Southwest Airlines: New Flights To Hawaii On Hold Due To Shutdown

[stopbush]

Southwest Hawaii flights were to be cleared for takeoff this month (January) according to airline officials. They warned today, however, that the federal government shutdown has significantly impacted their obtaining final approval.

Southwest’s COO Mike Van de Ven said today that the company has only a “reasonable chance” to start Hawaii flights this quarter due to the shutdown. A March start would only be possible in the event the shutdown ends in the next week.

https://beatofhawaii.com/southwest-hawaii-airline-update/

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Oh my gosh the rich people can't get to Hawaii to avoid the cold weather, what a horrible thing.

[bluecollar2]

2. Rich people don't fly Southwest

They like first class...

[stopbush]

3. Hawaii's economy is heavily dependent on tourism.

Let me explain it to your knee-jerk reaction: there are still plenty of flights available to Hawaii. The entry of Southwest into the market will mean DISCOUNTED fares, most likely sparking a PRICE WAR between the existing airlines that fly to Hawaii. Lower fares make a trip to and from Hawaii MORE AFFORDABLE to people who aren’t rich. Southwest flying to Hawaii will lower fares across the board for everybody...except the rich people.

Or would you rather the tourism industry in Hawaii collapse, just so you can complain about unnamed rich people? Childish.

[helpisontheway]

6. Our tickets are with AA but I heard Southwest was gonna cause tickets to drop. Nt

[helpisontheway]

4. I'm not rich but I fully paid for a trip to Hawaii in March

so yes I’m concerned about the flights.

[msongs]

5. the benefit of SWA and hawaii is people IN hawaii will have less expensive fares going to

the mainland. Airlines give huge discounts to tourists coming TO hawaii. then they jack up fares on island residents who want to visit the lower 48 states and return. For example hawaiian airlines fares to chicago and back to honolulu may be 50% higher than for people coming from chicago to honolulu then returning to chicago. we subsidize those fares

[helpisontheway]

7. Oh wow...I did not know that..nt

[redstatebluegirl]

8. Sorry none of the academics I know can afford a trip there.

I know people save for this, but we can't.

[stopbush]

9. Really? Because one can get really low fares to Hawaii, especially from the east coast.

I have seen non-stop round-trip flights in coach from the east coast for as little as $400.

Perhaps you are making assumptions.

[redstatebluegirl]

11. Not from where we live in Oklahoma.

Plus the hotels are stupid expensive. We looked at a 20th anniversary trip and we could not do it.

[helpisontheway]

13. We saved for two years. Also, we have inexpensive lodging at a military hotel there..nt

[redstatebluegirl]

14. I totally support what you did, I am just saying that the majority of people who

travel to Hawaii for vacation are not like you and I.

[DFW]

20. My daughter was there for two years of high school, and her roommate was an islander

Her dad built their "house (if you can call it that)" literally with his bare hands. The people who live there can barely afford to get by, and high air fares to anywhere except to other islands make it prohibitively expensive for them to travel. Southwest might make it easier for them to visit friends and relatives on the mainland.

[FreeState]

10. SWA won't make money going to Hawaii for a while

They know people, you know us rich people, save up points from credit cards and other methods to go there.

[redstatebluegirl]

12. The majority of people who go there are wealthy, not meaning to pick on people.

[HipChick]

15. Define wealthy....

[redstatebluegirl]

16. Well, someone who has more money than most of us.

[FreeState]

18. Define wealthy...

The vast majority of people that go there are not in the 1%.

[Johnny2X2X]

17. I am flying there in March for vacation

I bought my tickets (American) long ago, but this is making me nervous. I saved and planned for a long time so me and my wife can finally take a big vacation.

[redstatebluegirl]

19. Good for you, this is different that those who go anytime they want.