Passengers at Kahului Airport (OGG) in Hawaii found themselves stranded after wildfires ravaged Maui, resulting in the cancellation and delay of flights. In response, airlines like American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines quickly added additional flights to evacuate travelers from the island. Ed Sniffen, the state’s transportation director, reported that over 11,000 people had been flown off the island since the fires began. The fires, which were fueled by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, caused significant damage to the seaside town of Lahaina.
Hawaiian Airlines took proactive measures by adding six extra flights to Maui and using larger planes between Honolulu and Maui to transport passengers, as well as essential supplies like water and food. To manage the crowding at Kahului Airport, they discouraged travelers without reservations from coming to the airport. Hawaiian Airlines prioritized transporting essential personnel and first responders, while also warning of potential disruptions on other routes as they focused on supporting Maui’s essential travel needs.
American Airlines also ensured that all scheduled flights to and from Kahului Airport would operate as planned. They even added an additional flight and upgraded the aircraft to a Boeing 777-200, one of their largest planes, to accommodate the evacuation of passengers from Maui.
Southwest Airlines joined the effort by increasing service to Hawaii from the U.S. mainland and offering intra-island flights. Meanwhile, United Airlines canceled their inbound flights to Kahului Airport on Thursday but arranged to fly empty aircraft to Maui for the purpose of picking up stranded travelers. Alaska Airlines added a “rescue flight” to their schedule, bringing the total number of departures from Maui to nine.
The airlines prioritized the safety of their employees and passengers, with Alaska Airlines considering the possibility of additional rescue flights to help evacuate more people from the island. Additionally, all major airlines waived fare differences and cancellation penalties for travelers whose plans were affected by the wildfires.
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