Aloha, y’all!

Austin airport says aloha to first nonstop flight to Hawaii

Let's get our vaccine and then get lei'd in Hawaii.

Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines

The U.S Food & Drug Administration has approved the first COVID-19 vaccine for use in the United States, which means there is finally a light at the end of this long, dark pandemic tunnel. So where are we going to celebrate? That would be Hawaii.

On Tuesday, December 8, Hawaiian Airlines announced it is beginning nonstop service from Austin to Honolulu on April 21, 2021 — the first nonstop flight from the Capital City to the Aloha State.

Austin is just the 16th U.S. city to land Hawaiian Airlines, which will use an Airbus A330 on its flights from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, notes a release. Though it doesn't yet specify what days, the airline said it will conduct service two times a week.

“Even though this year has had unprecedented impacts to the airline and airport industries, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport remains committed to providing the best service we can to our passengers,” said ABIA CEO Jacqueline Yaft. “We know that many Central Texans will be eager to travel next year and we are excited to offer an easy and convenient way for them to explore Hawai'i.”

The release also notes that Hawaii is an increasingly popular destination for Texans — and likely to become even more popular once post-pandemic airline traffic ramps up.

Along with Austin, Hawaiian announced nonstop service to two more cities next spring: Orlando, Florida, and Ontario, California. The airline also announced it will be expanding service from Long Beach, California, to Kahului, Maui, beginning March 9.

vacation transportation

A New Frontier

Ultra-low cost airline adds 4 new nonstop flights from Austin in 2025

Photo courtesy of Frontier Airlines

undefined

New low-cost, nonstop flights are on the horizon for Austin travelers. Budget-friendly carrier Frontier Airlines will double its nonstop routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in 2025 by adding four new destinations to its docket.

According to a release, Frontier will launch nonstop service from Austin to Orlando (MCO), Chicago (ORD), Cincinnati (CVG), and Phoenix (PHX) in March 2025. The four new routes join its existing nonstop service from Austin to Atlanta (ATL), Cleveland (CLE), Denver (DEN), and Las Vegas (LAS).

Service to Orlando and Chicago begins March 6, 2025, and will operate three times a week. Service to Cincinnati and Phoenix follows on March 7, 2025, and will be available twice a week.

In conjunction with the announcement, the discount airline is promoting fares as low as $49 each way for the new routes on select travel dates. The special rates are available for Frontier's Discount Den members through November 25 only.

A review of standard fares for March travel on the new routes shows prices ranging from $253-$289 round trip per person.

“It’s fantastic to see our partners at Frontier expand their offerings to AUS customers,” said AUS CEO Ghizlane Badawi in the release. “Providing ultra-low cost nonstop flights to our community plays an important role in giving options to travelers and making air travel accessible for Central Texans.”

A reminder for future Frontier travelers: The low-cost airline currently operates out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's South Terminal, along with Allegiant Airlines. In 2026, both airlines will relocate to the main Barbara Jordan Terminal, as the South Terminal is slated to close amid airport expansion plans.

abia frontier austin airport nonstop flights