Here’s a really good feel good story courtesy of European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Thai Airways. Last week, the two companies organised what they called a ‘goodwill flight’ loaded with school supplies for underprivileged children in the conflict ridden provinces of southern Thailand.
The area has been deeply affected by an ongoing conflict which started way back in 1948. It’s the result of a religious and ethnic insurgency that has ripped families apart. According to ‘Insight into Conflict‘, over 4,400 people have been killed in the region since 2004. Thousands more have been seriously injured.
Unfortunately, the insurgents regularly target government and civil buildings including schools which are left badly damaged. That’s why Airbus and Thai Airways arranged for 1,000 kits packed with classroom stationary and backpacks to be delivered to the region.
Children from the International School of Toulouse also got involved, helping to pack the kits and oversee the flight being loaded at the Airbus Delivery Centre. The goodwill flight took off from Airbus’ headquarters on 14th July en route to Bangkok. From there, the kits will be distributed to the three most southern provinces of Thailand – Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
The flight was operated by one of the most modern and efficient aircraft in the Airbus family – the A350-900. Thai Airways currently has two brand new A350’s in its fleet with two more still to be delivered by Airbus.
All of the kits on board were donated by the Airbus Foundation, which partners with Aviation Without Borders – a UK-based charity that specialises in providing humanitarian assistance through various aviation services. The charity says its work is done irrespective of politics, religion, race or nationality.
This isn’t the first time that Airbus and Thai Airways have partnered in this way. In fact, this is the fifth goodwill flight to the southern provinces of Thailand. In the past, medical equipment and supplies, as well as children’s gifts have been transported on Airbus A380 and A330 aircraft.
