Southwest unveils stunning new Hawaii-themed aircraft
Aloha, Imua!
Southwest Airlines unveiled its newest special livery airplane Friday during an event at Long Beach Airport (LGB), celebrating the fourth anniversary of its first commercial flight to Hawaii.
The new Boeing 737 MAX 8 is dubbed Imua One (after the rallying cry in the native Hawaiian language), and it's the airline's 14th state-themed paint job (including America's plane Freedom One, which is draped in the U.S. flag). However, it stands out as the first one with a design not centered around the state's flag.
Instead, the airline worked with Honolulu-based Osaki Creative Group and local Indigenous artist Herman Pi'ikea Clark to develop a comprehensive design incorporating various aspects of Hawaiian culture and values blended with Southwest's branding.
At an event with employees, media and officials from the city and airport, the airplane flew above the runway, circled around and landed to rounds of applause. Then, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan gave a presentation.
Hawaiian minister Kordell C. L. Kekoa performed a blessing and dedication, and airline employees and other dignitaries placed an oversized traditional lei over the aircraft's nose for a photo.
The design centers around eight elements that "represent concepts in Hawaiian culture that also align with Southwest values," the airline said in a press release.
According to the airline, the concepts are largely conceptual and abstract in their representation. They include:
- Ohana (family).
- Honu (turtle).
- Aina (land).
- Ama (support).
- Hoku (star).
- Kai (ocean).
- Lokahi (unity).
- Imua (forward).
The symbols are arranged in bands spanning the aircraft over a color gradient that Southwest says is meant to evoke images of sunset — blending from yellow to red to blue. It also incorporates Southwest's branding.
Imua One, with the tail number N8710M, is also the first aircraft in Southwest's fleet to feature its new cabin design, including power ports at every seat and larger overhead bins.
Following the Long Beach event, the airline will fly the new aircraft to Honolulu. It will visit each island to throw a celebration for staff members — a major morale booster as the airline continues to shake off the brand damage it incurred during a holiday season meltdown.
The airline's 737 MAX fleet is particularly well equipped for the Hawaii routes, although Southwest uses its older, reliable 737 workhorses as well. In fact, the airline grew the service during the 2019 and 2020 grounding of the newer MAX.
It took time for Southwest's Hawaii service to fully mature, with interruptions caused by the MAX grounding and the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline currently flies to airports in five Hawaiian destinations: Honolulu, Maui, Kona, Hilo and Lihue. Flights leave from eight mainland cities:
- Long Beach, California.
- Oakland, California.
- Sacramento.
- San Jose, California.
- Los Angeles.
- San Diego.
- Las Vegas.
- Phoenix.
Unlike other mainland airlines that fly to Hawaii, Southwest also offers interisland service. As of April, Southwest was operating 90 departures a day. Sixty of these were interisland departures, putting renewed pressure on Hawaiian Airlines.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees