How to get to Hawaii: Here are your options

As Southwest starts flying to the islands, here are your other options

Southwest Airlines is to launch flights to Hawaii (iStock)

Southwest Airlines is to launch flights to Hawaii, beginning service on 17 March. Special fares will start from just $49 one-way.

The no-frills Dallas-based airline will fly initially between the Californian cities of Oakland and San Jose and the Hawaiian islands of Honolulu and Maui.

More routes from San Diego and Sacramento will follow, and an inter-island service will begin on 28 April.

The low-cost US airline has opened up the market for Hawaii travel. But what are the other options to fly to the volcanic archipelago?

From the UK

There are no direct flights to Hawaii from the UK – all routes involve at least one change.

The typical change would be in a major American hub, such as Seattle, Los Angeles or Dallas with American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. Changing in Vancouver is also an option with Air Canada.

Basic economy fares from London Heathrow to Honolulu with American Airlines start from around £890 return.

From the US

With the launch of Southwest into Hawaii, there are now six US airlines flying to Hawaii from various American hubs. They are Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, United and now Southwest.

Hawaiian Airlines, which flies from the islands to destinations in the US mainland and Asia, is expected to be the hardest hit by Southwest’s competitive fares. In April, the flag carrier will launch the US’s longest domestic route, the 5,027-mile leg from Hawaii to Boston.

All six airlines connect to Hawaii’s islands of Honolulu, Maui, Kona and Lihue/Kauai from the US mainland.

Most major US hubs have direct flights to Hawaii, although the Californian routes are the most competitive, with flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento and Long Beach.

From Asia

Japan is the typical entry point to Hawaii from Asia. From Tokyo, there are a number of full-service carriers including Delta, Hawaiian, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Korean Air that fly to Honolulu.

Meanwhile from Osaka, low-cost airline Air Asia flies across the Pacific to Honolulu.