For months, Southwest Airlines has been raising the possibility of true premium seats, long-haul routes and airport lounges.
Now it looks like at least one of those things may be coming true.
According to Hawaii state records, the airline this month got approval (PDF Link) to rent space to build a lounge at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu.
The news was first reported by an industry blogger. Enilria.
According documents (PDF Link) reviewed by TPG, the space would likely span two floors and measure a spacious 12,000 square feet inside Terminal 2, where Southwest operates its HNL flights.
This would be the first airport lounge for the Dallas-based airline and by far its deepest foray into the premium space.
It’s also something the airline’s CEO Bob Jordan has been hinting at for months, including last week on the company’s earnings conference call.
“We are actively pursuing continued changes to expand our product offerings for our customers,” Jordan told analysts on Oct. 23.
“Including things,” Jordan added, “like premium seating, airport lounges and long-haul international destinations.”
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So far, Southwest has not publicly confirmed that it will add airport lounges.
So it’s unclear how the airline might determine access for future clubs. However, it seems like a likely bet that the operator could use lounges as a way to sweeten the deal for its line of premium credit cards. which was just updated this summer.
Southwest is in the midst of a major transformation. After add checked baggage fees Earlier this year, the airline is now less than three months away from abandoning its long-standing open seating policy in favor of assigned seating, along with its new product with extra legroom now available on approximately half of its aircraft.
In 2025, the airline has also established new international air partnerships with IcelandairChina Airlines and EVA Air, and wait Rapid Rewards member redemptions debut on some of those carriers next year.
Southwest launched service to Hawaii in 2019 and, as of this month, flies nonstop from HNL to eight continental U.S. airports. It also operates several inter-island routes.
If the airline does indeed move forward with a club in Honolulu, it would join the competitive lounge landscape at the state’s largest airport. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have clubs at HNL, as do international airlines All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are Plotting a new premium club at the airport. after its merger in 2024.
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