Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have launched a new daily seasonal nonstop service between Honolulu and Hollywood Burbank, giving travelers another direct option between Hawaii and Southern California during the busy summer season.
The new route began operating on Wednesday and is scheduled to continue through August 18, strengthening the airlines’ growing joint network after Alaska’s integration with Hawaiian. The service connects Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu with Hollywood Burbank Airport, a move aimed at capturing strong summer leisure demand while widening access for both Hawaii residents and mainland travelers.
For passengers, the addition of Burbank is significant because it offers a more convenient gateway for those traveling to and from the Los Angeles region without relying solely on larger airports such as Los Angeles International. With the launch of this route, the combined Alaska-Hawaiian network now links Hawaii with nine airports across California, reinforcing the carriers’ position in one of the busiest U.S. leisure travel markets.
The Honolulu-Burbank service is being operated once a day using a Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. Alaska said the route is part of its broader effort to improve connectivity between California and the Hawaiian Islands at a time when travel demand remains strong. The airline group expects to operate nearly 23,000 flights between California and Hawaii this year, underscoring the scale of its presence on the West Coast-to-Islands corridor.
The Burbank addition also gives the airlines a fourth gateway in the greater Los Angeles area for Hawaii-bound traffic, alongside their existing Southern California operations. That broader reach is expected to benefit travelers looking for more flexibility, especially during peak vacation months when demand for nonstop island service tends to rise.
The launch comes as Alaska and Hawaiian continue combining parts of their operations to offer a more seamless passenger experience. In recent months, the airlines have moved closer on systems and network coordination, allowing them to market a wider range of routes more effectively. That strategy appears to be focused not only on boosting convenience for travelers, but also on deepening their competitive edge on routes between the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii.
Beyond Honolulu, the combined airlines already offer additional nonstop service from other Hawaiian destinations, including Kahului, Lihue and Kona, depending on the route and season. Their wider network now gives customers more choices for both point-to-point travel and connecting itineraries, especially for travelers starting from California.
The new Burbank route also carries historical significance for the market. According to Alaska’s network update, this is the first time Honolulu and Burbank have been linked by nonstop service in more than two decades. That makes the route more than just a seasonal expansion; it also represents the return of a direct air link that had long been absent from the market.
Round-trip fares for the new service were advertised from around $500 at launch, although prices are expected to vary depending on travel dates and availability. As with most summer routes to Hawaii, demand and booking patterns will likely play a major role in determining how competitive fares remain over the coming weeks.
For Alaska and Hawaiian, the new service is another sign that their Hawaii-California strategy is moving beyond simple route additions and toward a broader network play centered on scale, convenience and frequency. For travelers, it means one more nonstop option at a time when direct flights and airport convenience continue to matter as much as price.
With summer travel now underway, the new Honolulu-Burbank service is likely to appeal to both vacationers seeking easier access to Hawaii and island residents looking for a more practical Southern California arrival point. If demand holds through the season, the route could also offer an early indication of how aggressively Alaska and Hawaiian plan to build out their shared network in the months ahead.
