Southwest Airlines made its maiden voyage to Hawaii on Tuesday.
Southwest Airlines made its maiden voyage to Hawaii on Tuesday.
Federal safety inspectors flew on a Boeing 737-800 from Oakland to Honolulu. It’s part of the process for the airlines to get government approval to begin flying here.
The carrier said the “validation” flight was for communication and navigation processes. The noncommercial flight was the first time a Southwest aircraft landed in Hawaii.
The airline must get a government approval for long over-water flights.
Southwest announced it planned to start offering service to Hawaii in October 2017. Southwest Airlines was granted a permit for lease space at Lihue Airport last year.
The revocable permit was recently approved by the Department of Land and Natural Resource, indicating the Dallas- based carrier’s intention of servicing Neighbor Islands.
Southwest Airlines has announced that it intends to serve Hawaii nonstop, from California airports, including Oakland, San Diego, San Jose and Sacramento, and will also be offering interisland flights.
It said the partial government shutdown delayed its plans to start selling tickets because FAA inspectors were furloughed, according to CNBC.com. Another partial shutdown is possible this month.
WHAAAAT?? another airline is going to bring job-supporting tourists to the islands?
make it stop. i prefer to collect unemployment.
Who on Kauai is allowing the expansion of the largest tourist machine on earth, with SW coming to Kauai will come an additional 200,000 visitors a year. Nice job Hawaii for helping balance growth with Mo money.
Perhaps status quo politics has a negative impact on the fragile balance of Kauai. Kauai you voted for this. Until the State recognizes it must balance tourism with other jobs they will continue to be addicted to tourist dollars. Like I have mentioned in this space before don’t let Kauai become California! Its happening faster everyday and in 20 years you won’t recognize Kauai.
What’s next high rise condo towers in Lihue, hotels from Poipu to Princeville
On April 17, 2018 Southwest Airlines also had a flight on Tuesday flying from NY to Dallas. There was an emergency landing in Philadelphia. A fan engine problem was determined when the engine blew up in mid-Air. The flight over the Hawaiian waters was on a Tuesday. I think they made it clear that that accident was a nothing accident. Everyone on board who flew to Hawai’i looked happy. I could see that the company was ready for business. I hope they have already settled the fan blade issue. And that everything is cleared to go and there will be no more mishap. It would be an assurance measure for all the passengers.
Like the other person said just what kauai needs more California .what culture there is on Kauai is fading away at a very rapid pace all the fast food dives there so called sports bars the culture is being forced out .look at affordable housing look where kauai will become a playground for cal. Crowd . Also there buying property’s for cheap and inflate prices up the anal cavity .look who bought all the land up north number 3 richest. The sanctity of the island is more than 40 percent west coast if not more look ahead 5 to 10 years its going to become another south beach . I hope it never happens but it will sorry to say.