Southwest Hawaii announced today that it will increase its presence in the islands once again. In total, that makes sixteen new routes just since last month, making SWA officially a huge deal in Hawaii travel. See the most recent news and much more below.
New Sacramento to Kona route just added. Is there more ahead?
Starting December 19, four-times-weekly service commences on this much-asked-for route. Southwest said, “As Southwest begins previously announced service this month to Hawaii from Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas, and Phoenix, the carrier is also adding new service between Sacramento and Kona on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, starting Dec. 19, 2021.”
Commentor Ken previously asked for this route: “As a resident located 90 minutes north of Sacramento who travels to Kona 3 times a year, I’ll second this! The prior Alaska flight, direct from Sacramento to Kona, was fantastic. So bummed when that route went away. Plane was always full, so not sure why nobody else has picked it up?”
And commenter Kim had also said: “I wish SWA would pick up the Sacramento to Kona route that Alaska dropped a couple of years ago… It was so nice to have a 5 hour flight instead of 8-10 hour flights with a layover on Maui or Oahu, or to have to drive to the Bay Area to take a direct flight.”
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Southwest Hawaii’s enormous recent expansion that included 15 new routes and additional mainland gateways.
Will Southwest expand further in Hawaii? It is entirely possible, and the list of cities where that could happen is below.
All of their new island routes had probably been long-planned, with deployment sidetracked due to COVID and the MAX grounding. However, Southwest is on certainly a roll and making the most of the incredible rebound in Hawaii travel.
Competition is hot, introductory prices and more airfares sales are coming soon.
Of significance to Hawaii visitors, this new route and the 15 previous ones are helping keep Hawaii airfare prices in check from across the U.S.
As the peak of summer comes, we will soon see new Hawaii fare wars unfold for the remainder of 2021!
All of the recently added Southwest Hawaii routes face competition, with most of that coming from bellwether Hawaiian Airlines. American Airlines is another opponent from Phoenix, Alaska Airlines vyes for many California routes, and there is a plethora of competition at LAX.
Airfares from $139.
Many SWA Hawaii routes are still available for as little as $139 each way. In addition, SWA has introductory fares for the new SMF-KOA route, which are priced at $179 each way, even at the peak of the upcoming holiday season. Those are selling fast.
So much competition remains ahead from Southwest and Hawaiian Airlines. On that note, we don’t expect great deals through early August or during the holidays; there remains too much demand for that. However, fall is looking better every day, so we anticipate many rock bottom Hawaii deals.
New Southwest Hawaii routes added on May 13 were as follows:
Los Angeles flights started June 6 to Honolulu and Maui and June 27 to Kona and Lihue.
Phoenix flights begin June 27 to Honolulu and Maui, on September 7 to Kauai, and September 9 to Kona.
San Diego flights began June 6 to Maui, June 27 to Kona, and June 29 to Kauai.
Las Vegas flights commenced June 6 to Honolulu, June 27 to Maui, September 7 to Kona, and September 9 to Kauai.
Oakland and San Jose flights resumed on June 6 to Kauai.
Back in January, Southwest announced flights from Long Beach to Maui, their second route following Long Beach to Honolulu. These compete directly with Hawaiian Airlines’ flights. This has been keeping downward pressure on pricing not only from Long Beach but from all of Southern California.
Book Southwest Hawaii holiday travel through January 5 today!
Travel on Southwest to Hawaii and elsewhere was opened today for flights through January 5, 2022. As to their next schedule update, the company said, “We do not have a date for our next schedule extension therefore please check back frequently.”
SWA 737 MAX fleet has returned.
See our update: It’s Back: Boeing 737 Max Flights to Hawaii Have Resumed.
Complete Southwest Hawaii nonstop routes:
LAS VEGAS: Honolulu. Kona. Maui. Kauai.
LOS ANGELES: Honolulu. Kona. Maui. Kauai.
LONG BEACH: Honolulu. Maui
OAKLAND: Honolulu. Kona. Maui. Kauai.
PHOENIX: Honolulu. Kona. Maui. Kauai.
SAN JOSE: Honolulu. Kona. Maui. Kauai.
SACRAMENTO: Kona, Honolulu. Maui.
SAN DIEGO: Honolulu. Kona. Maui. Kauai.
HAWAII INTERISLAND: Hilo, Honolulu. Kauai. Kona. Maui.
Will Southwest Hawaii expand further?
Southwest Hawaii’s expansion beyond today and last month’s routes remains unsure. However, should it resume, the following is our list of possible cities.
Denver
Burbank
Salt Lake City
Spokane
Albuquerque
Updated. 6/10/21.
Photo credit: SWA.
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Earl K says
It is good South West Airline is in Hawaii, Watch out Hawaiian Airline!
LaurieF says
Agreed. I love to fly Hawaiian, but their prices are way too high.
Laurie F says
Any idea if SWA will offer any specials when they begin direct flights from PHX to LIH? Prices are crazy right now, but still best on SWA, but with stops. Debating whether to book now or wait!? Thanks…
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Laurie.
There is no indication of that right now at least. Demand is outpacing the competition in that market. There may be no need to discount, but that won’t be clear for a while.
Aloha.
Laurie F says
Mahalo nui for that. Crazy times! Laurie N
LeannR says
What days does Southwest Airlines fly to and from Honolulu/Indianapolis
Paul M says
Your answer depends on the date you want to travel. I suggest you check some potential dates at:
southwest.com/
… and you will easily find (as I did) there are no non-stops from Indianapolis to Honolulu (HNL) in the random weeks I picked in July and August. There are just one or two departures per day, routed through connections in Las Vegas (LAS) or Phoenix (PHX). I did not look at return flights, I left that fun for you to discover.
Tom K says
I see all these flights from the West coast. What they really are saying is from California. Just to let you know Portland is on the west coast and you hardly see any new flights out of there. Flight from Portland not that much farther than California airports.
WSH says
KC got no Sunshine Band
Jim R. says
Looking for those Fall Deals to drop soon. When do you guys think it will happen, and what will the timeframe be fore those. Looking to travel between mid to late August through early to mid September, if I can…
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jim.
We were looking at them today, and please refresh us on your routing. Nothing outstanding yet, but mid-week fall is getting more reasonable and it seems that some real sales should arise in the next few weeks.
Aloha.
Jessica B. says
Oh how I wish there were more affordable flights from Missouri (part of the issue is MCI needing to upgrade the airport). Last time I went to Oahu in April of 2019, I booked two one way tickets on Alaskan Airlines that totaled $718.44 per person for my husband and I. Now, I’ve been trying to book a ticket to the Big Island in late March/early April of next year and it’s ridiculous – the same price or more for a ONE WAY ticket. I don’t know what is going on but it’s really bumming me out.
Mahalo for all of the info, though!
Jessica B. says
My original comment is kind of confusing. I bought a on way ticket there and a one way ticket back that totaled 718.44 together. If that makes more sense haha 🙂
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jessica.
A couple of thoughts on your plans. The first is that it too early to see any good fares for after the first of the year. Second, your trip sounds like it is going to be during spring break. That is always one of the most expensive times. Keep an eye out as, at one point, a couple of weeks will stay very high priced and the ones around that will drop.
Aloha.
Jessica B. says
Mahalo for your reply. To clarify further – last time it was during this same week.
Oh well, we will wait and see what happens.
Beth S says
Thanks!
Peter M says
Aloha – I recently took SWA on the MAX from LIH to HNL and HNL to SJC. It was a nice ride and SWA had predictably good service. It was great to be back on Kauai (& the Big Island).
Mahalo for keeping us posted on all the latest Hawaii travel updates.
Mahalo.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Peter.
Thanks for your comments and for the report on your recent Max flights.
Aloha.
Amy G says
Please Denver!!! Finally give United some competition!!
K C says
I know I’ll catch grief for saying it but I hate the cheap flights to our islands. Completely different demographics and way over crowded. Glad Maui is putting a halt on any new resort developments. Don’t need another Oahu.
Curtis C. says
By “demographics”, I assume you mean those grimy working-class types of tourists. Yeah, you don’t want those types on your precious island!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Curtis.
Please come back. We want you. Thanks for your nearly one hundred comments too.
Aloha.
BARBARA M says
CURTIS C… AS one of those “grimy working-class” folks, I also took umbrage. I just wish that the folks flooding to Hawaii would bring with them the attempt to understand and value the culture! Each trip, fewer and fewer locals even say “mahalo” as they get used to the tourists not using that phrase.
Stan F says
Aloha Did Burbank-Hawaii but I heard sometimes it was weight limited.
For the other potentials, I would say the key is to connections to other flights to either that region or more out east. I have been able to find a SWA flight to as far as St. Louis which is now putting more of an impression on me to use them than the other carriers who fly to Hawaii.
Sheldon S. says
Thank you for the update. Of particular interest to me is possibility of flights out of Burbank. The last flight my wife and I took from Burbank to Maui direct was when Aloha Air began that route. If I recall correctly we paid 75.00 each way per person. Introductory fair. Looking forward to SWA direct to Maui from Burbank.
Mahalo