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Attention Business/Financial Editors
Air Canada dispatches second relief flight to Haiti; Airlifts medical supplies and personnel
MONTREAL, Jan. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada continues to support relief
efforts in Haiti by dispatching its second dedicated aircraft full of medical
and humanitarian relief supplies on Saturday January 23, 2010. The flight to
Port-au-Prince is coordinated with Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Canada (DFAIT), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the
ONEXONE Foundation, World Vision and Health Partners International Canada.
Over the course of Air Canada's two relief missions, Air Canada will have
delivered over 55,000 kgs of relief supplies to Haiti.
"Along with our many relief partners, Air Canada is privileged to be able
to operate a second humanitarian operation to Haiti," said Duncan Dee,
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Air Canada. "Our
employees have once again rallied together to deliver much needed supplies to
the people of Haiti as well as bringing Canadians home."
All available space in the belly and in the passenger cabin of the Airbus
A330 aircraft to be operated Saturday, January 23rd, will be used to transport
medical supplies for World Vision, Health Partners International Canada, the
ONEXONE Foundation and goods for the Department of Foreign Affairs and the
Canadian Embassy. Supplies have also been donated by the Ottawa Hospital and
pharmaceutical companies Apotex and Fresenius Kabi Canada. Also on board will
be a group of nurses from the Montréal Jewish General Hospital, as well as
ONEXONE Foundation relief workers.
Breakdown of cargo on board Air Canada's humanitarian flight on Saturday,
January 23 is as follows: Approximately 20,000 kgs of medical and
pharmaceutical supplies, 10,000 kgs of water, 3,500 kgs of food, and 2,000 kgs
of tents and other supplies such as generators.
The donated Air Canada aircraft and volunteer crew are scheduled to
depart for Port-au-Prince Saturday evening at 17:45 ET from the carrier's
cargo hangar in Toronto. The return flight, scheduled to arrive in Montréal
early morning on Sunday, January 24, will be used to transport evacuees, in
collaboration with DFAIT and the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
The Air Canada Airbus A330 aircraft has a cargo capacity of approximately
35,000 kgs and seating for 265 passengers.
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.
To help in this relief effort, Nav Canada and the GTAA and Aéroports de
Montréal (ADM) will waive, respectively, domestic over flight fees and landing
and aircraft parking fees.
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Editor's note:
Media wishing to film the loading of supplies may do so as of 15:00
Saturday January 23 at Air Canada's Cargo facilities located at 2580
Britannia Rd. East, Mississauga, ON, L4W 2P7. Air Canada Executives
will available for interviews.
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