For months, Southwest Airways has been teasing the potential of true premium seats, long-haul routes and airport lounges.
Now, it seems not less than a type of issues could also be coming true.
In line with Hawaii state data, the airline this month gained approval (PDF hyperlink) to lease area to construct a lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel Okay. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL).
The information was first reported by business blogger Enilria.
In line with paperwork (PDF hyperlink) reviewed by TPG, the area would doubtless span two flooring and measure an expansive 12,000 sq. toes inside Terminal 2, the place Southwest operates its HNL flights.
This might be the primary airport lounge for the Dallas-based service, and by far its deepest foray into the premium area.
It is also one thing that the airline’s CEO, Bob Jordan, has been hinting at for months — together with simply final week on the corporate’s earnings name.
“We’re actively continued adjustments to widen our product providing for our prospects,” Jordan advised analysts Oct. 23.
“Together with issues,” Jordan added, “like premium seating, airport lounges and long-haul worldwide locations.”
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Southwest has up to now not publicly confirmed it is including airport lounges.
Due to that, it stays unclear how the airline would possibly decide entry for any future golf equipment. Nonetheless, it appears a possible guess the service might use lounges as a option to sweeten the deal for its top-tier bank card lineup — which simply acquired a refresh this summer time.
Southwest is within the midst of a significant transformation. After including checked bag charges earlier this yr, the service is now lower than three months away from ditching its long-standing open-seating coverage in favor of assigned seats — together with its new extra-legroom product now accessible on roughly half of its planes.
2025 has additionally seen the service strike up new worldwide airline partnerships with Icelandair, China Airways and EVA Air, and it expects to debut Speedy Rewards associate redemptions on a few of these carriers subsequent yr.
Southwest launched Hawaii service in 2019, and, as of this month, flies nonstop from HNL to eight U.S. mainland airports. It additionally operates a number of interisland routes.
If the airline certainly strikes ahead with a Honolulu membership, it will be a part of a aggressive lounge panorama on the state’s greatest airport. American Airways, Delta Air Traces and United Airways all have golf equipment at HNL, as do worldwide carriers All Nippon Airways, Japan Airways and Qatar Airways. Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways are plotting a brand new premium membership on the airport following their 2024 merger.
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