Airlines’ Support for Travelers and Residents Amid Maui Wildfires

The devastation in Maui resulting from the deadly wildfires has required assistance and support from all quarters.

With entire communities leveled, food shortages, power outages, and the basic necessities of daily life unavailable, —emergency responders, rescue organizations, local businesses, and individuals on Maui have all been working tirelessly to pick up the pieces.

That effort includes support from airlines as well. U.S. airlines provided 145 relief flights between August 10 and August 14, according to Airlines for America. Those flights helped bring survivors to safety off the island.

Airlines that are members of Airlines for America are also ditching typical change fees and policies in order to provide increased flexibility for travelers whose plans were impacted by the fires. This has included travel waivers to and from the airport in Maui.

While leisure travel to Maui has been mostly halted, here’s a closer look at how individual airlines have stepped in to provide assistance during what has been the mostly deadly wildfire in Hawaii’s state history and in more than a century in the United States.

Alaska Airlines
Already, Alaska Airlines has transported more than 120,000 pounds of relief supplies. That has included water, non-perishable food, blankets, baby formula and more to West Maui communities.

Airline employees on Maui have provided multiple deliveries of these provisions to severely affected neighborhoods in Lāhainā, Olowalu, Napili-Honokōwai and others.

“Despite not typically operating flights between the Hawaiian Islands, the airline deployed two special evacuation flights between Maui and O‘ahu to deliver vital provisions and facilitate the movement of residents and visitors from Maui,” according to information released by Airlines for America.

But that’s not all. The Alaska Airlines Foundation, together with Alaska employees and their company’s employee Matching Gift program, have pledged more than $100,000 to Kāko‘o Maui through the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), which works to enhance the cultural, economic, political and community development of Native Hawaiians. All proceeds will go directly to Maui organizations in support of ongoing relief efforts.

In addition, Alaska Airlines has donated 5 million miles to Kanu Hawaiʻi and Maui Rapid Response, which can be used to help relocate displaced Maui residents while they work to rebuild what they have lost. Alaska will also match the first 1 million miles donated by Alaska Mileage Plan members through August 31.

American Airlines
American Airlines has also been doing its part to aid evacuation and recovery efforts. That has included adding additional flights on larger aircraft to provide more seats to accommodate individuals who are seeking to leave Maui.

Since the wildfires began on August 9, American operated 21 flights from Kahului (Maui) to evacuate more than 4,200 customers from the island, according to information released by Airlines for America.

The airline is also supporting the Red Cross disaster relief efforts, according to the trade organization. And AAdvantage members who want to do something to help are now able to earn 10 AAdvantage bonus miles for every dollar donated with a minimum of $25 donation to the Red Cross.

Employees at American are supporting those impacted by the wildfires by providing essential items to the airport and throughout the island.

“They are also working with Feeding America and Baby 2 Baby to send shipments of critical supplies such as nonperishable food items, baby formula, diapers, feminine products and more to the island,” according to Airlines for America.

Delta Air Lines
Delta’s support for Maui and Hawaii has included contributing $250,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in disaster response and relief efforts.

Delta customers are also able to support relief efforts by donating through Delta’s Customer Microsite, in partnership with the Red Cross. Additionally, Delta employees in Maui have been assisting evacuees at the airport by providing basic food and services to customers.

“Delta also has delivered shipments of toiletries, bottled water, food and other necessities to assist with immediate relief efforts and continues to aid in evacuation efforts,” said the Airlines for America statement.

Hawaiian Airlines
Like many other airlines, Hawaiian Airlines added additional flights to assist in response to the disaster. Those flights are running between from Kahului to Honolulu. As of Friday, August 11, Hawaiian had transported more than 12,500 people out of Maui.

“They have also been carrying essential cargo on their aircraft, along with donating and shipping soft goods and catering items for evacuees arriving at Kahului Airport,” said the Airlines for America release.

Hawaiian Airlines also announced they are working with the with Hawaiʻi Foodbank and Maui Food Bank on food collection and distribution and will donate $150,000 to further support the organizations’ wildfire relief work.

In addition, to respond more efficiently to the organizations and individuals seeking flight, cargo or volunteer support, Hawaiian has launched the Mālama Maui Desk.

Some of the other efforts from Hawaiian Airlines include:

Supporting Maui Ola: A benefit concert for Maui, a live concert and broadcast fundraiser that will take place at 5 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.
Hawaiian has activated Team Kōkua, Hawaiian’s employee volunteer group, to support guests and staff in Honolulu and Kahului. Employees are on the ground assisting at the Honolulu Convention Center and other shelter facilities for visitors.
If you’re a Hawaiian Airlines customer and want to assist, consider donating their miles to HawaiianMiles on behalf of the American Red Cross of Hawaii.

Southwest Airlines
Southwest immediately began adding daily service across the Pacific and within the state of Hawaii at the outset of the deadly fires. The additional capacity has been used to help move people, pets and provide critical supplies.

Southwest is also working with Hawaii law enforcement and local firefighting agencies to provide a continual shuttle of first responders.

United Airlines
Between August 8 and August 13 United Airlines transported more than 11,000 people off the island of Maui. The carrier also flew in responders from the American Red Cross, Air Link and World Central Kitchen.

During the same time frame, United operated 62 departures, including 28 with widebody aircraft, while also adding capacity in and out of Honolulu, where many evacuees first traveled seeking transport to the mainland. Additionally, working in partnership with the American Red Cross, United sent supplies such as clean-up kits including work gloves, trash bags, cleaning materials and packages of supplies for use in shelters.

Some 43 million miles and nearly $450,000 through has been donated to the relief effort by United and its customers via the Miles on a Mission campaign that the airline launched for its humanitarian aid and disaster relief partners.

If you’d like to learn more about the latest conditions in Maui, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is providing regular updates. The most recent update was issued this morning.