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Attention Business/Financial Editors
Air Canada operates fourth humanitarian mission to Haiti; Tranports 30,000 KGS of medical and essential supplies
MONTREAL, Feb. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada continues to support relief
efforts in Haiti by dispatching its fourth dedicated aircraft full of
humanitarian relief supplies on Saturday February 6, 2010. The flight to
Port-au-Prince is coordinated with Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Canada (DFAIT), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), World
Vision, the ONEXONE Foundation, and Health Partners International Canada.
"Since the tragic earthquake a month ago, Air Canada has worked hard with
our relief partners to ensure that all supplies transported were successfully
delivered to the Haitian people," said Duncan Dee, Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer, Air Canada. "I want to extend our heartfelt
thanks to our relief partners, suppliers and dedicated employees who have made
these humanitarian missions possible."
All available space in the belly and in the passenger cabin will be used
to transport 30,000 kgs of, medical supplies, food, tents, and sleeping bags
for the ONEXONE Foundation, Health Partners International Canada, the
Department of Foreign Affairs and the Canadian Embassy.
The four humanitarian flights operated by Air Canada will have delivered
over 130 tonnes of critical supplies to Haiti.
The donated Air Canada aircraft and volunteer crew are scheduled to
depart Saturday morning at approximately 10:30 ET from the carrier's cargo
facilities in Toronto, with an expected arrival time in Port-au-Prince of
15:00 ET. The return flight, AC2151, scheduled to arrive in Ottawa Saturday at
approximately 23:30 ET, will be used to transport evacuees, in collaboration
with DFAIT and the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
To help in this relief effort, several Air Canada suppliers including
Cara Operations have donated their services. Nav Canada, the GTAA, the Ottawa
International Airport Authority and Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) have waived
fees.
In addition, all proceeds from Air Canada's on-board donation program,
Every Bit Counts, will be directed to registered relief agencies in support of
Haiti.
Air Canada, through its community investment program Kids' Horizons, has
committed to undertake a long-term humanitarian project with a Canadian
charity to assist children in Haiti as part of the re-building efforts that
will be necessary.
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