Alaska Airlines will launch daily nonstop service between Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) starting May 13, 2026, the carrier confirmed. It is the first direct flight between Burbank and Hawaii in more than 20 years, and tickets are on sale now.
The route lands as Burbank Airport prepares to open its replacement passenger terminal in October 2026, part of the Elevate BUR modernization project. It also fits Alaska's broader West Coast expansion following its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, which closed in 2024 and produced the combined Atmos Rewards program that launched in October 2025.
What's Flying and When
The flight will be operated on Boeing 737 aircraft in Alaska's standard domestic configuration, with First Class and a Main Cabin that includes extra-legroom Premium Class seats. Service is daily and listed as seasonal. Alaska has not yet published an end date for the inaugural season, but the carrier typically runs West Coast to Hawaii summer schedules through late August or early September.
Hollywood Burbank Airport Executive Director John Hatanaka thanked Alaska Airlines for selecting Burbank as a Southern California gateway to Hawaii in the airport's announcement. The airport has been working for years to attract a Hawaii route, and a daily nonstop is a meaningful win for a single-runway facility that has historically focused on shorter domestic routes.
Why It Matters for Southern California Travelers
Direct flights to Hawaii from secondary Los Angeles-area airports are rare. For travelers in the San Fernando Valley, Ventura County, and surrounding suburbs, Burbank is a far quicker drive than LAX, with shorter security lines and easier parking access. That practical convenience is the core reader takeaway here: this route trades the LAX experience for a simpler one without forcing a connection.
For points and miles travelers, the route opens a new redemption lane on the Alaska Mileage Plan. Alaska's distance-based award chart typically prices mainland-to-Hawaii economy redemptions at 15,000 miles each way, which remains one of the better fixed-price options for reaching the islands. With the carrier's Hawaiian Airlines integration, members can earn and redeem miles across both networks under the unified Atmos Rewards program.
The Competitive Picture
Southwest Airlines currently serves Burbank to Hawaii only via connections, primarily through Oakland or San Jose. Alaska's nonstop saves roughly 90 minutes of total travel time versus those itineraries. Hawaiian Airlines serves the Los Angeles market from LAX with widebody aircraft and lie-flat business class on its longer routes, which is the better fit for travelers prioritizing a premium cabin over airport convenience.
Burbank's shorter runway limits which aircraft can operate there, which is part of why direct Hawaii service has been hard to sustain in the past. Alaska's 737 fits within those constraints. If load factors hold up, the carrier has a history of extending West Coast Hawaii routes from seasonal to year-round, so this could expand if demand supports it.
What To Watch
A few things worth tracking as the May launch approaches. First, introductory fares: Alaska frequently runs sales on its Hawaii routes, and new route launches tend to come with promotional pricing as the carrier builds awareness. Award space on launch days is usually generous, then tightens.
Second, the broader Alaska 2026 schedule. The airline has announced roughly a dozen new routes for 2026, including additions from San Diego, Portland, and Seattle. Burbank to Honolulu is one of the more strategically interesting because it taps a market that LAX has dominated by default.
Third, the merged operation. Cardholders of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card receive a companion fare certificate after spending $6,000 per anniversary year. Following the Hawaiian merger, those certificates have been usable on select Hawaiian-operated flights as part of the combined network, which expands their practical value for Hawaii travel.
The Bottom Line
Alaska's return to Burbank after more than 20 years fills a real gap. For Southern California travelers who would rather not drive to LAX, a daily nonstop on a points-friendly carrier is genuinely useful, and the 15,000-mile economy redemption keeps it interesting for award bookers. Whether the seasonal route extends past the inaugural summer will depend on how the first few months perform, but the structural case for the route is strong: a captive suburban catchment, a carrier with the right aircraft, and a merged loyalty program that now spans both Alaska and Hawaiian networks.
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