Hainan Airlines is the first mainland China-based carrier to join UNICEF's Change for Good alliance. It has promised to raise at least 10 million RMB over the five year period starting September 2013.
BEIJING – Hainan Airlines announced on October 21, 2014 that it will expand its successful onboard giving programme Change for Good to all flights on an additional 16 routes. The airline launched this programme in September 2013 on its Beijing – Haikou route to support UNICEF‘s work for children.
Hainan Airlines is the first mainland China-based carrier to join UNICEF’s Change for Good alliance. It has promised to raise at least 10 million RMB over the five year period starting September 2013. As of August 31, 2014, it had raised 2 million RMB, all of which will be transferred to UNICEF.
The additional routes include domestic flights Beijing-Guiyang, Sanya, Nanning; Haikou-Zhengzhou, Pudong; Guangzhou-Qinhuangdao, Qingdao, Weifang, Dongying as well as international flights Beijing-Chicago, Seattle, Toronto, Boston, Berlin, Moscow, and St. Petersburg.The spokesperson for Hainan Airlines said, “After a one-year pilot launch on the Beijing-Haikou route, based on performance and passenger participation, we have decided to expand this programme across an additional 16 routes, in a move to invite more of our passengers to join in the Change for Good programme and voluntarily give to support UNICEF’s work for children.“
A passenger onboard flight HU495 from Beijing to Seattle said, “I have donated 10 RMB, and this is the first time I have taken part in a charitable activity aboard a flight. Although it is a small sum, I believe that little by little, it will turn into a substantial resource that can be used to improve the lives of children.“
With the expansion from 1 to 17 routes, Hainan Airlines has taken a big step to ensure the success of Change for Good, demonstrating its willingness to commit its support to children’s welfare, as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Change for Good, established in 1991, is an innovative partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry. The program appeals to travellers to donate onboard the aircraft, to help UNICEF to improve the lives of children, and to help them to develop to their fullest potential. So far, Change for Good has raised over US$120 million funds globally in partnership with 11 international airlines including American Airlines, Alitalia Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
