Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
Midwestindy wrote:What? How is that an announcement? We have known they have had the intention to serve Hawaii for a while now...
"Watterson said that process can take a year or more and includes outfitting the aircraft with additional equipment and special training for flight crews. The carrier plans to start selling tickets to Hawaii in 2018, but the first flight might not launch until 2019."
wedgetail737 wrote:I think OAK, SJC, SAN are given.
hnl808 wrote:I am actually quite surprised to hear that SWA is considering flying inter-island as stated in this news article...
"Southwest executives also acknowledged that they are evaluating offering interisland travel — a move that would cut into Hawaiian Airlines’ stranglehold in the islands and potentially hurt smaller local carriers Island Air, Mokulele Airlines and Makani Kai Air. In addition, Southwest said it is considering nonstop flights to neighbor islands."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/10/11/business/business-breaking/southwest-airlines-makes-it-official-hawaii-service-on-the-way/
wedgetail737 wrote:I think OAK, SJC, SAN are given.
lavalampluva wrote:As if there aren't already enough flights between Hawaii and the west coast. lol
SANFan wrote:I don't see anything specific (or anything at all) on the website yet. I even checked the route map.
I do hope for more details than we've had for the last few years...
bb
Austin787 wrote:wedgetail737 wrote:I think OAK, SJC, SAN are given.
LAX and SFO are also possibilities. LAS too if the 737-MAX8 has the range.
flyiguy wrote:but I don't think AS would be too keen on that.
FoxtrotSierra wrote:flyiguy wrote:but I don't think AS would be too keen on that.
And that is why WN will launch it.
ridgid727 wrote:With this announcement and move, Hawaiian Air will probably have to be a little more aggressive in getting their birds to more mainland cities, as their model is pretty much built on Hawaii. With the possiblity of WN offering inter-island flights as well their Route Expansion staff should probably get to work.
flyiguy wrote:I can see OAK, SJC, SAN, LAX, SMF with current NG-ETOPS aircraft and then adding LAS & PHX when the MAX8 takes over the Hawaii Route Flying. Toss ups to me are PDX, SEA & ONT but I don't think AS would be too keen on that.
LAX772LR wrote:I'm not sure it matters. Even if WN had a fleet of 787's, the flights would probably still be from the west coast to Hawaii. That is where the demand is.lavalampluva wrote:As if there aren't already enough flights between Hawaii and the west coast. lol
Such are the limitations of a single fleet type....
Super80Fan wrote:"Coming in 2018". Curious to see what routes they will serve.
Now that this is basically settled, cue the B6 and Hawaii rumors (although they will probably go trans-atlantic before Hawaii).
FATFlyer wrote:Article from Dallas Morning News, they had this ready to post.
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/sou ... ns-service
Quote:"Watterson said that process can take a year or more and includes outfitting the aircraft with additional equipment and special training for flight crews. The carrier plans to start selling tickets to Hawaii in 2018, but the first flight might not launch until 2019."
commavia wrote:flyiguy wrote:I can see OAK, SJC, SAN, LAX, SMF with current NG-ETOPS aircraft and then adding LAS & PHX when the MAX8 takes over the Hawaii Route Flying. Toss ups to me are PDX, SEA & ONT but I don't think AS would be too keen on that.
Agreed - OAK, LAX, SAN and SJC would seem like the obvious first jumping off points for Southwest given that they're all large (though also competitive and well-served) markets to Hawaii and offer lots of onward connectivity. It will be interesting to see how scheduling is done given that, absent redeyes, connectivity outside the west coast may be limited. Southwest could increase connectivity - at least pushing viable connecting markets further east to, say, the Mississippi river and MDW, by having planes RON in Hawaii and arrive on the west coast mid-afternoon.
More broadly, it's also interesting to consider where Southwest will go next once ETOPS certification is achieved.
As if there aren't already enough flights between Hawaii and the west coast. lol
To me, the ETOPS certification is the big stepping stone. They've figured out international flying in Mexico and the Caribbean/Latin America. With ETOPS does that make them consider East Coast to Western Europe before B6 and others jump in?
TWFlyGuy wrote:To me, the ETOPS certification is the big stepping stone. They've figured out international flying in Mexico and the Caribbean/Latin America. With ETOPS does that make them consider East Coast to Western Europe before B6 and others jump in?
Cubsrule wrote:With double connects (which they now sell), there's actually more potential connectivity than just MDW. In the current schedule, there's a 1520 departure on LAX-MDW that catches a pretty large bank at MDW with connections to plenty of places in the Eastern Time Zone. An 0600 departure from HNL, which would arrive LAX at 1400ish, would catch that flight. And other than the obvious TATL discussion, I'm not sure how much ETOPS would change things . There are some northeast-eastern Caribbean routes where ETOPS is potentially nice but not absolutely necessary. That's about it in the Western Hemisphere.
Cubsrule wrote:With double connects (which they now sell), there's actually more potential connectivity than just MDW.
alggag wrote:Cubsrule wrote:With double connects (which they now sell), there's actually more potential connectivity than just MDW. In the current schedule, there's a 1520 departure on LAX-MDW that catches a pretty large bank at MDW with connections to plenty of places in the Eastern Time Zone. An 0600 departure from HNL, which would arrive LAX at 1400ish, would catch that flight. And other than the obvious TATL discussion, I'm not sure how much ETOPS would change things . There are some northeast-eastern Caribbean routes where ETOPS is potentially nice but not absolutely necessary. That's about it in the Western Hemisphere.
Do they? I know they can do for rebookings due to missed flights and other IRROPS but I still haven't seen a double connection offered up for sale. Plenty of 2 stop with change of planes in XYZ but the other stop is direct same plane service.
As for TATL, I agree it is still a long, long way off for WN. *Maybe* BWI-KEF if Iceland is still a hot destination in 5-10 years but I still give that super low odds. BWI-KEF is just slightly longer than LAX-HNL.
WNflyer1523 wrote:https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/918313516892938240
https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t ... ba-p/61199
Details to come! What do you think their routes will be?
evank516 wrote:[
Regardless, if I'm going to Hawaii, I'm flying DL. There's no way I can manage to sit on a 737MAX with nothing to do for the length of that flight.
wedgetail737 wrote:I think OAK, SJC, SAN are given.
alggag wrote:Cubsrule wrote:With double connects (which they now sell), there's actually more potential connectivity than just MDW. In the current schedule, there's a 1520 departure on LAX-MDW that catches a pretty large bank at MDW with connections to plenty of places in the Eastern Time Zone. An 0600 departure from HNL, which would arrive LAX at 1400ish, would catch that flight. And other than the obvious TATL discussion, I'm not sure how much ETOPS would change things . There are some northeast-eastern Caribbean routes where ETOPS is potentially nice but not absolutely necessary. That's about it in the Western Hemisphere.
Do they? I know they can do for rebookings due to missed flights and other IRROPS but I still haven't seen a double connection offered up for sale. Plenty of 2 stop with change of planes in XYZ but the other stop is direct same plane service.
As for TATL, I agree it is still a long, long way off for WN. *Maybe* BWI-KEF if Iceland is still a hot destination in 5-10 years but I still give that super low odds. BWI-KEF is just slightly longer than LAX-HNL.
tphuang wrote:TWFlyGuy wrote:To me, the ETOPS certification is the big stepping stone. They've figured out international flying in Mexico and the Caribbean/Latin America. With ETOPS does that make them consider East Coast to Western Europe before B6 and others jump in?
No chance unless they get something with longer range than 738max and start putting premium cabin in. They can't even compete in the high end transcon market with what they have.
jumbojet wrote:evank516 wrote:[
Regardless, if I'm going to Hawaii, I'm flying DL. There's no way I can manage to sit on a 737MAX with nothing to do for the length of that flight.
Other than 1 bag that flies free, does WN offer any onboard amenities for free? Alcohol, food, in-seat IFE?