Humanitarian supplies collected by the Red Cross and General Consulate of Chile in Hamburg lands in Chile at 10:30 p.m., March 9; LAN Airlines facilitates local logistics in Santiago

In response to the devastating earthquake that struck Chile February 27, Airbus coordinated with Brazilian-based TAM Airlines and Chilean-based LAN Airlines to send three tons of aid to Santiago. The TAM A319 ferry flight filled with humanitarian supplies landed in Sao Paulo on March 9. TAM then transferred the aid to a Santiago-bound A320 flight.

Over the weekend, an Airbus team in Hamburg loaded TAM’s A319 ferry flight with hygienic supplies, blankets and plastic water canisters (for storing and transporting fresh water) collected by the Red Cross and General Consulate of Chile in Hamburg.

Tom Enders, President of the Airbus Foundation and President and CEO of Airbus, said: “The Airbus Foundation together with TAM Airlines identified an opportunity to send humanitarian aid to Chile aboard a TAM Airlines A319 ferry flight this week to support the international relief effort. Many people came together in record time to make this work, including TAM Airlines, which agreed to have their A319 ferry flight filled with humanitarian aid and then transfer it to Santiago; the Red Cross and General Consulate of Chile in Hamburg, which collected tons of vital relief supplies; and LAN Airlines, which agreed to accept goods in Santiago’s International Airport and coordinate necessary logistical requirements. I thank all our partners, our friends and the employees involved for their excellent cooperation.”

In recent years, Airbus has built up a global network of airlines and relief organizations to support international humanitarian help. Ferry flights of new aircraft have been used on numerous occasions to transport goods all over the world.

Source: EADS