Finnair pitches in with aid for Haiti earthquake relief
By IANSSunday, January 31, 2010
HELSINKI - Nordic airline Finnair has started offering cargo facilities free of charge for carrying aid to earthquake-hit Haiti and is also planning to fly special planes carrying equipment and personnel to the nation’s capital Port au Prince, according to a company statement.
“Finnair has been playing a role in contributing humanitarian assistance to victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti by offering cargo space on its Leisure flight traffic to the Dominican Republic,” said the statement Sunday.
The Dominican Republic is the neighbour of Haiti.
The airline along with the Finnish Red Cross also flew a special flight to the capital Port au Prince last week, transporting doctors and medical personnel.
Finnair flies to Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic twice a week and has offered to transport and handle cargo for the aid agencies free of charge.
“It’s natural for an airline to participate in assistance when catastrophes happen in the world,” said Antero Lahtinen, who heads Finnair’s Cargo operations.
Over the years, Finnair, has conducted many humanitarian programmes, be it in helping out with aid and reconstruction operations after an earthquake hit the Sichuan region of China, or lending a hand in post-tsunami relief activities in Thailand.
