Alaska Airlines is reportedly planning to launch nonstop flights to Honolulu from two key Southern California airports: Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA). If confirmed, these new routes would utilize the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and mark the return of direct Hawaii service for both airports after significant absences.
The potential new services would provide travelers in the San Fernando Valley and Orange County with a direct link to the Hawaiian Islands, bypassing the need to travel to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). While the airline has not officially announced the routes, the move is seen as a strategic expansion following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.
Key Takeaways
- Alaska Airlines is expected to announce new nonstop routes from Burbank (BUR) and Orange County (SNA) to Honolulu (HNL).
- The flights would be operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which is suited for longer routes from airports with shorter runways.
- These routes would become the longest scheduled passenger services from both Burbank and Orange County.
- The expansion would bring the total number of California airports with direct Honolulu service to ten, a record high.
Reconnecting Southern California with the Islands
For years, travelers in the densely populated areas surrounding Burbank and Orange County have relied on connecting flights or driving to LAX for direct service to Hawaii. The introduction of these routes would represent a significant shift, capturing what is known in the industry as "passenger leakage" to larger hubs.
The proposed service from Hollywood Burbank Airport would span approximately 2,225 nautical miles (4,121 km). This distance would make it the airport's longest route, surpassing the current leader, JetBlue's service to New York's JFK Airport.
Burbank has not had a direct flight to Honolulu since 2005, when Aloha Airlines ended its service. That route, operated with a Boeing 737-700, was active for three years and demonstrated a consistent demand, carrying over 177,000 passengers during its tenure.
A Strategic Move for the Alaska Air Group
The potential new routes are widely seen as an early outcome of the Alaska Air Group's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. By leveraging its expanded network, Alaska can open new point-to-point routes that might have previously been unfeasible, directly challenging competitors in lucrative leisure markets.
Operational Considerations at Shorter Runways
Both Burbank and Orange County are known for their relatively short runways compared to major international airports. Burbank's longest runway is 6,886 feet, while Orange County's is even shorter at 5,700 feet. These physical limitations present operational challenges for long-haul flights.
However, the chosen aircraft, the Boeing 737 MAX 8, offers improved takeoff performance and fuel efficiency compared to older generation aircraft like the 737-800. This makes it capable of operating such routes, though some payload restrictions—limiting the number of passengers or amount of cargo—may be necessary, particularly on warmer days or with strong headwinds.
By the Numbers: Route Distances
- Burbank to Honolulu: 2,225 nautical miles (4,121 km)
- Orange County to Honolulu: 2,245 nautical miles (4,158 km)
- Los Angeles to Honolulu: 2,217 nautical miles (4,106 km)
Orange County's Return to Trans-Pacific Flights
The route from John Wayne Airport to Honolulu is slightly longer, at 2,245 nautical miles (4,158 km). This would also become the airport's longest service, a title it hasn't held since United Airlines discontinued its own Honolulu flights in February 2023.
United's service, which began in May 2021 during a surge in pandemic-era leisure travel, carried approximately 96,000 passengers with a solid 76% seat occupancy. Before that, Aloha Airlines maintained a presence on the route for nearly a decade until it ceased operations in 2008.
A Record for California-Hawaii Connectivity
If Alaska Airlines proceeds with these two routes, it will bring the total number of California airports with nonstop flights to Honolulu to ten. This would establish a new record for connectivity between the Golden State and the Hawaiian capital.
The full list of California airports with Honolulu service would include:
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- San Diego (SAN)
- San Jose (SJC)
- Sacramento (SMF)
- Oakland (OAK)
- Ontario (ONT)
- Long Beach (LGB)
- Burbank (BUR) - New
- Orange County (SNA) - New
This extensive network highlights the immense and enduring demand for travel between California and Hawaii. At its peak, the combined services could result in up to 59 daily flights, the highest number ever recorded for this market. While an official start date and schedule details remain unconfirmed, the new routes signal a confident expansion into underserved, high-demand leisure markets.
