Alaska Airlines will give away over 3,000 roundtrip flights to families affected by the Maui wildfires in August 2023.
Alaska Airlines, in partnership with Josh Green, the Governor of Hawaii, and Richard Bissen, the County Mayor of Maui, have initiated the Maui CARE FLIGHTS program, giving away free roundtrip flights for those that have been impacted by the Maui wildfires in Aug
More than 3,000 flights
According to Helping Maui, the Maui CARE FLIGHTS program will result in over 3,000 roundtrip Alaska Airlines flights being given away to individuals and families who were directly impacted by the wildfires that happened on the island of Maui in August 2023.
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The program was initiated by Alaska Airlines and Marriott International, a global hotel brand, which organized special charter flights for the affected families to visit Disneyland. The organization, led by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), also thanked Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim, California, US-based adventure resort, for its help.
Helping Maui detailed that the selected individuals and/or families will receive roundtrip air travel on a chartered Alaska Airlines flight, a three-night stay at a Marriott location, and a two-day pass to Disneyland.
Taking off in July
The first charter flights to kick off the program will take off on July 11, returning to Maui on July 14. Subsequently, Alaska Airlines will donate 180 roundtrip tickets each month to any destination it serves on its network, offering travel opportunities for the affected families to travel without the financial burden.
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Speaking at a press conference announcing the program, Ben Minicucci, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Alaska Airlines, said that thousands of people will have the opportunity to visit families or go on a vacation, giving them a much-needed break from what they have been through, as reported by Hawaii Public Radio.
Meanwhile, Green’s statement read that through the collective effort of everyone involved in the program, the affected families will be provided with an opportunity to heal through new experiences.
Supporting Maui
In August 2023, shortly after the wildfires swept through Maui, Alaska Airlines described how it helped the community recover following the natural disaster. The airline launched rescue flights from its cargo hub at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), carrying essential relief items.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
In addition, it launched intra-island flights, evacuating guests from Maui and delivering vital supplies to the island. By August 10, 2023, two days after the wildfires, Alaska Airlines had transported over 200,000 pounds (90,718 kilograms) of relief supplies for the victims.
Pending merger
While it would be insensitive to suggest that Alaska Airlines is trying to get on the good side of the regulators and the local community to finalize its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, the two airlines are still awaiting approval to merge operations.
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With both airlines’ shareholders approving the acquisition, the deal was now in the hands of the regulators, including the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division. On May 7, Alaska Airlines filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), saying that the DOJ requested additional information in February, followed by a timing agreement with the DOJ on March 27.
As a result, both carriers agreed with the DOJ not to consummate the Merger before 90 days following the date on which both parties have certified substantial compliance with the information request in February. On May 7, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines certified substantial compliance with the request, triggering the 90-day period that expires on August 5.
Source: Simple Flying
