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TODAY IN THE SKY
Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines secures Honolulu airport space

 

Southwest Airlines is inching ever closer to launching Hawaii service. 

The carrier has already confirmed its intent to fly to the state, though the start date for the service remains up in the air. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly has said that could come this year, though he cautioned that the first flights might slip into 2019 as the airline awaits federal certification to operate its Boeing 737 planes on the long over-water routes to the state. 

Despite the uncertain timetable, however, the airline’s Hawaii effort appears to have taken a tangible step forward. 

The Honolulu Star Advertiser reported on Friday that Southwest has been granted “a revocable permit” for space at Hawaii’s busiest airport in Honolulu.

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“We understand there is a lot of excitement regarding the service and we are working with the airline to accommodate its logistical needs,” Hawaii Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Sakahara said in a statement to the newspaper. “Southwest Airlines is currently seeking its Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) clearance, which would allow the airline to make the trans-Pacific flights.”

Southwest confirmed that it’s pushing forward as it works to firm up the exact launch date.

“We don’t have anything to share … other than to echo the building excitement of our Employees and fans as Southwest approaches a long-desired opportunity to serve the Hawaiian Islands,” Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins said in a statement to USA TODAY’s Today in the Sky blog. “Our work continues on the mainland and with the State of Hawaii to ready the landscape for our service that would follow required governmental approvals.”

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Kelly said in January that the carrier hoped to begin selling tickets for its first Hawaii service later this year, even if the first flights slip into 2019. 

Southwest will fly its Hawaii routes with its new Boeing 737 Max 8 jets. The airline added in January that it would likely start its Hawaii service with flights from California, a competitive market with many carriers offering numerous flights and routes to the state’s airports. 

Southwest frequent fliers and other passengers have long requested Hawaii as a destination.

Contributing: Dawn Gilbertson of The Arizona Republic.

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