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Southwest Airlines awaiting approval to begin flights to Hawaii

Posted at 5:41 AM, Feb 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-06 07:41:27-05
Southwest Airlines
Photo of a Southwest Airlines plane on the ground in Honoulu on Feb. 5, 2019. (KHNL)

HONOLULU – Southwest Airlines is awaiting final approval from the federal government to begin flights to Hawaii.

The airline performed a long-range duration flight from Oakland, Calif. to Honolulu on Tuesday. Airline employees and U.S. government inspectors were onboard the flight. Those inspectors will help decide whether the airline will be certified for overwater flying.

This is considered to be the last step before the airline can announce fares or flight schedules to the popular vacation spot.

The airline said it will not releae information about potential fares or schedules until it receives certication from the FAA.

Southwest began flying to international destinations in 2014. The airline currently offers service to Mexico, Aruba, Cuba, Costa Rica, the Bahamas and Jamaica among other Caribbean destinations.

The airline offers flights from Denver International Airport, but it does not offer flights from Colorado Springs.