It seems like now is the time to start thinking about your winter beach vacation, as two US airlines have just announced some exciting new routes to Hawaii.
Both alaska airline And Delta Airlines announced new Hawaiian routes on Friday, but these are not your usual flights to the State of Aloha.
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Alaska’s New Paine Field-to-Hawaii Route
The first new Hawaii service will connect Paine Field (PAE) in Washington with Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu. It will be operated by home airline Alaska Airlines using a Boeing 737.
This daily, year-round route will begin on November 17, just in time for the start of the winter holiday season. Tickets are already available for purchase on Alaska’s website, and they start at just $149 or 12,500 Mileage Plan miles each way.
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The new service from Seattle to Alaska’s Honolulu will be the first (and only) Hawaiian service from Paine Field.
Paine Field reopens for the first time commercial operation in March 2019 as an alternative for those living north of downtown Seattle. Before that, Paine Field had been closed to commercial traffic for decades.
Until March 2019, residents in Snohomish County and surrounding areas had to drive nearly 40 miles south to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to fly out of the area.
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Of the major U.S. airlines, only Alaska and United Airlines set up shop at Paine Field. However, the United States PAE flights have stopped during the pandemic, so Alaska had a monopoly at the airport.
Paine Field first entered commercial service in 1939 before being converted to military use during World War II. Efforts to bring the airport back to commercial operation began in earnest in the 1980s. It was not until 2015, with a new public-private partnership, that those efforts began to materialize.
Other than Alaska Airlines planes, you’ll find plenty of Boeing jets around Paine Field. That’s because Boeing builds many of its planes there, and they take off from PAE on their first flight.
Interestingly, Alaska used to serve Hawaii from Bellingham International Airport (BLI), located about 75 miles north of Paine Field. Those flights ended in April 2019 and have not returned.
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Perhaps Alaska feels like Paine Field’s catchment area will better support the new Hawaii line than Bellingham’s in 2019.
Delta’s New Minneapolis to Maui Route
Delta will launch another new Hawaii service. This plane flies between its hub at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui. The new 3,917-mile route will launch on December 16 and will operate daily in winter until March 31, 2024.
This long-haul domestic route will be operated by a three-cabin Boeing 767-300ER with 26 Delta One flatbeds, 29 Comfort+ seats with wide legroom and 171 standard economy class seats.
This Mineappolis to Maui route will join Delta’s current daily route from MSP to Honolulu. It will provide Twin Cities-based locals with more consistently warm weather destinations. It will also expand Delta’s portfolio in Hawaii with a new route to Maui for those looking to connect via MSP.
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Delta’s new flight will go on sale on June 10. Delta shared the news of the new route with TPG after it was first reported by thrifty travelers.
The new Delta route is exciting because it builds on existing flights to Honolulu, often considered the main gateway to Hawaii. Delta seems to believe there is enough demand from locals and those connecting through Minneapolis to support two daily Hawaiian flights from the Twin Cities.
Only time will tell the fares of these new routes, but one thing is for sure: There are now more options to escape the cold this winter with a beach vacation in Hawaii.
