The 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year Award was announced in Brussels at AidEx 2022, the world’s leading humanitarian aid and disaster relief conference, by Development2030 and recognizes Qatar Airways Cargo for its WeQare Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
November 30, 2022 (Brussels) - Qatar Airways WeQare CSR program consists of focused chapters based on four core pillars: environment, society, economy, and culture. The award explicitly recognizes its chapter 1 program launched in 2020, which commits the organization to transport ‘1 Million Kilos’ free of charge for eligible charities involved in transporting humanitarian aid and medical supplies worldwide.
A committee led by Development2030 adjudicates nominations for the annual award. Airlink, a US-based global disaster logistics nonprofit that supports a network of 130 disaster response charities and NGOs responding to natural and man-made disasters, nominated Qatar Airways Cargo for the award. Airlink and Qatar Airways Cargo have partnered together since the launch of the 2020 WeQare chapter 1 pillar. As a result of the commitment to donated cargo capacity, Airlink and its nonprofit partners have transported 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid over that period. Fifty separate shipments were coordinated, benefiting hospitals, local governments, and community-based organizations in nearly 20 countries. As a result of this initiative, 28 nonprofit organizations had access to air freight services free of charge, saving more than $1.2 million in transportation costs and reaching more than 4,337,457 people with life-saving supplies.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways, said, "We are always looking at ways we can help those in the greatest difficulty. ‘1 Million Kilos’ was the first chapter in our sustainability project called WeQare. Built on the four fundamental pillars of sustainability (economy, environment, society and culture). WeQare is a series of concrete air cargo actions we have designed to create a positive impact on the industry and the world. We are honoured to have been awarded best CSR programme at the AidEx 2022 Awards and for the industry recognising our efforts in pioneering socially responsible air cargo.”
In March 2022, Airlink and Qatar Airways signed a renewed agreement of support, with the airline pledging a further 500 tons of free cargo space over three years. Through this agreement, Airlink and Qatar Airways Cargo have moved nearly 250 tons of aid on behalf of a network of humanitarian aid nonprofits supporting responses in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
“We are thrilled that Qatar Airways Cargo has been recognized for its extensive commitment to supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid across the globe,” said Steve Smith, President and CEO of Airlink. “Transport costs are one of the biggest and most volatile components of any aid program. Qatar Airways Cargo’s commitment has enabled Airlink to support critical post-disaster missions, and without their support, it is doubtful whether many of these would have been possible.”
End
For more information, contact:
Andrew Williams
Director of Communications
awilliams@airlinkflight.org
+1 (202) 830 8514
About Qatar Airways Cargo: Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading international air cargo carrier is based in Doha, State of Qatar. It serves a global network of more than 60 freighter destinations and 150 passenger destinations utilizing freighters and belly-hold passenger flights. The airline’s freighter fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two Boeing 747-400 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters and one Airbus 310 freighter. It also has an extensive road feeder service (RFS) network.
With considerable investments in its products, services, quality handling, infrastructure, facilities, people and procedures at each of its destinations, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of cargo. Qatar Airways Cargo remains committed to sustainability and giving back to communities it serves through its sustainability programme WeQare, built on the key pillars of sustainability: environment, society, economy and culture
About Airlink: Airlink (www.airlinkflight.org) is a nonprofit organization providing free and heavily subsidized flights and air transport for pre-screened nonprofits to deliver disaster responders and supplies in the wake of humanitarian crises worldwide. Its network includes more than 130 aid organizations and 47 commercial and charter airlines. Its first mission was in response to the Haiti earthquake. Since its inception in 2010, Airlink’s airline partners have flown nearly 8,000 relief workers and transported more than 4,000,000 pounds of humanitarian cargo, saving nonprofits over $14 million in air transport costs. In 2020 the humanitarian aid Airlink moved assisted 5.5 million people in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters. For more information, please visit www.airlinkflight.org.