Lāna‘i Air Launches MKK Service

Lāna‘i Air launched daily C408 SkyCourier service between HNL and MKK today. The first flight, STT540/541 was flown by N971LA early this morning. Lāna‘i Air has four scheduled flights round-trip flights between HNL and MKK per day.

Nauru Airlines Aims For HNL Service

CH-Aviation reports that Nauru Airlines is aiming for a first quarter 2027 launch to serve HNL from MAJ with their 737-800. It could also involve a code share with Air Marshall Islands.

Nauru Airlines received clearance to begin service from the US DOT, and the governments of both Nauru and the Marshall Islands in February 2024.

Southwest Airlines Launches ONT-HNL Service

Southwest Airlines commenced daily 737-8 service between ONT and HNL this morning. N8768Q (c/n 67518, l/n 8329, f/n 8768) made the inaugural flight as SWA4527, while N8785L (c/n 67755, l/n 8375, f/n 8785) made the HNL-ONT segment as SWA3342.

Photos of the pre-boarding event at ONT can be seen in this FlyONT Instagram post.

Alaska Airlines Launches BUR-HNL Service

Alaska Airlines launched seasonal daily 737-8 service between BUR and HNL today. The service will through 18 August 2026.

Further information in this Alaska Airlines news release, and this Instagram reel by the Hollywood-Burbank Airport Instagram page.

Lāna‘i Air Plans Expansion To MKK

According to a report by Hawai‘i Public Radio, Lāna‘i Air is planning to expand service to MKK from HNL with their Cessna C408 Sky Couriers, pending government approvals. The airline would become the second airline, next to Mokulele Airlines, to serve MKK from HNL.

Delta Air Lines Expands Hawai‘i Service

Delta Air Lines announced today, that they will expand services to Hawai‘i for next winter. The airline will launch an MSP-OGG route, and resume the BOS-HNL route on 19 December 2026, both operated with their A330-300s. A daily SLC-KOA route, flown with their 767-300ERs, will launch on 09 November 2026.

Seasonal additions include: a second (three-times-weekly) ATL-HNL A330-300 flight, from 04 January 2027 to 31 March 2028; DTW-HNL (A330-300) to go daily from 09 November 2026; JFK-HNL (767-300ER) to go daily on 01 April 2026; and KOA-LAX to upgauge to their 767-300ERs for Winter 2026.

Further details are in this Delta Air Lines news release.

Southwest To Launch ITO-LAS Service

Southwest Airlines announced today that they will launch three-times weekly 737-8 service between ITO and LAS beginning on 06 August 2026. This will restart service between Hilo and the mainland since United Airlines canceled its LAX-ITO route in 2023.

Further information in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines To Add BUR And ONT Service

Today, Southwest Airlines announced that they will add daily 737-8 service between ONT and HNL on 04 June 2026, and peak-day 737-8 service between BUR and HNL on 04 August 2026. These additions are part of the airline's service expansion in California and the west coast.

Further details in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines will join Alaska Airlines with daily service to the "Inland Empire".

Alaska Airlines New Service From SNA And BUR

Alaska Airlines has made it known, though not officially, that it will launch non-stop service between SNA and HNL, and BUR and HNL, with their 737-8s. No definite launch dates, frequencies, and schedules, have been officially released.

For SNA, Aloha Airlines launched daily SNA-HNL 737-700 service in 2000, and continued until its closure in 2008. Aloha also had daily service to OGG. Continental Airlines picked up the route in March 2010. It was short-lived as the merger with United Airlines canceled the route. Ironically, United Airlines re-started service in 2021, but lasted less than two years. With the 5,700-foot Runway 2L/20R, the 737-700s had to depart weight-restricted, at 90% capacity, according to Aloha Airlines pilots. The Alaska Airlines' 737-8s will probably have to depart SNA weight-restricted as well.

For BUR, Aloha Airlines had daily 737-700 non-stop service between 2002 and 2005. No other airline continued the route.

Further information in this Alaska Air Group press release, Simple Flying article, and in this Hollywood Burbank Airport press release.

27 October 2025 UPDATE 

CORRECTION: Alaska Air Group only officially announced BUR-HNL today. SNA-HNL was not included in this press release. We apologize for any confusion.

FedEx Feeder C408 Flights To KOA

In addition to its multiple C408F weekday flights between HNL and LIH, Corporate Air is launching multiple weekday C408F service between HNL and KOA today.

Federal Express Launches 757 Inter-island Flights

As we have reported since this past July, three Federal Express 757-200Fs have been in the islands. One at HNL, another at OGG, and another at ITO undergoing ground training. From today, FedEx is launching Monday-to-Friday inter-island flights out of HNL to OGG, and to ITO.

HNL-ITO: FDX1005 and FDX 1007 // ITO-HNL: FDX1006 and FDX1008

HNL-OGG: FDX1001 and FDX1003 // OGG-HNL: FDX1002 and FDX1004

In a related note, the Corporate Air-operated C408Fs have been flying exclusively between HNL and LIH, while their C208s have been serving the smaller airports like JHM, MKK and LNY.

Aero To Launch Seasonal VNY-OGG Service

Ch-Aviation's Business Jets news reports that San Francisco-based Aero announced that they will be starting seasonal G-IV weekly service between VNY and OGG. This schedule private jet charter service is scheduled to begin on 22 November 2025, and will run to 04 April 2026. The G-IV will arrive on Saturdays and depart on Sundays. According to Aero's website, the flight is tied in with the Four Season Resort Maui at Wailea.

Air Premia Launches Seasonal ICN-HNL Service

South Korea's Air Premia launched four-times weekly service between ICN and HNL today. HL8702 (c/n 37308, l/n 418) made the first flight today as APZ151 that arrived after noon, and returned to ICN as APZ152 a couple of hours later.

Air Premia To Launch Seasonal Service To HNL

Simple Flying reports that South Korea's Air Premia will begin scheduled seasonal service between ICN and HNL beginning in the summer of 2025. Air Premia recently flew charter flights between ICN and HNL during the winter 2023-24

Hawaiian Airlines To Launch SEA-NRT In May 2025

As part of the new "Alaska Accelerate" initiative, Hawaiian Airlines will launch daily non-stop A330-243 flights between SEA and NRT in May 2025. In October 2025, Hawaiian will launch daily A330-243 service between SEA and ICN.

Hawaiian will also add more flights between Hawai‘i and California.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines To Launch Red-Eye Flights To Mainland

Southwest Airlines announced this morning that they will launch overnight (or red-eye) flights from Hawai‘i to the US mainland, starting on 08 April 2025. According to the airline, it will offer travelers more options on connecting flights.

The following red-eye routes are:

HNL-LAS

HNL-PHX

KOA-LAS

OGG-LAS

OGG-PHX

Qantas To Take Over MEL-HNL From Jetstar

Aeroroutes.com reports that Qantas will take over the MEL-HNL service from Jetstar from 01 May 2025. Qantas will employ its A330-200s on a thrice-weekly service, which will be one more day than the current Jetstar 787-8 service.

Pacific Air Cargo Launches HNL-GUM Service

Kalitta Air is launching a weekly 747-400F LAX-HNL-GUM service today for Pacific Air Cargo. This will be in addition to their daily LAX-HNL round-trip service. This new one-way service is flown as CKS380. N705CK "Dwight Palmer" (c/n 26413, l/n 1286), a 747-4B5F, is making the first flight today.

Atlas Air Launches New Cargo Service To HNL

Atlas Air began round-trip 767-300F cargo service between EHU [Ezhou Huahu Airport, Ezhou, China] and HNL, via NGO. N663GT (c/n 27658, l/n 563), a 767-324ERF, is making the initial flight today. The service is scheduled to operate five times per week. N663GT was ferried from MIA on the 20th, and positioned at EHU, via NGO on the 21st. The flight code is GTI8xxx. 

Hawaiian Airlines' Amazon Prime Air Service

Amazon Prime Air has added a Hawaiian Airlines-operated A330-343F flight between SBD and HNL. N4621K began service on Monday, 08 July, as HAL1621, and the return leg is flown as HAL1728. The A330 will park on the cargo ramp, and will be handled by Pacific Air Cargo.