Southwest Airways is planning an enormous push on the West Coast in 2026.
Simply forward of the Thanksgiving vacation, the Dallas-based service introduced 5 new routes launching from Southern California subsequent summer time.
The California growth contains two all-new routes to Hawaii, added flights to the Pacific Northwest and a bunch of extra every day departures from San Diego.
Headlining Tuesday’s announcement have been Southwest’s two new routes connecting Honolulu with suburban Los Angeles: nonstop flights to Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL) from Ontario Worldwide Airport (ONT) and Hollywood-Burbank Airport (BUR) will launch in June and August, respectively.
However between new routes and bolstered flight schedules, it is a sizable West Coast growth for the airline — one helped, Southwest executives mentioned, by new airport terminals just like the one TPG toured this summer time at San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN)
“New amenities like these in San Diego and Burbank, together with our onboard buyer enhancements, have Southwest positioned to proceed providing extra for purchasers in Southern California and past for a few years to return,” Adam Decaire, Southwest’s senior vice chairman of community planning and community operations management, mentioned in a press release Tuesday.
Learn extra: The true Southwest Airways reboot is nearly right here — and it might be just the start
5 new Southwest Airways routes
Here is a full rundown of Southwest’s new routes unveiled as a part of this announcement:
| Route | Particulars |
|---|---|
|
Launches June 4, operates every day |
|
|
Launches Aug. 4, operates on peak journey days |
|
|
Lengthy Seaside Airport (LGB) to Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon
|
Launches Aug. 4, operates six occasions per week |
|
LGB to Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA)
|
Launches Aug. 4, operates six occasions per week |
|
SAN to Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
|
Launches Aug. 4, operates every day |
Including frequencies from San Diego
It isn’t simply new routes.
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Southwest on Tuesday mentioned it will double its every day round-trip service on three routes from San Diego starting on Aug. 4:
- SAN to PDX
- SAN to SEA
- SAN to Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport (SLC)
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West Coast turf conflict?
This Golden State growth by Southwest has a little bit of a “turf conflict” taste to it. Each the brand new routes Southwest introduced — and the routes the place it is including further every day flights — are in key markets served by West Coast powerhouse Alaska Airways.
In current months, Alaska has considerably bolstered its hubs at SAN and PDX and added routes out of BUR, citing alternative in these markets and — particularly in San Diego — sturdy curiosity in its Atmos Rewards loyalty program.
Learn extra: Alaska Airways plots world growth — with a bit assist from Portland, San Diego and Atmos Rewards
Southwest, for its half, mentioned it now plans to function an all-time excessive of 139 departures on peak days in August and September 2026 in San Diego.
Rising Hawaii community
As for Southwest’s Hawaii growth, including new flights to ONT and BUR will give the service 10 routes between HNL and the U.S. mainland.
Southwest launched service to the Aloha State in 2019, and seems to be laying the groundwork for an airport lounge within the state capital.
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