Southwest Airlines Expands Hawaii Network With Six New
Southwest Airlines is launching six new nonstop routes to Hawaii from March 2026 to March 2027, with five originating from California airports and one from
Southwest Airlines is launching six new routes to Hawaii, according to data from aviation analytics company Cirium. Five of the new corridors originate in California, with services scheduled to begin between March 2026 and March 2027.
The airline has already started one exception to the California pattern: a route from Las Vegas to Hilo. This expansion shows Hawaii's importance as a growth market for the carrier, which also operates a substantial network of inter-island flights within the state.
Las Vegas to Hilo Service Begins
Southwest's new service from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Hilo International Airport (ITO) began on August 6. The airline plans to operate the route three to four times per week initially, increasing to four or five times weekly in the final two months of the year.
The flights are operated using the 175-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8. The westbound flight, WN568, takes six hours and five minutes, departing Las Vegas at 9:30 AM and arriving in Hilo at 12:35 PM. The overnight return flight, WN3253, has a block time of five hours and 25 minutes, leaving Hilo at 8:45 PM and landing in Las Vegas at 5:10 AM.
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill commented on the connection in December. "Las Vegas has long been known as the 'Ninth Island,' and this new route strengthens the deep connections we share with the people of Hawaii," he said.
New California Gateways to Hawaii
California remains a primary gateway for mainland-Hawaii travel. Southwest has already launched two new routes to Honolulu from the state this year, from Hollywood Burbank Airport and Ontario International Airport. Those services began in August and June, respectively, and are currently scheduled to run until May.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is set for a significant expansion of its Hawaii service. A new daily route from San Diego to Maui began in early March 2026 and is scheduled to operate until at least early June. Two more routes from San Diego will commence in March 2027, connecting the airport to Kona and Lihue.
These new San Diego routes, like the others from California, will use the 175-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8. However, frequencies to Kona and Lihue will be lower, at approximately two flights per week.
| Route (Origin to Destination) | Start Date | Aircraft | Initial Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas (LAS) to Hilo (ITO) | August 6 | 737 MAX 8 | 3-4 times/week |
| San Diego (SAN) to Maui | March 2026 | 737 MAX 8 | Daily |
| San Diego (SAN) to Kona | March 2027 | 737 MAX 8 | ~2 times/week |
| San Diego (SAN) to Lihue | March 2027 | 737 MAX 8 | ~2 times/week |
Southwest's Inter-Island Network
Beyond connecting the mainland to Hawaii, Southwest operates a dense network of flights between the Hawaiian Islands. Cirium data shows the airline scheduled nearly 1,500 inter-island flights for this month alone.
Its busiest corridor links Honolulu with Maui, with seven or eight daily flights. The airline also typically operates four or five daily services from Honolulu to Hilo, Kona, and Lihue. Further connectivity is provided with daily flights linking Maui to both Kona and Lihue.
This inter-island operation connects the same four major Hawaiian airports-Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Lihue-that Southwest serves from the U.S. Mainland.
