AirAsia launches year-long Japan campaign
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
AirAsia has launched a year-long campaign aimed at helping Japan get back on its feet after the 11 March disasters. The campaign, ‘To Japan with Love’ includes a fundraising drive across the airline’s entire network and logistical support for an ASEAN Secretariat-led regional youth outreach programme.
The campaign was launched by Dr Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia and Founder of AirAsia X, together with Koichi Ito, Minister & Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan Embassy in Malaysia. Also present were Kamarudin Meranun, Deputy Group CEO of AirAsia and Co-Founder of AirAsia X; Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X; Capt. Dharmadi, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia; Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of AirAsia Thailand; Fam Lee Ee, member of the Board of Directors of AirAsia Berhad; Kathleen Tan, Regional Head of Commercial of AirAsia; Aaron Soo, CEO of Sunway Lagoon and representatives from Japan Embassy and Japan Foundation in Malaysia.
The ‘To Japan with Love’ campaign is intended to run from today for one year. All donations collected from the campaign will be handed over to the Japan Platform – a consortium of 32 Japanese NGOs at the forefront of recovery efforts in northeastern Japan.
“This campaign comes from the hearts of the 8,000-strong AirAsia staff. AirAsia have a strong record of helping communities in need. AirAsia was there for Phuket after its tsunami, for Bangkok after its social unrest, for Padang and Christchurch after the earthquakes. Now AirAsia is here to reach out to our brethren in Japan to help the nation get back on its feet. Recovery is easier when we pull through together, and AirAsia is assisting the best way we can,” Dr Fernandes said.
Throughout the campaign, special donation boxes will be made available on all AirAsia (AK), AirAsiaX (D7), AirAsia Indonesia (QZ) and AirAsia Thailand (FD) flights for guests to donate to the cause. AirAsia will also sell 5,000 wristbands onboard all its short- and long-haul flights for MYR10 (US$3.30) each. It will also host a special charity evening of ‘Magical Musicals’ on 18 June at the Sunway Lagoon. Tickets for the show, priced between MYR120 and MYR360, are available on redtix.airasia.com. All proceeds from the sale of wristbands and tickets will be channelled to the Japan Platform.
“As the people’s airline, AirAsia flies millions of guests each year and are able to tap more hearts to join us in this campaign. Our guests have been very kind to help in previous campaigns, such as in raising funds to help heart patients. We invite our guests from around the world to generously and actively participate in our outreach campaign again, this time to assist the affected communities of Japan,” Dr Fernandes added.
Another part of the campaign will see AirAsia provide free flights to Japan for a group of participants of the ASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill to Northeast Japan, which will start in June. The caravan will bring together youth volunteers from across the ASEAN region to support and convey goodwill to the Japanese people. The participants will be visiting the communities affected by the disasters to perform cultural shows and help foster cultural ties.
“AirAsia is committed to support the projects of ASEAN. As a neighbour of Japan, it is only right that we, the ASEAN community, help. And the magnitude of the disasters dictates that we work together to help Japan recover. AirAsia is proud that the youth of our region are heeding the call for selfless service. AirAsia salutes and supports them,” Dr Fernandes added.
AirAsia had also supported an earlier Malaysian government-driven aid campaign by contributing cargo capacity valued at MYR4 million to fly humanitarian aid for Japan on AirAsia X. Kamarudin Meranun and Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, President of Putera1Malaysia club delivered the relief supplies to Japan in March. The supplies were distributed by the Malaysian Embassy in Japan.
In conjunction with the official launch of the aid campaign, AirAsia X is offering promotional all-in fares to Tokyo from MYR199 one-way, available for booking from 10-22 May 2011 for travel from 1 June 2011 to 29 February 2012.
Photo, from left to right: Captain Dharmadi, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, Ms.Kathleen Tan, Regional Head of Commercial, AirAsia, Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of AirAsia Thailand, Mr. Koichi Ito, Minister & Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan, Dato Seri Dr. Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia and Co-Founder of AirAsia X, Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, Deputy Group CEO of AirAsia and Co-Founder of AirAsia X, Mr. Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X, Dato, Fam Lee Ee, Member of The Board of Directors AirAsia Berhad.
Comments are closed.