With Hurricane Lane bearing down on Hawaii, a number of Vancouver-based flights to and from the tropical state have been cancelled.
WestJet has cancelled all regular flights in and out of Hawaii for August 23 and August 24.
WATCH: British Columbians coming home and heading to Hawaii
However, it did add two extra flights out of the state on Thursday, one from Honolulu and one from Maui to get customers out of the hurricane’s path.
READ MORE: Canadians warned to avoid Hawaii travel as Hurricane Lane approaches
“Guests from Friday’s flights are also being contacted and will be re-booked on extra flight segments this weekend when it is safe to resume flying, post-hurricane.”
WATCH: Weather officials say Hurricane Lane strength diminishing
The following WestJet flights have been cancelled:
August 23
- WS1864 from Vancouver to Honolulu
- WS1865 from Honolulu to Vancouver
- WS1852 from Vancouver to Kahului
- WS1853 from Kahului to Vancouver
August 24
- WS1864 from Vancouver to Honolulu
- WS1865 from Honolulu to Vancouver
- WS1852 from Vancouver to Kahului
- WS1853 from Kahului to Vancouver
Meanwhile, Air Canada said it only has one scheduled flight to the state on Thursday, a Vancouver-Maui return, which has been pushed forward in order to avoid the hurricane.
WATCH: Hawaii bracing for Hurricane Lane’s impact
It says it has one flight scheduled for Friday, a Vancouver-Honolulu return, and is closely monitoring the weather in order to decide the timing of that flight.
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The company is allowing passengers to re-book Hawaiian flights with no penalty if they bought their ticket before August 21, for a period of travel ending before August 26.
The inbound storm wasn’t enough to stop some locals from hopping an island-bound plane.
“I went online and checked, United has all their flights going through San Fransisco through L.A. into Kahului, so I think it’s going to be okay,” one traveller told Global News.
“We know someone who’s there on the island, so they’re going to get some supplies for us and we’re just going to ride the wave, no pun intended,” said another.
WATCH: WestJet sends recovery flights to Hawaii before Hurricane Lane hits
Meanwhile, one passenger returning from Hawaii said many on the island were clearing out.
“The airport’s a gong show. I was just overhearing people in the lineups which were huge saying, ‘Yeah, we were staying longer, but we’re just jumping flights and getting out as fast as we can,'” he said.
“So I think a lot of people are just bailing on their holiday plans.”
Earlier this week, the federal government urged Canadians not to travel to Hawaii with the Category 4 hurricane approaching the state.
On its website, it urged that all “non-essential travel” be avoided.
You can find up-to-date information on Hurricane Lane here.
*With files from Emily Lazatin and Maham Abedi
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