Cathay Pacific staff and management join in special relief efforts for Yolanda victims

MANILA, Philippines - Cathay Pacific launched a series of relief efforts to benefit the victims of super typhoon Yolanda, which involved a company-wide campaign and additional initiatives for its Yolanda-stricken staff and their immediate families.

The airline arranged ad-hoc chartered flights carrying 66,261 kg worth of relief goods, which were transported from the French government and distributed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Cebu. A second chartered flight also brought over 67,440 kg worth of relief goods from New York to Manila, and two more additional chartered flights arrived in Cebu with donations from Frankfurt and Hong Kong.

Together with this, the company also prepared inflight fundraising activities to allow its passengers to contribute to the campaign even while in transit.

Passengers on-board Cathay Pacific and Dragonair flights were asked to offer their donations en route to their destinations. The proceeds from these were used to provide therapeutic food for children, health kits, water, and hygiene necessities via Cathay Pacific and UNICEF’s Change for Good program. Additional information was also disseminated to Asia Miles members on how they could further support its charity partners, including UNICEF and Red Cross, who are both actively engaged in Yolanda relief efforts.

Finally, the airline also conducted relief operations among its staff. A company-wide fundraiser was held to raise financial support for Yolanda victims, the total amount of which was matched by Cathay Pacific, thus doubling the overall donation figure.

Funds raised were donated to the Hong Kong Red Cross, to work with International Red Cross to supply clean food and water, temporary shelter and other emergency relief materials to the affected areas. To support this, Cathay Pacific has also offered excess baggage allowance for Hong Kong Red Cross personnel flying to Cebu.

Ryan Uy, Cathay Pacific Philippines sales and marketing manager, adds that an additional voluntary fundraising activity has also been initiated by company staff. “The effort aims to encourage Cathay Pacific employees to reach out to fellow staff members and their immediate families who have been directly affected by the super typhoon,” he revealed.