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.

Southwest Airlines' N8719Q

Southwest Airlines' N8719Q "Liberty One" (c/n 42572, l/n 7020, f/n 8719) made its first appearance at HNL today. This 737-8 arrived from SMF this morning as SWA4335, and departed for LGB as SWA2378 a few hours later.

02 May 2026 UPDATE

"Liberty One" returned to HNL from LGB as SWA1987 today, then departed for SJC, as SWA936, a couple of hours later.

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".

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

Southwest Airlines' N8710M "Imua One"

Southwest Airlines is unveiling a Hawai‘i-themed 737-8 today. N8710M (c/n 42567, l/n 6188, f/n 8710) is making its debut flight from LGB as SWA8726, and due at HNL this afternoon. It will make flights to all five Hawai‘i airports that Southwest serves, and is dedicated the communities the airline serves, and their employees here.

Further information in this Southwest Airlines press release, including an explanation of the Hawaiian symbols in the artwork.

Southwest Airlines' N871HK

Southwest Airlines' retro-liveried 737-8, N871HK "The Herbert D Kelleher" (c/n 67775, l/n 8405), made its first appearance at HNL today. The desert gold painted 737 arrived from OAK as SWA808, then departed for SAN as SWA393.

N871HK made its first appearance at LIH and OGG (20 Nov 2022), and KOA (22 Nov 2022).

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Southwest Airlines!

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines celebrates its 50th anniversary today.

The airline also unveiled a new flag-liveried 737-8H4, with the Amercan flag "Freedom One" livery painted on N500WR (c/n 36898, l/n 4967, f/n 500).

Further details in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines Announces New Hawai‘i Routes

This morning, Southwest Airlines announced new service to Hawai‘i from LAS, LAX, and PHX; and expanded service from SAN. The airline will use both 737-800s and 737-8 on these flights.

Further details in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines To Add LGB-OGG Service

With the addition of slots at the Long Beach Airport allotted to Southwest Airlines, the airline announced six more routes from LGB, one of which is OGG, that begins on March 11th.

Previously, Southwest announced that HNL was in the initial destinations from LGB. The Dallas-based carrier will compete against Hawaiian Airlines at Long Beach.

Further information in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines Announces Long Beach Service

As part of an announcement of new routes, Southwest Airlines will add service between LGB [Long Beach, CA] and HNL, that will start on March 11, 2021. The airline was awarded more slots at LGB after jetBlue Airlines surrendered all of their slots. This new service will compete against the two flights that Hawaiian Airlines has out of LGB.

Further details in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Launches SMF-HNL Service

Southwest Airlines is launching daily 737-800 service between SMF and HNL today.  N8303R (c/n 36681, l/n 3993), made the inaugural flight as SWA1789/1807.

Southwest To Move Up New Service

Southwest Airlines announced this morning that they will move up the launch dates for service between HNL and LIH, and HNL and SMF, from January 2020 to November 2019. New routes were also announced for OAK-LIH, OAK-KOA, SJC-LIH, SJC-KOA, and SMF-OGG, are scheduled to begin in March 2020.

Further information is in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines To Serve ITO

Southwest Airlines announced this past weekend that the Dallas-based airline will begin inter-island service to ITO [Hilo, Hawai‘i] from HNL, in the latter part of this year. It's not known if Southwest will serve ITO from any of its California cities.

Further information in this Pacific Business News article.

Southwest Airlines Launches HNL-OGG Service

Southwest Airlines is launching daily 737-800 service between Honolulu and Kahului, with four flights today.

Southwest Airlines Launches OAK-OGG Service

Southwest Airlines is launching service between OAK [Oakland, CA] and OGG [Kahului, Maui] today complete with pre-boarding festivities at OAK, as SWA5160. N8322X (c/n 36997, l/n 4200, f/n 8322) is making the inaugural flight.

Southwest Airlines Launches HNL Service

Southwest Airlines is launching their service to HNL with much fanfare both OAK and HNL today, with N8329B (c/n 37006, l/n 4292, f/n 8329) making the first SWA6808.

A celebration was held prior to boarding at OAK, and a media event is planned for the arrival at HNL.

More photos and information are in this Southwest Airlines press release.


Hawai‘i Service Timeline:
OAK-HNL: 17 March, 2x on 24 March
OAK-OGG: 07 April
Interisland HNL-OGG (4x): 28April
SJC-HNL: 05 May
OGG-KOA: 12 May
SJC-KOA: 12 May
Interisland HNL-KOA (4x): 12 May
SJC-OGG: 26 May

Southwest Airlines Begins Hawai‘i Ticket Sales

This morning, Southwest Airlines announced that they are launching online ticket sales for their new service to Hawai‘i from OAK and SJC. The airline's HNL launch will occur on March 17th from OAK. Service to OGG from OAK will start on April 7th. Service from SJC to HNL starts on May 5th, and to OGG on May 26th. Flights from SMF and SAN, and service to LIH will be announced at a later date.

Further information in this Southwest Airlines press release.

Southwest Airlines' N8329B

Southwest Airlines is performing the first of several proving runs today, before the airline can commence service between the US west coast and Hawai‘i. N8329B (c/n 37006, l/n 4294, f/n 8329), a 737-8H4, is making today's proving flight from OAK as SWA8725, that will arrive this afternoon.

Aloha ‘Oe Herb Kelleher

The HNL RareBirds team expresses our thoughts, condolences, and prayers to the Southwest Airlines ‘ohana for the passing of their founder, Herb Kelleher, who passed away today.

He was instrumental in proving that low-cost carriers with the heart of customer service could exist, and made it a successful business. Though he retired years ago, his vision created affordable flights across the country. His vision will extend to the Hawaiian Islands in a mere few months.