Royal Couple Send Off British Airways Relief Flight To East Africa
Released on: November 08, 2011, 4:01 am
Author:
British Airways
Industry: Travel
British Airways responded to a UNICEF appeal, which is being
backed by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to help the 13 million
victims of the East African crisis by sending a relief flight full of
aid to the region.
In their first joint humanitarian mission, the royal couple toured a British
Airways' relief plane, a Boeing 747, at Copenhagen airport on Wednesday, November 2
following their visit to UNICEF's warehouse in Denmark's capital.
Keith Williams, British Airways' CEO, said: "We immediately agreed to donate an
aircraft to help UNICEF get their aid to East Africa. The team at British Airways
has launched a number of these flights in recent years to crisis-hit areas such as
Haiti and Japan so we're well practised in getting the aircraft and team out as
soon as possible. We need to help keep a focus on the crisis in East Africa so this
is our second relief flight to the region. We're delighted the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge will be seeing the flight off."
The aircraft, operating under flight number BA9116C, departed Copenhagen
International Airport at 1800 hours (local time) en route for Nairobi laden with 45
tonnes of UNICEF aid including life saving emergency medical supplies to help
children affected by diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.
The eight-hour flight was operated by a team of three pilots and four cabin crew.
Also on board were British Airways engineering staff who were responsible for
loading and unloading the aid, and a member of UNICEF's supply staff.
As well as filling the cargo hold, the aircraft's cabins, which would normally be
full of passengers flying to destinations such as Los Angeles and Hong Kong, were
commandeered to ensure as much aid as possible reaches the stricken region.
UNICEF UK's Executive Director, David Bull, commented: "We know that when children
are malnourished their immune systems are weakened and they become very susceptible
to life threatening diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. We need to help these
children urgently. The supplies being packed on this plane will help UNICEF to save
these children's lives. On behalf of everyone at UNICEF I want to extend my huge
thanks to all at British Airways who have helped make this happen."
It is more than three months since famine was declared in parts of East Africa,
following the worst drought in 50 years, which has devastated food sources across
Dijbouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Without rain for two successive seasons,
crops failed and livestock perished. Food prices soared, forcing at least 600,000
people to flee their villages in search of food, water and medicine, making
treacherous journeys to refugee camps. At least 13 million people require assistance
and half of those are children.
To donate to UNICEF's East Africa appeal please visit: www.eastafricacrisis.org.
Ends
About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations - including flights to Palma, Faro flights, flights to Berlin, holidays in
Maldives
and holidays in Dubai. Customers
can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages,
ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday
plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc
constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for
money and quality of the service provided.
Press Contact:
Amanda Allan
Waterside
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
Middlesex
UB7 0GB
02087385100
www.ba.com
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