What Are the Best Airlines That Fly to Hawaii?

With six major U.S. carriers now serving Hawaii, "best" depends on what you're ranking for — but here's how the airlines that fly to Hawaii stack up across the categories that matter most to travelers.

Best Overall: Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines consistently ranks as the best airline to fly to Hawaii for the overall experience. It's the only carrier offering complimentary meals (including wine) on mainland routes, a free 50-pound checked bag specifically on Hawaii flights, and a level of Hawaiian hospitality that starts the moment you board. As of 2026, Hawaiian operates within the Alaska Air Group family following a completed merger, though the Hawaiian brand remains on any flight touching the islands.

Best for Widest Route Network: Alaska Airlines

Alaska has expanded its Hawaii routes more aggressively than any other carrier in 2026, adding new connections like Burbank to Honolulu (the first in 20 years on that route) and increased frequency from Los Angeles to Maui. If route flexibility and frequency matter most, Alaska currently leads the pack.

Best for Nationwide Hub Access: Delta Air Lines

Delta connects Hawaii from more diverse mainland hub cities than most competitors — Atlanta, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Detroit — with a restored Boston-to-Honolulu route returning for winter 2026–2027. For travelers outside the West Coast, Delta is frequently the most convenient single-carrier option.

Best for Kona-Specific Service: United Airlines

United's strength lies in its particularly extensive route network into Kona on the Big Island, among the most robust of any U.S. carrier serving that airport specifically. If the Big Island (and Kona in particular) is your destination, United deserves a close look.

Best Value: Southwest Airlines

Southwest has grown into a serious budget contender for Hawaii travel, now offering 10 total routes between Honolulu and the mainland, including a new Las Vegas-to-Hilo connection for 2026. Combined with two free checked bags included in every fare, Southwest often delivers the lowest total trip cost once baggage fees are factored in against other carriers.

Best for Loyalty Program Members: American Airlines

American rounds out the major legacy carriers serving Hawaii and is worth prioritizing primarily if you're already invested in the AAdvantage program or connecting through American's broader hub network for other legs of your trip.

Best for Canadian Travelers: Air Canada

For travelers departing from Canada, Air Canada is frequently the only direct option, with daily Boeing 787 Dreamliner service from Vancouver to Honolulu, including lie-flat business and premium economy seating.

Ranking Summary by Category

How to Decide Which "Best" Applies to You

The right airline depends on where you're departing from and what you're optimizing for. Since flying to Hawaii is a longer trip than most domestic travel, it's worth comparing airlines that fly to Hawaii from your specific city rather than assuming one airline is universally best — route availability and pricing shift by both departure city and season, and 2026 in particular has brought a wave of new routes that weren't available even a year ago.

Bottom Line

There's no single best airline that flies to Hawaii for every traveler — Hawaiian wins on experience, Alaska and Delta lead on route networks, Southwest wins on value, and United stands out specifically for Kona. Matching the ranking category that matters most to your trip is a better strategy than picking a single "winner" across the board.