Southwest Airlines will expand flight options to and from the Hawaiian Islands this coming summer.
The low-cost carrier has announced new nonstop service between Hilo on the Big Island and one of its ever-expanding operating bases in Las Vegas, taking off on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
The new flights will launch August 6, 2026, with westbound travel departing at 9:30 a.m. PT and arriving at 12:35 p.m. local time in Hilo. Meanwhile, eastbound flights will depart Hilo at 8:45 p.m. and arrive in Vegas at 5:10 a.m.
Southwest will offer a preview of the new service during the Merrie Monarch Festival this spring. Special service will depart Las Vegas at 9:25 a.m. on April 9, with a return flight leaving Hilo at 9:50 a.m. on April 12.
"We heard you, Hilo. Las Vegas is important to you, and you’re important to us," Southwest's Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Network Operations Control, Adam Decaire, said in a statement. "This service gets you faster to family and fun in Nevada, where you also can access easy connections on Southwest to many of the 75 places that we serve nonstop from Las Vegas with as many as 272 departures a day."
"You have supported Southwest from well before our first flight to Hawaii. We’re grateful, and we’re bringing you more, including more choice to experience our award-winning hospitality with assigned seating on all flights beginning January 27," added Southwest's Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson.
"All of our aircraft in Hawaii offer enhancements that show where Southwest is going—in-seat power, improved space for carry-on bags, rows of seats that offer extra legroom, with even more enhancements to come. Mahalo for valuing our relationship and the journey, as Hawaii People do."
Southwest has been operating flights at Hilo International Airport since January 2020.
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