Southwest Airlines is deepening its bet on Hawaii with a newly announced nonstop route linking Las Vegas and Hilo, delivering long-sought mainland access to Hawaii Island’s east side and adding fresh competitive pressure in one of the Pacific’s most hotly contested leisure markets.

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Details of the New Las Vegas–Hilo Route

Southwest confirmed that it will launch nonstop service between Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport and Hilo International Airport on the island of Hawaii beginning August 6, 2026.

The flights are scheduled to operate three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, offering regular connectivity between what is often dubbed Hawaii’s “Ninth Island” and the Big Island’s largest population center.

The new service is set to be year-round rather than seasonal, signaling that the carrier sees sustained demand between the two destinations.

The schedule will pair with Southwest’s existing Las Vegas to Honolulu flights, expanding options for travelers who previously had to connect through Oahu or other islands to reach Hilo.

Tickets for the new route are already on sale through Southwest’s booking channels, giving travelers a long runway to lock in 2026 travel plans.

Flight times have not yet been publicly highlighted in detail, but the airline is positioning the service as a time-saver for both Hawaii-based travelers and visitors heading to the island’s eastern shore.

For Hilo, the addition is especially notable because it restores a nonstop mainland connection that disappeared in 2023, when United Airlines ended its Los Angeles–Hilo service.

Since then, travelers bound for Hilo have largely relied on intra-island connections, adding an extra leg and additional travel time to most itineraries.

Why Hilo and Las Vegas Are a Strategic Match

Southwest executives and Hawaii officials are framing the new Las Vegas–Hilo route as more than just another leisure link.

Las Vegas has long been home to a sizable community of Hawaii-born residents, earning its nickname as the “Ninth Island” and making it one of the most important off-island destinations for Hawaii families.

By connecting Hilo directly to Las Vegas, Southwest is tapping into that longstanding cultural and social bridge.

Local leaders on Hawaii Island have pointed to family ties and community connectivity as central motivations, emphasizing that shorter travel times across the Pacific can make a significant difference for residents traveling for weddings, funerals, medical visits or simply to see relatives.

On the tourism side, Southwest is positioning Hilo as a distinct alternative to better-known vacation centers such as Waikiki or the resorts of West Maui and Kona.

Hilo’s lush, rainier climate, proximity to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and more low-key, local atmosphere make it attractive for repeat Hawaii visitors seeking something different from a typical beach holiday.

For Las Vegas, the new service provides yet another tool to keep its reputation as a hub for Hawaii-bound travelers intact, while also feeding visitor traffic back to the islands.

Pairing gaming, entertainment and Big Island adventure into a single multi-stop trip will likely appeal to both U.S. mainland residents and international travelers using Las Vegas as a gateway.

How the Route Fits Into Southwest’s Wider Hawaii Strategy

The Las Vegas–Hilo launch comes as Southwest continues to refine and expand its Hawaii network, which has grown steadily since the airline began flying to the islands in 2019.

Today, Southwest serves Hawaii from multiple West Coast gateways, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, Phoenix and Las Vegas, alongside a robust interisland operation.

In recent months, the carrier has announced several adjustments and additions across the Pacific. In November, Southwest confirmed it would restore daily nonstop service between Sacramento and Kona starting March 6, 2025, bringing back a route that had previously operated until 2022.

That change coincides with the planned end of its Oakland–Kona nonstop a day earlier, reflecting a shift in how the airline distributes mainland Hawaii capacity.

Looking further ahead to 2026, Southwest is also adding a new link between Ontario in Southern California and Honolulu, with daily service set to begin June 4, 2026.

That move bolsters the airline’s footprint in the Greater Los Angeles region and offers another option for travelers who prefer secondary airports over the traffic and congestion often associated with larger hubs.

Alongside these new point-to-point offerings, Southwest has been steadily building out its redeye portfolio between Hawaii and the mainland.

Expanded overnight services from Honolulu, Kona and Kahului to cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix are designed to give travelers better use of limited vacation days, while allowing the airline to maximize aircraft utilization on long-haul western routes.

Competitive Pressures on Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines

Southwest’s latest moves into Hawaii underscore the heightened competitive environment facing Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, two carriers which have historically dominated air service to and within the islands.

Hilo has long been Hawaiian’s stronghold, particularly on interisland flights, and the introduction of nonstop Las Vegas service by a low-cost rival adds a new layer of pricing and capacity pressure on certain flows.

By choosing Las Vegas and Ontario as new Hawaii gateways, Southwest is directly inserting itself into markets where Alaska and Hawaiian have traditionally enjoyed strong brand recognition and loyal customer bases.

While Hawaiian remains the primary carrier on many intra-island and transpacific routes, Southwest’s lower-cost structure and no-change-fee policies appeal to value-conscious travelers, families and frequent visitors who may be willing to try a different airline for the right fare and schedule.

Analysts note that the Las Vegas–Hilo route also has symbolic importance. Restoring the island’s link to the mainland after a multi-year gap enhances Southwest’s image as a carrier willing to invest in smaller, underserved Hawaii markets, not just the most lucrative tourist corridors.

That posture dovetails with the airline’s broader strategy of targeting secondary cities and building loyalty through network breadth rather than traditional hub dominance.

At the same time, the move raises questions about yield management and capacity discipline across the broader Hawaii market.

With additional seats flowing into the islands from various U.S. gateways, especially in peak seasons, carriers will be watching closely to see how pricing, load factors and ancillary revenue hold up as competition intensifies.

What the New Route Means for Travelers

For travelers based on Hawaii Island’s east side, the new Las Vegas nonstop represents a substantial improvement in convenience.

Instead of connecting via Honolulu or another island, passengers will be able to board in Hilo and fly directly to the mainland, eliminating extra airport transfers and cutting hours off some itineraries.

That is particularly significant for residents traveling for medical appointments, education, business or family reasons, many of whom have historically faced long days of flying and waiting in transit lounges.

The ability to reach Las Vegas in a single hop makes the city a more practical and accessible option for short trips.

On the mainland side, visitors from the U.S. interior who use Las Vegas as a starting point will gain a more straightforward path to exploring the Big Island’s eastern districts.

Rather than routing through Honolulu and then backtracking to Hilo, travelers can build itineraries that combine the casinos and shows of Las Vegas with Hilo’s waterfalls, lava landscapes and cultural sites on a single ticket.

Leisure travelers can also leverage Southwest’s fare structure, including the airline’s allowance of two checked bags per customer and no-fee flight changes, to bring more gear for activities such as hiking and photography or to adjust plans around Hawaii’s occasionally unpredictable weather without facing heavy penalties.

Operational Considerations and Aircraft

Southwest has not formally detailed the specific aircraft type that will operate the Las Vegas–Hilo route, but as with its other Hawaii services, the flights are expected to be flown by Boeing 737 aircraft equipped for overwater operations.

The airline has been progressively rolling out cabin upgrades across its 737-8 fleet, including in-seat power and a refreshed interior, improvements that will be especially welcome on the five-plus-hour journey across the Pacific.

The three-times-weekly schedule suggests Southwest is taking a measured approach to ramping up capacity, leaving room to adjust frequency based on demand and operational performance once the route is established.

The carrier has used a similar strategy on past Hawaii launches, evaluating how new services integrate with its wider network before deciding whether to add or trim flights.

For Hilo International Airport, the route will mean handling additional long-haul operations, including the associated ground handling, catering and maintenance logistics required for transpacific flights.

While Hilo is no stranger to mainland aircraft, having hosted United’s Los Angeles service until 2023 and continuing to manage regular interisland traffic, the new Southwest flights will increase the airport’s profile among mainland carriers.

In Las Vegas, the new route will plug into Southwest’s extensive domestic network, creating additional one-stop itinerary options from across the United States into Hilo via Harry Reid International.

The airline’s point-to-point model allows it to funnel passengers through multiple connecting nodes rather than concentrating traffic in a single mega-hub.

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

While the Hilo announcement grabs attention for its symbolic importance, it forms just one part of a broader 2026 blueprint for Southwest’s Hawaii presence.

The airline’s latest schedule extension runs through September 30, 2026, and includes a series of network enhancements in California and the western United States that are designed to reinforce Hawaii connectivity.

In addition to the Ontario–Honolulu link and the Las Vegas–Hilo route, Southwest is boosting departures in San Diego and adding new domestic services from Long Beach that may serve as feeders into its Hawaii network.

The airline is also leaning into its status as California’s largest carrier, using that scale to position itself as a go-to option for West Coast travelers eyeing island vacations.

Southwest has also begun experimenting with special-event flying tied to Hawaii’s cultural calendar. For 2026, the carrier plans to operate one-off flights around Hilo’s famed Merrie Monarch Festival, with extra service programmed to match the surge in visitor demand for the iconic weeklong celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture.

Industry observers will be watching whether the Las Vegas–Hilo route prompts further experimentation with other secondary gateways or under-served Hawaii markets.

If the route performs well, it could encourage Southwest and rivals alike to explore new city pairs that better connect local communities on the islands with diaspora populations and leisure travelers on the mainland.

FAQ

Q1: When does Southwest’s new Las Vegas–Hilo route start?
The new nonstop service between Las Vegas and Hilo is scheduled to begin on August 6, 2026.

Q2: How often will Southwest fly between Las Vegas and Hilo?
Southwest plans to operate the route three times per week, with flights on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Q3: Is the Las Vegas–Hilo service seasonal or year-round?
The airline has announced the route as a year-round service, not a limited seasonal operation.

Q4: Why is this new route significant for Hilo?
Hilo has been without a nonstop mainland connection since 2023, so the new flights restore direct access to the continental United States and cut travel time for residents and visitors.

Q5: How does this route fit into Southwest’s broader Hawaii network?
The Las Vegas–Hilo service complements Southwest’s existing Hawaii flights from cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento and San Diego, as well as its interisland operations.

Q6: Will there be special flights for major events in Hilo?
Southwest has indicated it will operate additional flights tied to the Merrie Monarch Festival in April 2026, adding capacity to handle increased visitor demand.

Q7: What kind of aircraft will likely operate the Las Vegas–Hilo route?
While Southwest has not specified the exact model for this route, it typically uses Boeing 737 aircraft configured and certified for long overwater segments on its Hawaii services.

Q8: How can travelers from other U.S. cities use this new route?
Passengers from across the United States can connect through Las Vegas on Southwest’s domestic network, then continue on the new nonstop flight to Hilo as part of a single itinerary.

Q9: How does this change competition with Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines?
The new route increases competition on Hawaii-mainland travel by giving price-sensitive and loyalty-driven travelers another option, particularly in markets where Hawaiian and Alaska have traditionally been strong.

Q10: Are there other new Hawaii routes coming from Southwest?
Yes. In addition to Las Vegas–Hilo, Southwest is adding Ontario–Honolulu service in June 2026 and restoring Sacramento–Kona service in March 2025, while also expanding redeye flights between the islands and the mainland.