Multiple flights heading to Hawaii from Vancouver International Airport have been cancelled as Hurricane Lane slams the island.
The Category 4 storm could bring winds of up to 215 kilometres per hour and 25 to 50 centimetres of rain, leading to flash floods and landslides, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. As a result, the Canadian government is urging travelers to avoid “non-essential” trips to Hawaii County, Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Oahu and Kauai islands due to Hurricane Lane.
Hurricane #Lane should pass near #Hawaii on August 23 and 24. Avoid non-essential travel to Hawaii County, Maui County, including the islands of #Maui, #Lanai, #Molokai, #Kahoolawe, as well as to #Oahu and #Kauai islands. https://t.co/qUxTdG0dfq #UnitedStates
— travel.gc.ca (@TravelGoC) August 22, 2018
With these travel advisories, WestJet has cancelled all eight of its regularly scheduled flights flying between Vancouver and Hawaii on Thursday and Friday.
The airline did, however, operate two non-scheduled “recovery flights” out of Hawaii on Thursday morning – one leaving from Honolulu and another from Maui – to help travelers leave the island.
ATTENTION: Any travellers headed from YVR to Kahului tomorrow on Air Canada be advised of the following flight updates. https://t.co/xl6iDmlmn8
— Vancouver Airport (@yvrairport) August 23, 2018
Meanwhile, Air Canada pushed its single scheduled flight from Vancouver to Maui forward in order to avoid the hurricane.
For travelers who have booked an upcoming trip with Air Canada to Hawaii, changes can be made to a reservation free of charge to another date between now and Sept. 9.
WestJet says those travelling to or from cities affected by Hurricane Lane should check the status of their departures prior to leaving for the airport.
#HurricaneLane in the early morning hours near #Hawaii. The crew of the @Space_Station sends much aloha to everyone there. pic.twitter.com/raPh37MZH9
— Ricky Arnold (@astro_ricky) August 22, 2018
