HILO — Although Southwest Airlines was expected to begin flights to Hawaii in early 2019, the ongoing government shutdown has delayed its plans.
Southwest announced in 2017 that it was preparing to offer flights to Hawaii, but those plans had to undergo an application and certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration, which can take more than a year. That process was not complete by late December, when the federal government shut down.
One of the last stages of the FAA’s process is certification for Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operational Performance Standards, or ETOPS. Ross Birch, president of the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau, said all planes and airline staff that make extended flights over water must be ETOPS certified.
“Some airplanes come with ETOPS certification, but since Southwest hasn’t had any flights over the ocean this long, they have to do it all for the first time,” Birch said.
However, the shutdown of the federal government has continued for more than 30 days and furloughed thousands of federal employees, including those at the FAA who would oversee the ETOPS certification process. Until the certification process is complete, Southwest cannot sell tickets to Hawaii.
Birch said he understands that Southwest is “ready to go” after it receives the ETOPS certification, although he said he is unsure how quickly the certification could be resolved after the shutdown ends.
Once Southwest is ETOPS certified, Birch said there will be a lag between when the airline begins selling tickets to Hawaii and when the first flights reach the state.
Beyond the delays to Southwest flights, Birch said the shutdown has been “cramping our style,” in terms of island tourism.
While Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the Big Island’s major tourist attractions, is partially open to visitors in spite of the shutdown thanks to donations, Birch said confusion about the park’s status is “not comfortable,” particularly during a traditionally tourist-heavy time of year.
“Our biggest concern is to bring back demand for the island, which we’ve been doing,” Birch said. “Our main goal is to get bodies and feet on those flights when they start.”
Birch said the visitors bureau will increase marketing in California when Southwest obtains its final certification. Flights to Hawaii will arrive from four airports in California, where the bureau already markets extensively.
The California airports include Oakland Metropolitan Airport, San Diego International Airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport and Sacramento International Airport.
Flights will arrive between those airports and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Ellison Onizuka International Airport in Kona, Kahului Airport on Maui and Lihue Airport on Kauai. Interisland flights between the four Hawaii airports also will be available.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
There are no gates for Southwest flights at Kona airport . Other flights already wait , often for over an hour , to let passengers off upon arrival . Hawaiian refuses to share it’s allotted gates . How about stairs ? Will Southwest ship in its own? They almost have to . Yep, good idea , throw more flights , from more airlines , into a little airport that lacks the infrastructure to service even those which they already get .
Your’re absolutely right about the lack of infrastructure. (Reprint from 21-days ago.) “Reality-ville” at KOA starts with an understanding how the airport system is financed and who decides project priorities. We are an enterprise fund that does not rely on the state general fund for finances. We have an obligation to be self-sustaining and therefore rely on revenues to operate from landing fees, space rentals, parking, food & beverage, and other retail concession fees, rental car receipts and other business license fees. So, our revenue benefactors, namely the air carriers and concessionaires exercise great influence and say on what gets built, where and when. The present construction; and I agree this first phase is way less than we truly need; is the result of more than a decade of advocacy and planning. But better a meager first phase than nothing. Don’t worry about Southwest. They are coming and we are making it work. The overcrowding you witness is typical of peak operations at every airport. There are times during the operating day when the terminal is empty. They just don’t happen to be favorable times for airline marketers. If I had my way, I’d build a “little Changi” right here in Kona. But I don’t. However, I can help direct your complaints about “puny” baggage claim areas and waits on airplanes; which by the way are not always due to the lack of gates; to the air carriers so they can support and approve much needed improvements. You can do the same too. Much has already been spent at Honolulu and Kahului with good and valid reason. We are now starting to see expenditures in Kona for which I am truly grateful. It’s been a long time coming and I won’t turn any of it down.” Thanks for your post. Chauncey Wong Yuen, Hawaii Airports District Manager