The rumors are mounting that Southwest Airlines will start flying to Hawaii as soon as 2018. The airline views Hawaii as an important opportunity for growth, with CEO Gary Kelly stating that “Hawaii is a high priority for the company”. It appeared that an announcement was imminent last month, when Southwest Airlines decorated a gate at the San Jose International Airport in California in a Hawaiian motif. The air carrier was also the lead sponsor for the Hawaii tourism summit held in September.
There has been a large increase in communication between Southwest Airlines and Hawaiian government officials and its Tourism Authority. It could be that they are trying to coordinate an official announcement date, as the airline tries to complete the checklist of requirements needed to commence Hawaiian service. These requirements include ETOPS certification and updating their reservations software. ETOPS certification is required to operate twin engine flights over the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the mainland.The software update is required to include overnight flights and reservations windows in excess of the current six month limit.
Southwest Airlines resolved a couple of other outstanding issues last year. The airline and its pilots ratified a new contract, settling a bitter 4 year dispute. That was critical, as the pilots claimed that the old contract did not allow for the pilots to operate the new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft that were on order. That agreement came on the heels of the Southwest flight attendants also ratifying a new contract. The last obstacle before Southwest’s Hawaiian flights can start is performance testing of the airlines new 737 Max 8 aircraft.
