How Air Canada is helping - Relief flight:
On Friday, Sept. 3, Air Canada participated along with U.S. member airlines of the Air Transport Association, in a voluntary airline industry initiative to support rescue and relief operations in the region ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Our employees worked around the clock to prepare and dispatch the donated A-321 aircraft and voluntary crew. Flight 7058 flew to New Orleans with a cargo of relief supplies and then participated in three Operation Air Care shuttle relief missions to assist in the evacuation of about 25,000 victims to San Antonio Texas.
According to Duncan Dee, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, who accompanied the A-321 crew along with ACE President and CEO, Robert Milton, to work on these flights, “the reaction to our Maple Leaf was overwhelming. National Guard members stopped to thank us; Air Marshals were asking specifically to be assigned to our flight and U.S. Transport Secretary Norm Mineta called Robert to say thanks.” The team worked endless hours to deliver relief supplies and helped evacuate 500 refugees.
To hear more details about Operation Air Care, and our role within it, listen to Robert’s message on the InfoLine later today. Call (514) 422-4636; or from North America (877) 243-4636 – then select option 4. Also later today, to see photos taken in Toronto before the flight departure, go to Online Extra at http://www.achorizons.ca .
On Sept. 2, the Red Cross was quick to accept Air Canada's offer to transport of 20 Red Cross volunteers from several cities across Canada to Toronto. Upon their arrival, they were bussed to Trenton. From there, the National Defense deployed them to the affected region.
On Saturday, Sept. 3, Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz began an in-flight donation program on all domestic and transborder flights so customers would have an easy way to help contribute to the Canadian Red Cross’ Hurricane Katrina Fund. The program will run until Sept. 18. The Red Cross advises that monetary assistance is the most effective way to provide support at this time. Anyone who would like to make a personal financial donation may do so online by contacting the Canadian Red Cross website at http://www.redcross.ca . Employees from outside Canada may donate through their local Red Cross office
Open letter to Canada from U.S. Ambassador. In an open letter of thanks to Canada published in major Canadian newspapers today, the U.S. Ambassador, His Excellency David H. Wilkins, specifically thanked Air Canada for its role in the relief mission to New Orleans. “Katrina was still battering our shores when Air Canada was implementing its plan to offer transport help. Air Canada was the first foreign carrier to arrive in New Orleans and quickly began its mission of mercy, transporting stranded flood victims to safety.” In this letter, he expresses how he has been inspired by the warmth and friendship of the Canadian people and by their eagerness to provide aid and assistance to the U.S. in the face of the terrible tragedy of Hurricane Katrina – the worst natural disaster the United States has faced in modern history. To read the entire letter, you can visit the U.S. embassy’s website at http://www.usembassycanada.gov. It will also be available on Online Extra later today http://www.achorizons.ca.
How Air Canada is helping - Relief flight:
Moderators: lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, I WAS Birddog
That is neat!! Good work! I read the Frenchies are sending in their Beluga!
Airbus supporting hurricane Katrina relief effort
7 September 2005
Airbus is contributing directly to the Hurricane Katrina emergency relief effort with the largest cargo carrier in the world. An Airbus aircraft, the A300-600 Super Transporter, nicknamed “Beluga” because of its unique, whale-like shape, is assisting the governments of France and the United Kingdom by transporting critical relief supplies being donated to aid victims in the Hurricane stricken areas of the United States.
The Beluga left Toulouse (France) on Wednesday morning, 7th September, and is expected to arrive in Mobile, Alabama (USA) with its cargo of disaster relief supplies on Thursday.
“On behalf of all Airbus employees, I would like to express our most sincere sympathies to all those who have been affected by this devastating hurricane,” said Gustav Humbert, President and CEO of Airbus. “Our thoughts are with the people of the US Gulf Coast region, and we want to do whatever we can to contribute to the aid operation and provide needed relief in these tragic circumstances.”
Airbus has placed one of its Belugas at the disposal of the French and U.K. governments. The aircraft is transporting much needed supplies, such as tents, camp-beds, blankets and other relief items. Loaded in Toulouse (France) and Chester (UK), the Beluga is en route to Brookley Field in Mobile, where the supplies will be unloaded for distribution in the affected Gulf Coast region.
“After the Tsunami at the beginning of the year, this disaster shows that no part of the world can be spared from such terrible events and that humanity is affected in a similar way everywhere,” Mr. Humbert added. “It is gratifying to Airbus to be able to offer the unique capabilities of the Beluga to help people in need.”
Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.
In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield...W. BuffettPresident Bush highlights Air Canada's rescue mission in acknowledgment of global humanitarian support received by U.S. In a speech in Washington earlier today carried live on CNN, President George Bush mentioned Air Canada's rescue mission in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as follows: “Think of this, Afghanistan has pledged a hundred thousand dollars to aid -- in aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Ambassador, thank you. Canada has sent ships with disaster supplies. Air Canada -- Air Canada's planes assisted in the evacuation. Israel sent tents and mineral water and medical supplies. Italy has sent beds and sheets and blankets and inflatable rafts to help with rescue efforts. Kuwait has pledged $400 million in oil and a hundred million dollars in humanitarian aid. Qatar and the UAE has pledged $100 million each. Sri Lanka, one of the world's most impoverished nations that is struggling to overcome the effects of the tsunami, has sent a donation of $25,000
