AirAsia X offers free flights to Nepal to aid relief efforts

AirAsia X today announced that it will work with NGOs and humanitarian agencies to aid relief efforts for Nepal in light of the recent earthquake.

The airline is facilitating free flights from today until 10^th May 2015, based on seat availability, for accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs), aid and humanitarian agencies.

All NGOs and humanitarian agencies can send in their requests to AirAsia Foundation at foundation@airasia.com. Further information for flights coordination will be provided after evaluation of the request.

Datuk Kamarudin Meranun

Photo credit: www.theantdaily.com

Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Group CEO of AirAsia X said “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the earthquake in Nepal and we pledge to do what we can to help alleviate grief and distress experienced by the victims, and pray for their safety and well-being.”

Acting CEO of AirAsia X, Benyamin Ismail said, “We are very saddened by the news and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with everyone affected by this earthquake. Our own staff and their families have been affected as well, and as an airline that serves this route and market; we will stand by everyone there to offer as much help as possible, especially in getting in all the relief efforts into Nepal through our flights.”

The AirAsia Group is firmly committed to the philosophy that no corporation can live apart from the community it serves. AirAsia was at the forefront of relief efforts in the wake of the tsunami that struck the region in 2004, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), Typhoon Nesat in the Philippines (2011), the earthquake which struck Sichuan in China (2008), the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Fukushima, Japan (2011), Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013) and the recent floods in the East Coast of Malaysia (2014).

AirAsia has also supported the recovery of Bali, Indonesia, after the terrorist bombings in 2005, by giving away 12,000 free seats on its flights. It mounted rescue flights from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur in November 2008 to help people stranded by the closing of the airport in Bangkok, and similar rescue efforts were extended in Padang and Jakarta in October 2009 to help those affected by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Sumatra Island.

Photo courtesy of jerminix.com