Southwest Airlines Expands Hawaiian Network: A Deep Dive into Growth

Southwest Airlines has significantly expanded its operations in Hawaii since launching service to the islands in 2019. As a major low-cost carrier in the United States, Southwest has steadily increased its flight offerings, establishing a robust network that connects the mainland with Hawaii and facilitates inter-island travel. This article explores the evolution of Southwest’s Hawaiian network over the past few years.

Beginning of Southwest’s Hawaiian Operations

The relationship between Southwest Airlines and Hawaii commenced in early 2019. In February of that year, The Points Guy reported that the airline conducted a test flight using a Boeing 737-800, flying from Oakland (OAK) to Honolulu (HNL) with only FAA inspectors onboard. Just over a month later, on March 17, 2019, Southwest launched its inaugural passenger flight on this route, carrying 152 guests and seven crew members. By the end of that year, Southwest scheduled a total of 7,511 flights to and from Hawaii, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Bryant Francis, the Port of Oakland Director of Aviation, expressed gratitude for the airline’s choice of Oakland as the launch point for its new service.

Growth Amid Challenges

Despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Southwest Airlines continued to grow its Hawaiian network. The airline reported 14,413 flights that year, followed by a dramatic increase to 31,340 flights in 2021. The upward trend continued with 38,895 flights in 2022 and 41,167 flights in 2023. Notably, 2023 also marked the introduction of a special Hawaii-themed livery, named Imua One.

Looking ahead to 2024, Southwest Airlines anticipates a slight decrease in its Hawaiian operations, scheduling 37,621 flights. November alone saw 2,843 flights, all of which were to be operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8, a model that features 175 economy seats. Southwest has not only established a presence for flights between Hawaii and the mainland but has also become a key player in inter-island travel.

The busiest route in November 2024 connected Honolulu and Maui (OGG), with up to 11 flights scheduled daily. Other popular routes included services to Hilo (ITO), Kona (KOA), and Lihue (LIH), while the top corridors from the mainland included two daily flights from both Oakland and San Diego (SAN) to Honolulu.

As of this year, Southwest’s Hawaiian operations remain significant but have shown signs of contraction. The airline plans for 32,834 flights to and from Hawaii in 2025, with specific projections for November indicating a total of 2,512 flights. Collectively, these services are expected to provide 439,600 seats and 520,794,050 available seat miles.

The intra-Hawaii route from Honolulu to Maui continues to assert itself as the airline’s most frequented service, although the daily frequency has decreased to seven or eight flights in each direction. Interestingly, the route from Las Vegas (LAS) to Honolulu has emerged as a new leader, with up to three flights per day scheduled in November 2025.

The evolution of Southwest Airlines’ Hawaiian network illustrates the airline’s adaptability and commitment to expanding its reach in a competitive landscape. As travel demands continue to fluctuate, Southwest’s strategic planning aims to maintain its footprint in one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world.