Southwest Discloses Details of Hawai‘i Service Plan

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737. Courtesy photo.

Southwest Airlines Co. shared more details about the carrier’s service plans for Hawai‘i on Thursday, May 3, 2018, by announcing initial gateway cities in California that would offer nonstop service pending required regulatory approvals.

Oakland Metropolitan Airport (OAK), San Diego International Airport (SAN), Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) would gain Hawai‘i service in the carrier’s flight schedules following FAA authorization for Hawai‘i service.

Last week, Southwest announced its initial plan to serve four airports in the Hawaiian Islands: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) on the leeward side of Hawai‘i Island, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu (HNL), Kahului Airport on Maui (OGG) and Līhue Airport on Kaua‘i (LIH).

In the latest of a two-year series of community meetings across the Islands to gain insight ahead of potential service, Southwest President Tom Nealon this morning shared details of today’s announcement with tourism, civic and government leaders, and further shared the carrier’s intention to eventually offer some interisland flights as operations ramp up initially across four airports in Hawai‘i.

“The way we plan to serve Hawai‘i requires us to share these initial details now so that our facilities in the airports will be ready for all that we intend to offer,” Nealon told the gathering in Waikiki. “We’re on-track with our plans to sell tickets this year and are respectfully engaged in the process to receive FAA authorization to operate between the mainland and the Islands.”