Daily nonstop flights from Ontario to Honolulu will give Los Angeles-area travellers another Hawaii option while doubling seats on the route from the airport.
Southwest Airlines will begin daily nonstop service between Ontario International Airport and Honolulu on June 4, 2026, adding a morning departure from Southern California and an evening return from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The route gives Los Angeles-area travellers another option for reaching Hawaii from a gateway east of downtown Los Angeles. It also expands Ontario’s direct connectivity to a major leisure destination, a meaningful development for an airport positioning itself as an alternative to busier regional hubs.
The new flights will double the number of seats available on the Ontario–Honolulu route, which currently also has service from Alaska Airlines. Southwest’s operation will therefore add capacity rather than replace the existing choice for passengers travelling between the Inland Empire and Oahu. Ontario International Airport describes itself as a full-service facility serving two dozen major airports across the United States, Mexico, Central America and Taiwan.
Southwest will operate the route with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft configured with 175 seats. The planes include in-seat power, while members of the carrier’s Rapid Rewards loyalty programme will receive free Wi-Fi access. Southwest is also set to introduce assigned seating on January 27, 2026, with standard, preferred and expanded-legroom options, adding a revised onboard choice structure ahead of the Hawaii service.
For Ontario, the route strengthens a long-standing relationship with its largest carrier. Southwest served 36% of the airport’s passengers in 2024 and marked its 40th anniversary at Ontario earlier in 2025, according to the airport. The airline said its Hawaii operation provides access to an inter-island network offering nearly 60 departures a day within the state, giving the new mainland route a broader connection point beyond Honolulu.
The service will arrive before Ontario marks the 10-year anniversary of its return to local ownership, adding a high-profile destination to a period of institutional significance for the airport. For Southwest, the route extends its Southern California presence while giving existing customers a direct Hawaii option from Ontario. The combination of added seats, onboard amenities and onward access positions the service as a practical expansion of choice in the region’s competitive air-travel market.
