9 Oct 2009

Hawaiian Airlines adds flight to cater to families of American Samoa tsunami survivors

4:10 pm on 9 October 2009

Hawaiian Airlines is adding an extra flight between Hawaii and Pago Pago from next week, to accommodate a high demand in people wanting to help survivors of the tsunami-hit American Samoa.

Hawaiian Airlines normally operates twice-weekly services between Honolulu and Pago Pago that departs on Thursdays and Sundays.

A spokesman for the airline Keoni Wagner says over the next four weeks, there will be an additional service on a Wednesday.

"To a large extent they are family members going to help their families recover and rebuild. And we're also transporting a lot of federal relief workers from FEMA and Red Cross medical personnel as well. You know there's just a great need there for recovery experts and medical personnel."

Keoni Wagner says the Boeing 767-300 planes can cater to 260 passengers and says the scheduled flights over the next four weeks is beginning to fill up.