Southwest has been exploring the possibility of truly premium seats, long-haul routes and airport lounges for months.
It now appears that at least one of these things may become a reality.
The airline received approval this month (PDF link) to lease space to build a lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel Inouye International Airport (HNL), according to Hawaii state records.
The news was first reported by industry blogger Enilria.
According to documents reviewed by TPG (PDF link), the space could span up to 12,000 square feet across two floors and be located in Terminal 2, where Southwest Airlines operates its HNL flights.
It will be the Dallas-based airline’s first airport lounge and its deepest foray into premium aviation to date.
It’s something the airline’s CEO Bob Jordan has been hinting at for months – including on the company’s earnings call last week.
“We are actively pursuing ongoing changes to expand the range of products we offer our customers,” Jordan told analysts on Oct. 23.
“Include things,” Jordan added, “like premium seating, airport lounges and long-haul international destinations.”
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Southwest has so far not publicly confirmed it is adding airport lounges.
Therefore, it is unclear how the airline will determine future club eligibility. However, it appears the airline may be using the lounge as a way to offer deals on its top line of credit cards – which it just updated this summer.
Southwest Airlines is in the midst of a major transformation. After increasing checked bag fees earlier this year, the airline is now less than three months away from abandoning its long-standing open-seating policy in favor of assigned seating, and its new extra legroom product is now available on about half its planes.
The airline also has new international airline partnerships with Icelandair, China Airlines and EVA Air in 2025, and expects to launch Rapid Rewards Partner redemptions on some of those airlines next year.
Southwest Airlines launched service to Hawaii in 2019, with direct flights from HNL to eight airports in the continental United States starting this month. It also operates several inter-island routes.
If the airline does partner with the Honolulu Club, it would join a competitive lounge landscape at the state’s largest airport. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all have clubs at HNL, as do international carriers ANA, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines plan to open a new premium club at the airport following their merger in 2024.
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