By:Oscar Siagian
Getty Images News
In AirAsia news update, the Asian budget carrier that recently survived the downing of AirAsi QZ8501 in the Java Sea, is now helping with relief efforts in Nepal. The airline's AirAsia X planes are offering free seats to NGOs and humanitarian organizations assisting in Nepal's worst earthquake in 80 years.
The carrier will be issuing tickets to Kathmandu based on availability until May 10, according to latest AirAsia news updates.
"Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the earthquake in Nepal and we pledge to do what we can to help alleviate grief and distress experienced by the victims, and pray for their safety and well-being," said the group's CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, the Malaysian Insider reported.
Kamarudin said that relief agencies providing assistance in Nepal's earthquake, which claimed nearly 5000 lives, can apply for tickets through the AirAsia Foundation, foundation@airasia.com.
Once a request has been processed, a final evaluation will be made before releasing information on flight coordination. For more information on AirAsia flights to Kathmandu, visit AirAsia's Nepal site.
The quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale hit an area between Kathmandu and the town of Pokhara on Saturday. Several aftershocks followed causing more damage than expected.
"AirAsia has also supported the recovery of Bali, Indonesia, after the terrorist bombings in giving away 12,000 free seats on its flights, the Malay Online said.
AirAsia has had a record of assisting humanitarian efforts. In 2008, the budget carrier shuttled flights from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur after the Bangkok airport closed down. Similar rescue attempts were initiated by AirAsia in Padang and Jakarta in October 2009 during the 7.6-magnitude quake that roiled Sumatra, according to Bernama, the news agency of Malaysia.
In the latest AirAsia news update, the Star quoted the National Security Council (Malaysia) as saying, it would be sending a second courtesy flight if there were still Malaysians found to be stranded in Nepal."
In a related AirAsia news update, AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes was named one of Time.com's most influential people. While the Dec. 28 crash of an AirAsia flight going from Surabaya, Indonesia was a blow to AirAsia's perfect record of no air tragedies in its 20 plus years since inception, Mr. Fernandes took the spotlight for confronting the air disaster head-on.
He assumed responsibility for search and rescue operations by his quick messages on Facebook and Twitter to keep relatives informed of progress in the recovery operations. Fernandes spearheaded a heroic-2 month search and rescue effort in collaboration with the Indonesian military and the national rescue team.
