircraft and Boeing knew it. But they put profits over safety. Just wait until one becomes a lawn dart on US soil and see what happens
It’s really a disservice for Southwest to pull out from these routes! Kona and Lihue are extremely important destinations to those of us living in California and according to Southwest… they went into these markets For their valued California based customers… now they pull out… and not just a few flights… a lot! As someone that flys to kona very often… this has moved me from being a loyal Southwest customer to a United customer. They will be having all my business going forward.
The title of this article reads slightly negative but I feel like this is a positive development. Less mainland flights will help alleviate a bit of overtourism and more inter island flights will facilitate the ability for residents to make affordable trips to neighbor Islands to see ohana or otherwise.
Hi Mat, this is exactly what I have pointed out in a post. In another possibility with cutting back services and flights from one carrier or another it could be a matter of forcing the few remaining flights to be filled to capacity. Other carriers will suddenly be adding additional flights to Hawaii while exposing certain mainland routes to be cannibalized by others. Sounds crazy but only time will tell, for the short term tourism numbers could fall. Another thought, is this a shift and awaiting Asian Pacific Tourism to begin? Unanswered until it all comes to fruition, enjoy the lull in numbers before they increase.
Worlds gone crazy. Lived in Waikiki for 7 years and always felt safe walking around pretty much any time day or night. But now I’m seeing gun shots,stabbing and now a dude who cut off someone’s arm with a sword right across the street from where I used to live at the waipuna. I mean 50 yards from the front door. Not sure what is going on but Oahu especially is become a dangerous place. Maybe opening up was a bad thing.
Hi Liam G, I am not sure exactly when all of this began, however, from what I’ve heard it wasn’t long after commencing the long overdue crackdown by Police. Prior to that things weren’t good but this violence wasn’t happening very often. This may be organized pushback by certain people who want a return to the past when the police stayed away and they handled things. This amount of violence just shows that restrictive gun control measures only effect legal gun owners, not the illegal guns possessed by Criminals. I can’t wait for 50 State Concealed Carry Acceptance, I will worry less about protecting myself and my family.
Is Hawaii and some Hawaiians getting some of what they were hoping for? Are the airline cutbacks helping reduce some of the Tourism while they reshuffle flight schedules? Will eliminating certain flights be a permanent solution for Hawaii or simply another menacing hurdle for passengers? Over time these questions will be answered by prevailing attitudes by the Economics of the Hawaiian Political Elite. Can anyone imagine 2/3 or 4 connecting flights, sounds more like playing Chess just to get there never mind coming home! Pathetic. But this could become the Norm.
Looks to me like they are moving things around. I’m seeing flights out of both Oakland and Vegas that I didn’t see before and for us that’s a good thing.
Your comment Moo’s Me! I am always receiving deals from SW, I see the prices are unbelievably good but never have the time to take advantage of them. I have several friends that have flown SW to different destinations, not Hawaii yet, and had absolutely No Complaints and Nothing bad to say. Many have flown SW Multiple times and plan on more. Maybe it’s just something to do with the Hawaiian routes? Hopefully soon someone that I know will fly SW to Hawaii and Back and let me know.
I too keep getting deals from SWA, I have flown SWA numerous times to Phoenix, Detroit, New York, Kansas City, Chicago and Minneapolis but haven’t flown to Hawaii yet since SWA doesn’t have any routes to Hawaii from the northwest, I’ve never had any issues with SWA and they are definitely a great airline.
SWA made it affordable for my brother and his family of 4 to come last summer from Maui to the Midwest to visit us for the first time. I hope they continue to be competitive.
Very perceptive! For many years I guess I not alone in describing Southwest as “cattle car airlines”, a reference ton their stampede-like boarding process. Jim E
Assigned seats are long overdue. I love when flight crew on other carriers actually know my name and acknowledge my status, not to mention the safety and security associated with knowing who is seated in 9C. The number of pre-boarding customers has exploded and then they save one or two rows for the friends and family in the C group. I’ll fly Delta any day of the week to avoid the nonsense.
Sacramento direct flights to Kona & Lihue were always full. We flew them several times. Especially the SMF-KOA direct flight which no other airline flies. Eliminating these routes to increase less lucrative inter-island flights seems short-sighted on SWA’s part sadly. Mahalo BOH.
LAX-LIH and LAX-KOA also appear to have been axed.
How sad for southwest to pull out of a well loved market! People aren’t happy about this. At all.
Am I the only waiting to hear the merger between Hawaiian and Southwest? Seriously.
Yes
SWA and Hawaiian are two completely different airlines and two completely different business models. To even remotely think merging Hawaiian into a mainland company and taking it’s identity and what it does for Hawaii is absurd and actually disrespectful to Hawaii. Hawaiian is the only airline the state can count on. As SWA has just shown mainland airlines treat Hawaii as an afterthought and will add or cut routes at will. Hawaiian is the only airline that is solely focused on serving Hawaii. Of all the mainland airlines SWA would actually be the worst, but there is no way the shifting of Hawaiians assets to the mainland is a good idea.
Another thing Locals can count on Hawaiian Airlines for is increasing their fares and taking advantage of Hawaiʻi residents as soon as opportunities present themselves.
Aloha. SWA is a very well run company that consistently delivers a great product. I suspect you will see a plethora of new flights options when the FAA finally quits dragging their feet and certifies the Max 7. This plane will allow greater range and more economical operation inter island. As a longtime fan of SWA and as a resident of Hawaii, I am very grateful for Southwest and their ongoing commitment to the overall well being of Hawaii’s residents. Remember, they maintained their routes with mostly empty planes all through the ridiculous pandemic lockdown. Thank you Southwest Airlines for free bags, an all American made fleet, and great customer service!
What department do you work in for Southwest?
The 737 max is not a great inter island airplane. It was designed for economical long haul flying, not short inter island flights. . The FAA isn’t “dragging their feet”, they are making sure it’s safe, that’s their job. Your comment on “American” made rings weak given the criminal negligence of Boeing with the 737 max debacle. Truly a tragedy and the result of corporate greed by a once great company that changed from putting the focus on quality and safety to maximizing shareholder value. People died because of it.
Yup Boeing how’d that outsourcing work out? Save a buck or two did you? This is what happens when accountants and marketing people run engineeering companies.
Oh man. That’s funny. SW is a horrible airline that does lack luster maintenance on its aircraft. The Max is not a safe aircraft and Boeing knew it. But they put profits over safety. Just wait until one becomes a lawn dart on US soil and see what happens
It’s really a disservice for Southwest to pull out from these routes! Kona and Lihue are extremely important destinations to those of us living in California and according to Southwest… they went into these markets For their valued California based customers… now they pull out… and not just a few flights… a lot! As someone that flys to kona very often… this has moved me from being a loyal Southwest customer to a United customer. They will be having all my business going forward.
The title of this article reads slightly negative but I feel like this is a positive development. Less mainland flights will help alleviate a bit of overtourism and more inter island flights will facilitate the ability for residents to make affordable trips to neighbor Islands to see ohana or otherwise.
Hi Mat, this is exactly what I have pointed out in a post. In another possibility with cutting back services and flights from one carrier or another it could be a matter of forcing the few remaining flights to be filled to capacity. Other carriers will suddenly be adding additional flights to Hawaii while exposing certain mainland routes to be cannibalized by others. Sounds crazy but only time will tell, for the short term tourism numbers could fall. Another thought, is this a shift and awaiting Asian Pacific Tourism to begin? Unanswered until it all comes to fruition, enjoy the lull in numbers before they increase.
Worlds gone crazy. Lived in Waikiki for 7 years and always felt safe walking around pretty much any time day or night. But now I’m seeing gun shots,stabbing and now a dude who cut off someone’s arm with a sword right across the street from where I used to live at the waipuna. I mean 50 yards from the front door. Not sure what is going on but Oahu especially is become a dangerous place. Maybe opening up was a bad thing.
Hi Liam G, I am not sure exactly when all of this began, however, from what I’ve heard it wasn’t long after commencing the long overdue crackdown by Police. Prior to that things weren’t good but this violence wasn’t happening very often. This may be organized pushback by certain people who want a return to the past when the police stayed away and they handled things. This amount of violence just shows that restrictive gun control measures only effect legal gun owners, not the illegal guns possessed by Criminals. I can’t wait for 50 State Concealed Carry Acceptance, I will worry less about protecting myself and my family.
Did Southwest Airlines cause this? I’m confused.
Is Hawaii and some Hawaiians getting some of what they were hoping for? Are the airline cutbacks helping reduce some of the Tourism while they reshuffle flight schedules? Will eliminating certain flights be a permanent solution for Hawaii or simply another menacing hurdle for passengers? Over time these questions will be answered by prevailing attitudes by the Economics of the Hawaiian Political Elite. Can anyone imagine 2/3 or 4 connecting flights, sounds more like playing Chess just to get there never mind coming home! Pathetic. But this could become the Norm.
Looks to me like they are moving things around. I’m seeing flights out of both Oakland and Vegas that I didn’t see before and for us that’s a good thing.
Those flights have always been there.
As I say often, don’t fly southwest unless you like being treating like cattle and enjoy improperly maintained aircraft.
Your comment Moo’s Me! I am always receiving deals from SW, I see the prices are unbelievably good but never have the time to take advantage of them. I have several friends that have flown SW to different destinations, not Hawaii yet, and had absolutely No Complaints and Nothing bad to say. Many have flown SW Multiple times and plan on more. Maybe it’s just something to do with the Hawaiian routes? Hopefully soon someone that I know will fly SW to Hawaii and Back and let me know.
I too keep getting deals from SWA, I have flown SWA numerous times to Phoenix, Detroit, New York, Kansas City, Chicago and Minneapolis but haven’t flown to Hawaii yet since SWA doesn’t have any routes to Hawaii from the northwest, I’ve never had any issues with SWA and they are definitely a great airline.
SWA made it affordable for my brother and his family of 4 to come last summer from Maui to the Midwest to visit us for the first time. I hope they continue to be competitive.
Very perceptive! For many years I guess I not alone in describing Southwest as “cattle car airlines”, a reference ton their stampede-like boarding process. Jim E
The funny thing is… they board less people at a time than most airlines that board by groups or have assigned seats. Watch.
Assigned seats are long overdue. I love when flight crew on other carriers actually know my name and acknowledge my status, not to mention the safety and security associated with knowing who is seated in 9C. The number of pre-boarding customers has exploded and then they save one or two rows for the friends and family in the C group. I’ll fly Delta any day of the week to avoid the nonsense.
Airline employee
Not enough reservations on those eliminated routes?
Maybe SWA should consider competing SEATAC and PDX to LIH, KOA and Maui
We fly out of PDX. They should look into the northwest market. Even one flight a day like Hawaiian does.
Sacramento direct flights to Kona & Lihue were always full. We flew them several times. Especially the SMF-KOA direct flight which no other airline flies. Eliminating these routes to increase less lucrative inter-island flights seems short-sighted on SWA’s part sadly. Mahalo BOH.
Hi Suzanne.
Thanks for your many comments, and today’s feedback about Southwest flights.
Aloha.