Aviation
AIRLINES JOIN MAUI WILDFIRES RELIEF EFFORTS
August 11, 2023

US airlines are responding to Maui's wildfire disaster by helping with evacuation and relief efforts.

 

American Airlines said it added an extra flight on August 10 (Thursday) and upgraded one Los Angeles-bound plane from a 190-seat aircraft to one with 273 seats "to ensure customers evacuating OGG [in Maui] are able to do so."

The airline noted that it is also upgrading another Los Angeles-bound flight to a larger plane on August 11 (Friday), and adding a round-trip rescue flight each day on Saturday and Sunday between Maui and Los Angeles.

 

"We'll continue to monitor the evacuation needs from Maui and adjust our operation in a way that supports our customers and our team," American Airlines said in a statement.

 

The airline has also partnered with the American Red Cross to provide much-needed relief to those affected by the wildfires.

 

United Airlines said separately that it cancelled inbound flights to Maui on Thursday so planes can fly empty and be used to ferry passengers back to the mainland.

 

"Our teams are monitoring the situation closely and adjusting our schedule so we can keep serving our customers under difficult conditions," the carrier said in a statement.

 

The airline also said it would match up to 1 million miles donated to Airlink Flight, a nonprofit disaster relief organization, and the American Red Cross through the end of the month.

 

On August 11, the Chicago-based carrier launched two cargo shipments carrying more than 80,000 pounds of critical supplies to Kahului Airport (OGG) — the main airport of Maui — from its hub in San Francisco.

 

Atlanta-headquartered Delta Air Lines has operated extra flights out of Maui, instated fare caps, and offered travel waivers, among others.

 

To assist with aiding the island, the carrier said it would contribute US$250,000 to the American Red Cross to help with aid.

 

Alaska Airlines sent rescue flights and wildfire relief to aid Maui's deadliest wildfire in over a century, which has claimed 93 lives as of Monday.

 

The airline said it flew an aircraft full of relief supplies to Maui and brought back passengers to Seattle in addition to several other rescue flights planned.

 

The flight was filled with relief supplies, including water, non-perishable food, pillows, blankets, towels, wipes, baby formula and diapers.

 

Additionally, the carrier, which does not normally operate inter-island flights, said it was sending flights between OGG and Honolulu "to move guests off the island and bring critical supplies in."

 

Alaska Airlines said it is also donating  5 million miles to Kanu Hawai‘i, its non-profit partner.

 

The Alaska Airlines Foundation is also donating US$25,000 to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA).

 

Maui said in a statement that all nonessential travel to the Island of Maui is "strongly discouraged" as the community pursues its relief efforts.