Southwest has begun selling tickets for its long-awaited
Hawaii service.
The carrier’s first Hawaii route, between Oakland and
Honolulu, launches as daily service on March 17 and then becomes twice daily on
March 24.
That service is among four nonstop Hawaii routes. Southwest will commence
daily Oakland-Maui flights on April 7, switching to twice daily on April 10.
Daily San Jose-Honolulu flights begin May 5. Daily service between San Jose and
Maui begins May 26.
The carrier has also begun ticket sales on two intra-island routes. Southwest will begin flying four times daily from Honolulu
to Maui on April 28, then will fly four times daily between
Honolulu and Kona on the Big Island on May 12. The start of
Honolulu-Kona flying will facilitate one-stop
connecting itineraries from Oakland and San Jose to the Big Island.
Through the end of the day (Pacific time) on March 5, Southwest
is selling steeply discounted tickets to Hawaii for flying through June 19,
including nonstops to Honolulu and Maui, for as low as $49 one-way.
The carrier's commencement of sales for Hawaii service came
on the heels of Southwest receiving Extending Operation Service (ETOPS)
approval from the FAA last Wednesday.
Southwest said it will announce plans for Hawaii flights
from San Diego and Sacramento, as well as flights to Kauai, in the
coming weeks.
With its launch of Hawaii flights, Southwest will join
United, Alaska, Hawaiian, American and Delta in the market.