ETW Staff – Mumbai
AirAsia has announced it will run a donation and relief campaign called ‘To Philippines with Love’ (#toPHwithlove) to benefit the communities affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which recently devastated the Philippines. The multi-tiered campaign will include collection of cash donations on board flights and at airports throughout the AirAsia Group network; as well as on the AirAsia Foundation microsite. Free cargo space and free flights for accredited non-governmental organisations (NGOs), aid and humanitarian agencies for relief efforts will also be offered in addition to 250,000 free seats for Filipinos abroad (OFWs) to return home.
The public will be able to make online donations on the AirAsia Foundation microsite. The donation drive will run through December 31t, 2013 and the total funds collected on board flights, on ground at the airports, as well as through the online microsite will be channelled towards the Philippine Red Cross for relief efforts that are being carried out in the Philippines.
The AirAsia Group will match the total public collection and this amount will be managed by the AirAsia Foundation – for long term reconstruction efforts to rebuild the communities that were affected by the typhoon. AirAsia Foundation has started discussions with Habitat for Humanity Philippines as well as doctors from the public health service working on relief missions in areas in most need of help.
Tony Fernandes, group chief executive officer, AirAsia said, “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. Our own staff and their families in the Philippines have suffered as well, and we will stand by all Filipinos to fight through this test of time to find brighter skies together with the support of the Asean community. The AirAsia Group hopes to raise as much as possible by matching the total amount collected throughout this #toPHwithlove campaign to help send much needed emergency aid and to rebuild communities in the long run.”
As part of the #toPHwithlove campaign, AirAsia will be providing 250,000 free seats from Kuala Lumpur for Filipinos abroad who are looking to return home on selected domestic Filipino routes, as well as selected international routes into Manila. The domestic Filipino routes from Kuala Lumpur are Cebu to Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Puerto Princesa; while international routes are from Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Miri into Manila.
