Southwest Airlines, the Dallas-based carrier that was named the top airline for economy-class customer satisfaction in the 2025 North America Airline Satisfaction Study (J.D. Power Study), revealed plans to launch five new routes out of Southern California in the summer of 2026, reported The Points Guy.
In the same day, Southwest revealed that it would be providing “more options in San Diego than ever before and new offerings at three airports in Greater Los Angeles“. The expansion plan of this popular budget airline of the United States includes two new nonstop flights to the Hawaiian Islands and new or expanded service linking Southern California with the Pacific Northwest and within California itself.
Southwest Airlines
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IATA / ICAO | WN / SWA |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Primary Business Model | Low-cost carrier (LCC) |
| Fleet Size | ~800+ aircraft (all Boeing 737 family) |
| Primary Aircraft Types | Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8 |
| Network Focus | U.S. domestic + selective international (Caribbean, Mexico, Central America) |
| Major Hubs / Bases | Dallas Love Field (DAL), Denver (DEN), Chicago Midway (MDW), Baltimore (BWI), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX) |
| Notable Recent Changes | Assigned seating (from Jan 2026), free WiFi for RR Members, expanded West Coast & Hawaii routes |
| Strongest Markets | Western U.S., Sunbelt, leisure corridors |
| Loyalty Program | Rapid Rewards |
Diving Deeper into Southwest Airlines’ New Routes
Southwest’s new schedule adds five key routes from Southern California beginning in summer 2026, plus increased frequencies on several existing ones.
| Origin | Destination | Launch Date | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu (HNL) | June 4, 2026 | Daily |
| Hollywood-Burbank Airport (BUR) | HNL (Honolulu) | August 4, 2026 | Peak-day (seasonal) service |
| Long Beach Airport (LGB) | Portland International Airport (PDX) | August 4, 2026 | Six times per week |
| Long Beach (LGB) | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | August 4, 2026 | Six times per week |
| San Diego International Airport (SAN) | Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) | August 4, 2026 | Daily |
In addition, the airline will double its daily round-trip flights from San Diego to several destinations — including Portland (PDX), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Seattle (SEA) — starting August 4. This will bring San Diego’s peak-day departures to a record 139 flights, reported the carrier, with “its continued Customer Experience enhancements both in the air and at SAN’s Terminal 1, the airline is connecting its 44th destination to America’s Finest City“.
The Strategy Behind Southwest’s Expansion
Southwest’s expansion comes at a time when demand for travel between California, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii remains robust. By extending its booking schedule through September 2026 and adding capacity, the carrier is signaling confidence in demand and demonstrating commitment to the West Coast market.
Executives at Southwest pointed to improved infrastructure at key airports as enabling the growth, with Adam Decaire, Senior Vice President, Network Planning & Network Operations Control, saying:
“New facilities like those in San Diego and Burbank, along with our onboard customer enhancements, have Southwest positioned to continue offering more for Customers in Southern California and beyond for many years to come”
Airport officials at Ontario International Airport (ONT), California, welcomed the addition of daily nonstop service to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, starting June 4, 2026.
Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, was buoyed with the decision saying that the airport “couldn’t be more pleased by the announcement from our longtime partner“, and was quoted in PRNewswire as having said:
“It is truly a point of pride for us….The aloha spirit can be felt throughout our airport in the harmony we strive to create every day, the humility our people display in their work and the kindness extended to our airline partners and customers. We want all who come to Ontario to feel at home. To our friends at Southwest, mahalo,”
On the operational side, Southwest plans to operate the new ONT–HNL flights using Boeing 737 MAX 8. According to data from planespotters.net, the carrier has 294 aircraft of this type that average 3.4 years. The 737 MAX8s operated by Southwest are configured in the following way:
- 175 Collins Meridian slimline seats arranged in a 3-3 configuration, featuring a 4 way adjustable headrest
- Seat width: 17″, with “pre-reclining” seats that slide forward in the reclined position
- Row pitch: 32″ standard; 38″ at row 14; 35″ at row 15
The onboard entertainment systems include the following:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | Anuvu Ku-band satellite Wi-Fi (Viasat Ka-band installed on aircraft tail-numbered N-8849Q onward) |
| Power | USB-A and 60W USB-C power sockets installation expected to begin end of 2023 |
| In-flight Entertainment | Content streamed to personal devices, including complimentary live TV, movies, messaging (iMessage & WhatsApp), and real-time flight tracking |
Data: Aerolopa
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Broader Implications of Southwest’s competitive dynamics on the West Coast
According to The Beat of Hawaii, one of the most notable things about this announcement is the fact that “Burbank has not had direct Hawaii service in more than twenty years” and Southwest’s announcement comes exactly a month after Alaska announced that it would run the Burbank-Honolulu flights from May 13, 2026. Southwest announced the same route almost exactly one month later:
“The new terminal at Burbank opens in October 2026, which means both carriers are racing to establish footholds before the upgraded facilities come online. This is a battle for Los Angeles Basin customers who are desperate to avoid the stress of LAX. Both airlines know that travelers in the San Fernando Valley and northern LA County have been loyal to BUR for quick security, easy parking, and fewer delays. Hawaii service there has been the missing piece.”
Southwest Airlines’ November 2025 announcement of five new routes launching in summer 2026 marks a bold commitment to expanding its West Coast and Hawaii footprint.
For travellers, the result will be more convenient and diversified connections, for Southwest, potentially greater market share and stronger West Coast dominance.
As the routes go online in June and August 2026, industry watchers and travelers alike will be observing whether this network push translates into sustained demand, competitive advantage, and long-term growth for the carrier.