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 enlargement 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 had 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 enlargement for the airline — one helped, Southwest executives stated, by new airport terminals like the one TPG toured this summer 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 patrons 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, stated in an announcement Tuesday.
Learn extra: The true Southwest Airlines reboot is almost here — and it may be just the beginning
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 instances per week |
|
LGB to Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA)
|
Launches Aug. 4, operates six instances per week |
|
SAN to Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
|
Launches Aug. 4, operates every day |
Including frequencies from San Diego
It is not simply new routes.
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Southwest on Tuesday stated it could 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 struggle?
This Golden State enlargement by Southwest has a little bit of a “turf struggle” taste to it. Each the brand new routes Southwest introduced — and the routes the place it is including additional every day flights — are in key markets served by West Coast powerhouse Alaska Airways.
In latest 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 — strong interest in its Atmos Rewards loyalty program.
Learn extra: Alaska Airlines plots global expansion — with a little help from Portland, San Diego and Atmos Rewards
Southwest, for its half, stated 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 enlargement, 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 appears to be laying the groundwork for an airport lounge within the state capital.
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