Rumor has it that there’s going to be a Southwest Valentine’s surprise for Hawaii. And I’m sure you all can guess what I’m alluding to here.
Yesterday the Pacific Business News reported that Southwest Airlines might be planning for a Valentine’s Day celebration the likes of which have never been done before at the Airline. And that celebration is rumored to include some LUV for Hawaii, if you know what I mean.
Hawaii LUV
We know Southwest is racing towards the completion of its ETOPS certification campaign. After all, it’s only after the Dallas-based airline receives certification that Hawaii flights can begin. And with its first proving flight under its belt and the gate facilities ready to go, Southwest is closer than ever. But they may be closer than even I could have imagined.
According to the Pacific Business News, Southwest could begin Hawaii ticket sales as early as Valentine’s Day. That’s this Thursday if you’ve somehow forgotten. And the reason this is possible is because the Airline may complete its ETOPS certification campaign by this Friday. However, with another Government shutdown looming at the end of this week too, nothing is for certain. Plus, we haven’t seen any more validation flights make their way to Hawaii yet, though we’ve still got the whole week left.
Additional Information
In addition to the possible ticket sale start date, the Pacific Business News also reported on a couple more tidbits of information. According to their sources, the first Southwest flights to Hawaii will likely operate between Los Angeles and Oakland and Honolulu. And that makes sense, as Southwest already has a pilot domicile at OAK and is setting one up at LAX. Further, flight start date projections by the publication are between late March and early April. That’s in line with the start dates I’ve been suggesting as well. But, of course, another Government Shutdown will cause further delays.
Southwest Valentine’s Surprise for Hawaii, Final Thoughts
The commencement of service to Hawaii by Southwest is getting enticingly close. But it feels like an eternity has passed since we first learned of their plans, hasn’t it? Heck, I liken the wait to the one gearheads have endured for the new Toyota Supra!
While I look forward to the additional competition between Hawaii and the West Coast, I’m most looking forward to Southwest’s inter-island service. After all, the prices for inter-island travel are ridiculous. And, Hawaiian’s only competitor ironically charges more while providing an inferior flying experience. So more competition on those routes couldn’t come quickly enough!