As the death toll rises to 80 in Maui with officials warning it will climb higher, United Airlines has sent a pair of widebody jets with critical relief supplies for the island residents and then using those aircraft to offer more seats to the US Mainland.
United Airlines Sends Widebody Jets To Maui Loaded With Relief Supplies
On Friday, August 11, 2023, United dispatched a pair of widebody jets from San Francisco (SFO) to Maui (OGG):
- United flight 3906 – Boeing 787
- United flight 3912 – Boeing 777
These flights had no passengers, but were carrying supplies on behalf of the American Red Cross, including:
- clean-up kits
- work gloves
- trash bags
- cleaning materials
- packages of supplies for use in shelters
- soap
- toothpaste
- toothbrush
- facial tissues
- blankets
Today, those aircraft will return to SFO with a full load of hundreds of passengers.
United is working with local officials and Kahului Airport to provide essential flights to those trying to leave the islands. Schedules have been adjusted for inbound flights to Maui with most aircraft flying without passengers. Since Wednesday, 23 United flights have departed Maui, with many more scheduled to run today. United also extended its travel waiver, which provides flexibility to anyone with travel scheduled to Hawaii through the end of August.
Donate Miles With 100% Match From United
Furthermore, United has launched a Miles on a Mission campaign for those interested in donating money or miles to aid in humanitarian relief. United has pledged to match up to 5 million miles in donations.
CONCLUSION
We tend to focus on Untied on Live And Let’s Fly, but I am impressed by how many airlines have stepped up to aid the people of Maui in what has been a horrific week. If you do have travel to Maui coming up, strongly consider postponing your trip. While the fire may have ravaged only parts of the island, road closures, debris clearance, and rebuilding efforts means that tourists will only be in the way.
image: United Airlines
Matt – thank you.
Also note, and the details still appear to be evolving (maybe your sources have better info), but UA (and probably other airlines) have been cutting their flights to/from OGG. It appears, starting next week and for some time, UA is eliminating its OGG to DEN/EWR and return non-stops. Everything is going thru SFO/LAX – and those are getting cut back.
-m
This is largely a function of not having crew layover. Crew can work a turn going out and back from the west coast. Not the case with flying farther east. So in order to provide safety for crew and leave rooms on the island for displaced residents (and airport workers) the schedule has been adjusted.
When you’re out on an island like that, it just isn’t safe to be there with a natural disaster…And make sure donations get sent to legitimate well known companies.
I expect UA sent them over empty because it would be problematic to cater them in OGG for the full return. Additionally, they could have a second crew deadhead over and work back.
The last thing UA wants to do it to try to overnight crews in OGG right now.
THANK YOU UNITED MAJALO
I WILL TRY TO ALWAYS FLY UNITED FROM HERE ON OUT