Hawaiian Airlines has announced it is offering special one-way “Rescue Fares” for travellers stranded by today’s shutdown of Air Australia.

The fares are valid for travel on Hawaiian’s daily flights between Honolulu and Sydney through Thursday, March 1, 2012 at $300 USD for Honolulu departures and $300 AUD for Sydney departures, all taxes and fees inclusive. They are subject to availability.

The Rescue Fares must be purchased by calling Hawaiian’s reservations department in Honolulu at          1-800-367-5320 or in Sydney at 1300-669-106, or at Hawaiian’s ticket counters at Honolulu International Airport and Sydney International Airport.

Travellers booking the fare will be required to present their Air Australia ticket or itinerary information when checking in for their Hawaiian Airlines flight.

Hawaii residents booking the fare for a return to Hawaii from Sydney will be asked to produce their Hawaii ID at check in.
 
“We’re offering this special fare to help our friends from Australia return home and not let this unfortunate circumstance tarnish their vacation in Hawaii,” said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO.

“We also want to help any Hawaii residents stranded in Australia to get home.”

Hawaiian offers daily, nonstop flights between Honolulu and Sydney using its Boeing 767-300ER aircraft seating up to 264 passengers, with 18 seats in First Class and the remainder in Economy Class.

Hawaiian Flight #451 departs Honolulu International Airport daily at 11:50 a.m. and arrives at Sydney Airport at 7:20 p.m. the following day.

From Australia, Flight #452 departs Sydney daily at 9:20 p.m. and arrives in Honolulu at 10:10 a.m. the same day. (Sydney is 21 hours ahead of Honolulu and the flight crosses the International Dateline.)