Southwest Airlines Announces New Hawaii Service from Long Beach Airport

Long Beach, CA - Southwest Airlinesannouncedtoday that it will launch daily nonstop service from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Honolulu beginning in March 2021. The new flight is Southwest's only direct connection between Hawaii and the Greater Los Angeles area. Flights go on sale today atsouthwest.com.

'Southwest Airlines continues to be an important partner at Long Beach Airport,' said Mayor Robert Garcia. 'Our airport is a key economic engine for our city and this is positive news for our financial recovery. We expect even more good news soon.'

The air carrier is expected to announce additional new destinations in the coming weeks, as part of a recent increase from 17 to 34 daily slots at LGB. Southwest is currently only operating approximately 16 daily flights but more flights will come online as demand for air travel returns.

'We are thrilled to be selected as the first airport in the Los Angeles metropolitan area to offer direct Southwest flights to Hawaii,' said Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. 'We believe there is no better way to start your Hawaiian vacation than with our open air concourse and resort-like atmosphere.'

Today's news from Southwest Airlines was part of a nationwide schedule announcement as the airline seeks to adapt to fluctuating demand as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Leisure travel appears to be recovering more quickly than business travel.

'Long Beach is such a natural Southern California gateway for Southwest service to and from Hawaii, pairing our flexibility and value with the amenities and cool coastal vibe of the airport,' said Southwest Airlines Vice President of Network Planning Adam Decaire. 'In this season of gratitude, we're grateful for a partnership with the City of Long Beach that puts Hawaii in sight, and looks forward to a time when travel demand will support bringing additional service on Southwest.'

Southwest Airlines first began service from LGB in 2016 and is one of four air carriers offering a total of 53 daily flights. Flight slot utilization waivers are in effect due to the pandemic, resulting in significantly reduced flight activity for the time being.

LGB also offers direct flights to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines, which relaunches service Dec. 16. The two other air carriers serving LGB are American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. A list of destinations, currently influx due to reduced demand, is available here.

LGB has instituted a number of measures to enhance passenger safety, including physical distancing, new disinfecting protocols and a face covering requirement. People may read more about these measures online and watch a video of what it's like to fly through LGB with current precautions.

The City of Long Beach offers free COVID-19 testing at a number of sites, including at Long Beach City College Veterans Stadium located just one mile from the Airport.

Located near the border of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, LGB is in close proximity to numerous major attractions in Southern California.

About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 480,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly rated school district, Long Beach Airport and the Port of Long Beach. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas and bike paths.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Long Beach Airport
Founded in 1923, Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the oldest airport in California. Among its many awards, LGB was named a Top 10 airport in the 2020 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest for Best Small Airport. LGB offers non-stop service to several U.S. cities while supporting a healthy general aviation community with more than 300,000 annual operations. The airport is also a source of substantial economic activity and employment, with the LGB Aviation Complex generating $8.6 billion in economic impact and supporting 46,000 jobs. LGB is a self-supporting enterprise of the City of Long Beach and does not receive local tax dollars. The Airport prides itself in preserving its esteemed historic legacy and maintaining a safe, sustainable, and environmentally responsible operation. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LGBAirport.

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