Southwest Airlines Will Fly to Hawaii as Soon as Next Year
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After years of hinting, Southwest will finally fly to Hawaii. This is good news for passengers, as fares may fall — if only slightly. Other airlines won't want to let Southwest win too much market share.
Southwest Airlines on Wednesday night made official what it had hinted at for years — it soon will fly to Hawaii from the West Coast.
It did not not release where it would fly or exactly when, but it told employees at an event in Los Angeles it planned to begin selling tickets in 2018. It seems most likely the airline will focus on routes from California, though Boeing says the newest 737 model operated by Southwest can fly about 3,500 nautical miles — enough range for flights from most of the Western United States to Hawaii.
Historically risk-averse Southwest had long considered Hawaii too logistically challenging for new flights. Airlines with aircraft that fly long distances overwater require special approval from the Federa
