Southwest Airlines plans to vigorously promote West Coast routes in 2026.
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Dallas-based airline announced it will launch five new routes from Southern California next summer.
The California expansion includes two new routes to Hawaii, increased service to the Pacific Northwest and a large number of daily flights from San Diego.
Headlining Tuesday’s announcements were two new Southwest routes connecting Honolulu and suburban Los Angeles: nonstop flights from Ontario and Burbank to Daniel A. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in June and August, respectively.
But in addition to new routes and an enhanced schedule, the airline is undergoing a major expansion on the West Coast — and Southwest executives say new airport terminals, like the one TPG toured at San Diego International Airport (SAN) this summer, play a role.
“New facilities like San Diego and Burbank, coupled with the enhancements to our onboard customers, allow Southwest to continue to serve customers in Southern California and beyond for many years to come,” Adam Decaire, Southwest’s senior vice president of network planning and network operations control, said in a statement Tuesday.
Read more: A real Southwest reboot is coming — and it could be just the beginning
Southwest Airlines launches 5 new routes
Here is the complete list of Southwest Airlines’ new routes announced as part of this announcement:
| route | detail |
|---|---|
|
Ontario International Airport (ONT) to Honolulu
|
Launched on June 4th, operates daily |
|
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) to Honolulu
|
Launched on August 4, operating on peak travel days |
|
Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Portland International Airport (PDX), Oregon
|
Launched on August 4 and will operate six times a week |
|
Long Beach to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
|
Launched on August 4 and will operate six times a week |
|
San Diego to Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
|
Launched on August 4th, operates daily |
Add frequencies from San Diego
This is not just a new route.
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Southwest Airlines said Tuesday that starting Aug. 4, it will double the number of daily round-trip flights on three routes from San Diego:
- San Diego to Portland, OR
- San Diego to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- San Diego to Seattle
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West Coast turf war?
Southwest’s Golden State expansion smacks of a turf war. The new routes Southwest has announced, as well as the addition of additional daily flights, are in key markets for West Coast giant Alaska Airlines.
In recent months, Alaska has significantly beefed up its hubs in San Diego and Portland and added routes from Burbank, citing opportunities in those markets and strong interest (particularly in San Diego) in its Atmos Rewards loyalty program.
Read more: Alaska Airlines plans global expansion with help from Portland, San Diego and Atmos Rewards
Southwest Airlines said it currently plans to operate 139 flights in San Diego during peak days in August and September 2026, a record high.
Growing Hawaii Network
As for Southwest’s expansion in Hawaii, adding new Honolulu flights to Ontario and Burbank will give the airline 10 routes between HNL and the continental United States.
Southwest Airlines launched flights to the Aloha State in 2019 and appears to be laying the groundwork for an airport lounge in the state capital.
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