Hawaiian Airlines is set to operate a substantial **3,520 flights** in October 2023, marking a **2% increase** from the previous year, according to data from Cirium Diio. This positions the airline as the **12th-largest** airline in the United States by flights. The growth is largely attributed to its fleet of Airbus A321neos, A330-200s, Boeing 717s, and 787-9s, which have elevated its rankings in terms of available seats and seat miles.
Despite this positive trend, Hawaiian Airlines has seen a **15% decrease** in flights compared to pre-pandemic levels in October 2019. This decline primarily stems from reductions in the domestic market, which have dropped by **22%**. Such cuts may relate to the airline’s acquisition by **Alaska Air Group** and a strategic up-gauging of aircraft, resulting in an average increase of **13%** in seats per flight.
Top Routes Highlight Hawaiian’s Market Dominance
A significant portion of Hawaiian’s operations is concentrated in its intrastate services, accounting for **2,170** of its monthly departures, with an average of **70 daily takeoffs** from its total of **114**. The route between **Honolulu** and **Kahului** stands out as the airline’s top market, boasting as many as **22 daily departures**. This route, covering just **87 nautical miles** (161 km) one way, is essential for local residents, akin to a bus service.
In total, Hawaiian Airlines has four mainland U.S. routes this October. Notably, the Honolulu to **Portland** route, which operates **75 departures**, narrowly missed being included in the top ten rankings. The top ten routes for October are as follows:
– **Honolulu to Kahului**: 636 departures (19 to 22 daily)
– **Honolulu to Lihue**: 489 departures (15 to 18 daily)
– **Honolulu to Kona**: 439 departures (13 to 16 daily)
– **Honolulu to Hilo**: 359 departures (11 to 12 daily)
– **Honolulu to Las Vegas**: 124 departures (four daily)
– **Honolulu to Seattle**: 124 departures (four daily)
– **Kahului to Kona**: 93 departures (three daily)
– **Kahului to Lihue**: 93 departures (three daily)
– **Honolulu to Los Angeles**: 88 departures (two to three daily)
– **Honolulu to San Diego**: 85 departures (two to three daily)
Honolulu to Kahului: A Key Connection
The **Honolulu to Kahului** route is particularly noteworthy, with Hawaiian Airlines holding a **72%** share of the flights in October. On select Fridays, including October 10, 17, and 24, the airline operates up to **22 daily departures**. This route exemplifies a shuttle service, with flights scheduled as frequently as every **20 minutes**.
Hawaiian Airlines utilizes its **128-seat Boeing 717s** for these short interisland services, which are ideal for high-frequency operations. In contrast, **Southwest Airlines** deploys larger **175-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8s**, resulting in a shift in market share. Hawaiian’s market share falls from **72%** in departures to **66%** when measured by available seats.
Flight schedules for October 10 illustrate the frequency of departures:
**Honolulu to Kahului Departures:**
05:36, 06:15, 06:56, 07:32, 08:52, 09:53, 10:52, 11:25, 11:54, 12:45, 13:25, 14:15, 14:56, 15:30, 16:00, 16:28, 16:55, 17:18, 18:00, 18:38, 19:48, 21:23
**Kahului to Honolulu Departures:**
06:00, 06:49, 07:28, 08:09, 08:45, 09:25, 09:45, 10:05, 10:25, 11:25, 11:55, 12:26, 13:30, 14:40, 15:30, 16:10, 16:55, 17:40, 18:30, 19:12, 19:47, 21:00
Over the past two decades, Hawaiian Airlines has previously operated as many as **32 daily departures** on the Honolulu-Kahului route, with the last occurrence noted in December 2019.
Passenger Trends and Market Insights
Data from the **U.S. Department of Transportation** indicates that the Honolulu-Kahului route attracted over **two million** round-trip passengers from July 2024 to June 2025, making it the **15th most popular** airport-level market in the United States. When combined, Hawaiian and Southwest Airlines filled just **63%** of their seats on this route. Hawaiian Airlines achieved a **76%** seat occupancy, while Southwest reported a significantly lower **46%**.
As capacity cuts have taken effect, Southwest’s occupancy rate has improved from **39%** in the year leading up to February 2025. The airline continues to view this route as strategically important for its operations.
Overall, Hawaiian Airlines remains a significant player in the regional airline market, leveraging its extensive network and fleet capabilities to maintain a strong presence amid changing dynamics in the airline industry.
