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Hawaiian Airlines will be adding a new flight from Oakland to Kona, as well as adding a second daily frequency from San Francisco to Honolulu. The addition of these flights represents significant demand to the Hawaiian Islands as tourists flock to these destinations following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
New Oakland (OAK) to Kona (KOA) Service
This route was last operated in 2016, and while it isn’t a new route, it is the reintroduction of a route once served:
The flight to Oakland is unique in that there aren’t a ton of daytime services from Hawaii to the mainland. Many flights are operated as red-eyes to maximize aircraft utilization, so to have a flight that arrives in the evening is perfect for those who don’t enjoy sleeping on planes.
This flight will operate from June 15 through September 6, right in the middle of peak season when students aren’t in school and families typically vacation.
Additional San Francisco (SFO) to Honolulu (HNL) Service
Hawaiian will be adding a second daily service from San Francisco to Honolulu from May 15 through August 1:
Depart San Francisco (SFO) 7:00 a.m. — Arrive Honolulu (HNL) 9:30 a.m.
Depart Honolulu (HNL) 8:45 a.m. — Arrive San Francisco (SFO) 5:50 a.m. (+1)
Not many flights to Hawaii leave the mainland so early, so this departure at 7:00 a.m. allows you to get down to Honolulu just after breakfast, freeing you up to enjoy much more of a full day.
Both flights will be operated by an A321neo with 16 recliner first class seats, 44 Extra Comfort seats, and 128 main cabin seats. While neither of these new flight additions will be operated with flat-bed seats, Hawaiian’s recliner seats are known for generous legroom and comfort.
Final Thoughts
Hawaii is a tremendously popular tourist destination, and these new flight additions will allow more passengers to visit the islands and also have a choice of times for departure and arrival. Hawaiian Airlines is known for its terrific service onboard, so seeing the carrier expand its presence on the mainland is certainly welcome.