This California City Launches First Flights To Honolulu In 20 Years

Share The Article

Whether you’re a Southern California local or a visitor looking for a stress-free gateway to the islands, we’ve got some very welcome news at Travel Off Path: avoiding the chaos of LAX is about to get much easier. Hollywood Burbank is finally getting its own nonstop to the islands for the first time in more than 20 years.

Alaska Airlines is launching a new Burbank – Honolulu route next year, giving travelers a seamless alternative to reach paradise without battling the notorious freeways and mega-terminal crowds of Los Angeles’ main hub.

Which California City Just Scored Hawaii Flights?

The headline city is Burbank, home to Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) – the small, super-convenient airport right by the studios and the San Fernando Valley.

Here’s what’s been announced:

• Route: Hollywood Burbank (BUR) – Honolulu (HNL)
• Airline: Alaska Airlines
• Launch date: May 13, 2026
• Frequency: Daily, summer seasonal service
• Aircraft: Boeing 737
• Booking: Tickets are already on sale via Alaska’s website

According to both Alaska Airlines and the airport’s own announcement, this is the first time BUR and Honolulu have been connected nonstop in more than two decades, making it a pretty big milestone for a “secondary” L.A. airport.

Why This Is A Big Win For L.A. Travelers

We’ve talked before about how using alternative airports around L.A. can save you money and stress compared to flying out of LAX. For a lot of Angelenos, Hollywood Burbank Airport is the dream combo:

• Smaller terminal, shorter walks to the gate
• Usually faster security lines
• Easier rideshare pick-up and drop-off
• Super convenient if you live in the Valley, Glendale, Pasadena, or Burbank itself

Instead of driving an hour (or more) to LAX or heading all the way to Orange County for a Hawaii flight, you’ll be able to hop to Honolulu from a low-stress airport that’s much closer to home.

And this isn’t happening in a vacuum. We’ve been tracking a huge wave of new routes out of the U.S., from Dallas–Brisbane and New York–St. Vincent to Newark–Marrakesh. Airlines clearly see that travelers want more direct, point-to-point options — not just the same old big-hub connections.

Burbank Airport Is Quietly Leveling Up

These Hawaii flights are part of a broader glow-up for BUR:

• A brand-new terminal with 14 gates is under construction and is scheduled to open in October 2026.
• The project is budgeted at around $1.3 billion and is designed to keep that “easy airport” feel while upgrading the facilities.
• Airlines like Allegiant, Breeze, and JetBlue are all ramping up or restarting service at Burbank over the next couple of years.

At the same time, other Southern California airports are seeing more Hawaii connectivity too. Alaska’s own expansion includes more Hawaii flights from major West Coast hubs, and Southwest is adding a new nonstop between Ontario and Honolulu, boosting options across the region.

For travelers, that means more ways to piece together an itinerary that works with your schedule and your sanity — whether that’s leaving from BUR, ONT, LAX, or somewhere else along the coast.

Hawaii Is Already Trending — This Just Makes It Easier

If it feels like everyone you know is going to Hawaii lately, you’re not imagining it. Alaska Airlines has already called Hawaii the top trending U.S. destination right now thanks to strong year-over-year demand for the islands.

Add the new Burbank–Honolulu route into that mix, and SoCal travelers suddenly have:

• More airport choices
• More ways to avoid long connections
• Better odds of finding a fare and schedule that actually fit your life

Who This New Route Is Perfect For

This Burbank–Honolulu nonstop is especially tempting if:

• You live in Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, or the Valley and hate slogging to LAX
• You want to pair a few days in L.A. (think Hollywood, theme parks, studio tours) with a week in Hawaii without changing airports
• You’re a frequent Hawaii traveler who values convenience and smaller airports over big-hub lounges
• You’re trying to travel with kids and want the simplest, most direct route possible

Tips From Travel Off Path For Booking This Flight

A few quick strategies we’d use if we were planning a Burbank–Honolulu trip:

• Be flexible by a day or two. Daily seasonal routes can have big price swings depending on demand.
• Travel off-peak if you can. Late May, early June, and late August often price better than prime school-holiday weeks.
• Watch the seat maps early. It’s a single-aisle 737, so good window or aisle seats can go fast once word gets out.
• Stack it with a points strategy. If you already fly Alaska or its partners, this is a great way to earn or burn miles on a chill West Coast–to-Hawaii hop.

And as always, before you lock anything in, you can use Travel Off Path’s own tools like the 1-Minute Trip Check to make sure you’re up-to-date on any last-minute rule changes or safety updates for your trip.

Bottom line: if you’ve been holding off on a Hawaii vacation because LAX felt like too much of a headache, this new Burbank–Honolulu flight might be the push you needed.

For a lot of SoCal travelers, this is the most convenient way to reach the islands in decades — and we at Travel Off Path will definitely be keeping an eye on fares once they start heating up.