Alaska Airlines has announced new daily non-stop service to Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, from Oakland International Airport (OAK) from April 10, 2012 and Hawaiian Airlines plans to bring more capacity on the route in the New Year, a major boost for the US facility. Combined, the two airlines will offer six peak day non-stop flights from OAK to the Hawaiian Islands during 2012.

Alaska’s daily service to Honolulu is its sixth non-stop destination from OAK and the fourth Hawaiian Island destination, securing the airline’s place as the airport’s second largest carrier. It currently offers daily service to Kahului, Maui, and will expand to daily service to Kona, on the Big Island, and Lihue, Kauai, beginning March 12, 2012. Alaska also has multiple daily flights to Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Hawaiian Airlines flies daily from OAK to its Honolulu hub, and will increase its seasonal non-stop service to Maui to year-round in early 2012.

“This spring, there will be more than 1,000 peak day seats leaving to the Hawaiian Islands from Oakland International,” said John Albrecht, Aviation Marketing & Communications Manager for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. “Given that the first transoceanic flights from North America to the Hawaiian Islands originated from OAK in 1927, it is fitting that Oakland International becomes a major gateway to Hawaii today.

The number of airlines seats to Hawaii has rebounded from the recession, and has more than quadrupled from the 264 daily seats offered in summer 2008. OAK has emerged as a major mainland gateway to the Hawaiian Islands, joining a select group of US airports with flights to the four major islands.