AirAsia flies to the rescue

MANILA, Philippines — AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline, offered free seats this week to humanitarian aid staff working on Typhoon Odette relief efforts, including those from the UN and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.

In addition, the airline, through its logistics arm Teleport, offered free cargo space for relief goods going to badly hit destinations.

“On behalf of the board of AirAsia, I would like to send a message of hope and sympathies to the victims of Typhoon Odette. The Allstar family is ‘alwaysREDy’ to go all out in helping our fellow Filipinos during this hour of need,” said AirAsia CEO Ricky Isla.

AirAsia has a long record of supporting organizations that provide relief to communities in crisis, including the floods that swept several Malaysian states earlier this week. During disasters, logistics assistance is crucial to ensure that all immediate needs of affected communities get there when they are most needed.

It also has its corporate social responsibility umbrella program alwaysREDy: anytime, anywhere through which it partnered with organizations like Operation Smile Philippines and Asilo de San Vicente de Paul.

“I would like to congratulate and express our deep appreciation for the work of the Filipino private sector for the Typhoon Odette response, coming together in this time of crisis and working hand-in-hand with humanitarian responders. Considering logistics remains one of the key challenges in accessing the most affected islands, the AirAsia offer of free seats for humanitarian aid workers and free cargo space to reach the most affected areas is critical and indeed life-saving,” said Manja Vidic, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Philippines.

“There are many kinds of love, and AirAsia’s generosity is one form of love that symbolizes the true spirit of Christmas and giving,” said PDRF president Butch Meily.