The airline map to Hawaii is being redrawn in 2026. Alaska Airlines (now merged with Hawaiian) is planting flags at secondary California airports. Southwest is counter-punching with its own routes to the same airports weeks later. Delta is restoring long-haul mainland service that disappeared during the pandemic. And Hawaiian Airlines just announced a $600 million, five-year plan to overhaul its fleet, lounges, and terminals.
If you’re booking a Hawaii trip this year, your options are wider than they’ve been in years. Here’s every new route and what it means for fares and availability.
Alaska Airlines: Burbank to Honolulu
| Starts: May 13, 2026 | Route: Hollywood Burbank (BUR) → Honolulu (HNL) | Frequency: Daily |
The first direct flight between Burbank and Honolulu in more than 20 years. Alaska is flying a Boeing 737 MAX 8 on this route. Flight AS1452 departs BUR at 7:00 AM and arrives HNL at 9:59 AM. Return departs HNL at 11:05 AM, arriving BUR at 7:37 PM.
For anyone in the San Fernando Valley, Glendale, Pasadena, or the western San Gabriel Valley, this is significant. Burbank Airport is a fraction of the size of LAX. No terminals connected by shuttle buses, no 90-minute security lines, no gridlocked Century Boulevard traffic. You park, walk to the gate, and fly. The new Burbank terminal opens in October 2026, which will upgrade the experience further.
This route is seasonal, so book early if you’re targeting summer or fall travel.
Southwest Airlines: Ontario and Burbank to Honolulu
Ontario (ONT) → Honolulu: Starts June 4, 2026, daily service Burbank (BUR) → Honolulu: Starts August 4, 2026, peak-day service
Southwest waited exactly 30 days after Alaska’s Burbank announcement, then dropped two routes of its own. The Ontario route is the bigger story — it gives the Inland Empire a direct Hawaii connection, which means millions of people in San Bernardino and Riverside counties no longer need to fight through LAX traffic to get to Honolulu.
Fares start around $250 one-way. Southwest flies the 737 MAX 8 in all-economy, 175-seat configuration with WiFi and seat power. No bag fees. No change fees. The Southwest model works well for families heading to Hawaii — two free checked bags is real money when you’re packing for four people.
These new routes give Southwest 10 total routes between Honolulu and the U.S. mainland.
Delta Air Lines: Boston and Minneapolis to Hawaii
Boston (BOS) → Honolulu: Restored for winter 2026-2027 season Minneapolis (MSP) → Maui (OGG): New nonstop, winter 2026-2027 season
Delta is bringing back the Boston-to-Honolulu route it cut during the pandemic, just in time for the holiday season. For East Coast travelers, this is the only nonstop option from New England to Hawaii on a major legacy carrier.
The Minneapolis-Maui route is new. Delta’s MSP hub is massive, connecting travelers from across the Midwest and Upper Great Plains. Nonstop to Maui means a single flight from Minneapolis, Milwaukee (via connection), Detroit, Chicago, or dozens of other cities that feed through MSP.
Both routes are seasonal (winter), which aligns with when Midwest and Northeast travelers most want to escape to Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines: The $600 Million Upgrade
Hawaiian Airlines unveiled its Kahu’ewai Hawaii Investment Plan in January — $600+ million over five years to modernize the airline. Here’s what that actually means for passengers:
New premium lounge at Honolulu: A 10,600-square-foot space at the entrance to Terminal 1’s Mauka Concourse. Expected to open late 2027. This is separate from the existing Plumeria Lounge and premier clubs.
A330 fleet refit: All 24 Airbus A330s will get new seats, carpets, lighting, refreshed business class, and a new premium economy cabin. Bluetooth-enabled entertainment and Starlink WiFi are part of the package. These are the workhorses of Hawaiian’s long-haul flying — West Coast to Hawaii and international routes.
Dreamliner transfer: Hawaiian’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners are transferring to Alaska Airlines’ fleet by spring 2026. The A330s become the backbone of Hawaiian-branded long-haul service going forward.
Airport renovations: Lobbies and gates at Honolulu, Lihue, Kahului, Kona, and Hilo will be renovated through 2029 — better seating, more power charging, improved passenger flow.
New app and website: Launching this spring with improved booking, self-service flight changes, and award travel redemption on partner airlines. Hawaiian is scheduled to join the Oneworld Alliance in late April 2026.
What This Means for Fares
More competition on a route usually means lower fares. The Burbank and Ontario routes are a direct battle between Alaska and Southwest for Southern California’s Hawaii-bound travelers. That’s good news if you live anywhere near those airports.
The flip side: global fuel prices are rising due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Several international carriers have already added fuel surcharges. Hawaii’s airline-dependent tourism industry is more exposed to fuel price swings than almost any other U.S. destination. If fuel costs stay elevated, fares could rise even as capacity increases.
The play for travelers: book early when new routes launch. Airlines price introductory fares aggressively to build demand. Once load factors climb, so do prices.
Quick Reference: New Hawaii Routes 2026
| Airline | Route | Start Date | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | Burbank (BUR) → Honolulu (HNL) | May 13, 2026 | Daily (seasonal) |
| Southwest | Ontario (ONT) → Honolulu (HNL) | June 4, 2026 | Daily |
| Southwest | Burbank (BUR) → Honolulu (HNL) | August 4, 2026 | Peak-day |
| Delta | Boston (BOS) → Honolulu (HNL) | Winter 2026-27 | Seasonal |
| Delta | Minneapolis (MSP) → Maui (OGG) | Winter 2026-27 | Seasonal |
Booking tip: Pair your flight with a rental car booked separately — you’ll almost always beat the airline’s bundled car rental price.
Plan Your Trip to Hawaii
More resources for getting to Hawaii and getting around.
