More airlines help in quake relief efforts

HONG KONG – Several airlines have made monetary donations to help victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Sichuan province in southwest China on Monday.

Cathay Pacific (CX) and sister-airline Dragonair (KA) have together donated HK$2 million (about US$286,000) to help in the earthquake relief efforts in China. The donation will go to the Red Cross, which is actively helping people in the worst-hit areas across the province.

On top of the initial donation, a fund has been set up by the two airlines to collect donations from employees. Every dollar raised up to the end of May will be matched by the airlines to further swell the relief fund. CX and KA’s in-flight charity prgramme, “Change for Conservation” is also now collecting funds in support of relief efforts.

China Southern Airlines also made a donation of RMB10 million (about US$1.43 million) in support of on-going relief efforts. The Guangzhou-based airline also set up an anti-earthquake first-aid leading team the afternoon of the quake to call for donations from its staff.

Death toll from the quake has now reached 14,866.