Southwest Airlines Update, $49.00
Southwest Airlines is going to start sending flights to Hawaii, and it’s launching in just a few weeks.
The airline received approval for long overwater flights from the Federal Aviation Administration at the end of February. Something that was postponed because of the government shutdown, according to the FAA.
This move is going to directly compete with Hawaiian Airlines with inner-island travel, there will be flights to Oahu, Maui, Kona with Kauai coming soon after, but also offers flights from several spots in California: Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego and San Jose, according to Reuters.
Currently, prices for the flights are listed around $49, which is lower than average.
Reuters said the company is trying to play catch-up after missing prime booking dates around the holidays. Since spring break and spring travel in general are approaching, Southwest’s plan is to accommodate last-minute bookings.
The low-cost carrier on Monday announced it will begin its Hawaii service with an inaugural flight from Oakland to Honolulu on March 17, followed by an inaugural flight from Oakland to Kahului on April 7.
Also part of the announcement and ending speculation: Southwest will begin inter-island flights, starting with flights between Honolulu and Kahului on April 28 — four times daily in each direction.
It will then start flying between Honolulu and Kona on May 12.
In the coming weeks, the carrier will begin service from San Jose to Honolulu on May 5 and from San Jose to Kahului on May 26.
Ticket sales were posted on Southwest’s website with introductory fares for one-way flights starting at $49 in March.
Flights, out of Oakland, California, start March 17, according to Southwest’s website.
Nonstop Oakland to Honolulu flights start March 17
Nonstop Oakland to Maui flights start April 7
Nonstop San Jose to Honolulu flights start May 5
Nonstop San Jose to Maui flights start May 26
Inter-island flights from Honolulu to both Kona and Maui start May 12
Learn more about the upcoming flights here.
