To celebrate the anniversary of its first interisland flights within Hawaii and commemorate, beginning a fifth year of serving the Aloha State, Southwest Airlines unveiled Imua One.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, which was revealed on April 28,2023, has been covered in a Hawaii-themed aircraft livery that symbolizes an enduring partnership between the Hawaiian Islands and the carrier.
According to Southwest, the jet is dedicated to employees and to communities across Hawaii that welcomed the carrier.
Imua One is also the first Southwest aircraft with in-seat power available at every seat and is the third Boeing 737 MAX 8 in the fleet of specialty liveries.
The other 737 MAX 8 aircraft with special paint schemes include the Herbert D. Kelleher, dedicated to Southwest’s founder, and the Heroine of the Heart, a tribute to Southwest president emeritus Colleen C. Barrett.
Other special paint schemes in the Southwest fleet dedicated to specific states include Arizona One, California One, Colorado One, Florida One, Freedom One (flag of the United States of America), Illinois One, Lone Star One (Texas), Louisiana One, Maryland One, Missouri One, Nevada One, New Mexico One, and Tennessee One.
“When we dedicate an airplane, it’s not only a symbol of gratitude, but also of a promise we’ve made,” said Bob Jordan, president & CEO at Southwest Airlines. “Hawaii welcomed Southwest with warm aloha, and we approached serving the people of Hawaii with an earnest desire to connect them with important moments, places, and the people who matter most in their lives.”
Jordan added: “We’ve grown since our first arrival on the Islands four years ago, to 90 departures a day, thanks to the support of Island communities.”
Since its first service to Hawaii in 2019, Southwest has grown to serve five airports in the Aloha State, and to link the Hawaiian Islands to the mainland with nonstop service through eight gateway airports.