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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Airbus Corporate Foundation and ‘Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen’ send humanitarian goods to Thailand on THAI A330 delivery flight

Medicine, blankets and clothing for flood victims arrived this morning in Bangkok
The Airbus Corporate Foundation and ‘Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen’ (LOG or ‘Wings of Help’) have transported some 12 tonnes of humanitarian goods to Bangkok aboard the delivery flight of Thai Airways International (THAI)’s newest A330-300 from Toulouse, France. The aircraft, which landed this morning in Bangkok, is the first to be delivered out of an order for seven A330-300s placed last year and joins an existing fleet of 20 A330s already operated by the airline. 

Frankfurt based ‘Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen’, the German counterpart of ‘Aviation sans Frontières’, has been a regular partner of the Airbus Corporate Foundation for more than two years now. The organisation supports Airbus humanitarian ferry flights from Germany to countries in need, which have been affected by natural disasters. 

THAI President, Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand, said, “It was logical for THAI to collaborate with Airbus Corporate Foundation to deliver the humanitarian goods to Thailand using our latest aircraft. As we receive the first of an order of seven A330-300 aircraft, it seems only natural to use the first aircraft’s delivery flight to carry much needed relief cargo.” 

 “Thailand suffered severe floods this summer. Over 12.8 million people are still affected and in need of medicine, clothing and blankets,” said Andrea Debbane, Executive Director of the Airbus Corporate Foundation: “The Airbus Corporate Foundation, ‘Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen’ and THAI identified this flight as one more opportunity to transport humanitarian goods to people in need. We would like to thank both our partners and all the donor NGOs involved in this project”. 

Donor NGOs include Apotheker helfen e.V. (“Pharmacists are helping), Humedica, Fraport AG, Coppenrath GmbH and Intermedica GmbH. 

In recent years, Airbus has built up a global network of airlines and relief organisations to support international humanitarian help. Delivery flights of new to be delivered aircraft have been used on numerous occasions to transport goods to destinations in need all over the world. 

The Airbus Corporate Foundation was created to facilitate charitable activities worldwide within an international network of employees and partners. The Airbus Corporate Foundation started its operation on 1st December, 2008 with Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders being appointed Chairman of its Board of Directors. The organisation focuses its support on the three themes: humanitarian and community support, youth development and the environment. 

Since its launch in December 2008, the Airbus Corporate Foundation has facilitated over 20 relief flights to numerous destinations all over the globe.

source: airbus.com