Southwest Just Made It Easier to Visit Hilo, Hawaii, With New Nonstop Flights

""We heard you, Hilo," Adam Decaire, Southwest's Airlines senior vice president of network planning and network operations control, said in a statement. "Las Vegas is important to you, and you're important to us. This service gets you faster to family and fun in Nevada where you also can access easy connections on Southwest to many of the 75 places that we serve nonstop from Las Vegas with as many 272 departures a day.""

"Located on the eastern side of Hawaii's Big Island, Hilo is known for its beautiful hiking trails, proximity to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and charming downtown boasting wooden storefronts. "Hilo is a beautiful destination with small-town charm that offers tons of adventure, and is intertwined with many different cultures that make it a special destination," Shawn Pila, the owner of Hilo-based The Surf Cottage, told T+L."

Southwest Airlines will begin nonstop service between Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Hilo International Airport (ITO) on Aug. 6, 2026, with three weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The new route will complement existing inter-island operations that run five times daily between Hilo and Honolulu and will expand mainland access to Hilo. One-way fares for the new Las Vegas–Hilo service start at $292. Hilo, located on the eastern side of the Big Island, offers hiking trails, proximity to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and a charming downtown with wooden storefronts. Southwest will continue serving Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Kona from the mainland and plans a partnership with Turkish Airlines next year.

Read at Travel + Leisure