The Singapore Airlines Group will make a donation of $300,000 to the Red Cross Tidal Waves Asia Relief Fund to support the massive operation underway to assist those affected by Sunday’s earthquake and tsunami damage across the region.In addition, Singapore Airlines has been in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), as well as Red Cross in Singapore, to offer freight of relief supplies to affected areas, which are served by SIA.  The use of wide-body aircraft will facilitate the movement of significant quantities of relief supplies in coming days.

The first shipments of this aid from MFA being carried on SIA flights left Singapore on 29 December to Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Singapore Airlines Cargo is working with organisations around the world to position emergency relief supplies into affected areas.  Aid is being flown from as far as Europe and the USA on Singapore Airlines Cargo services.

SIA’s Executive Vice President Marketing and Regions, Mr Huang Cheng Eng, said that Singapore Airlines is extending its support to those affected by the tragic events of recent days.

“We want to use our extensive global network to expedite aid reaching those who need it most.

“The staff of the SIA Group join me in a sense of anguish at the magnitude of the loss and devastation caused by this earthquake.  Beyond our contribution as a Group, a huge number of our staff are making their own contributions directly.

“Our hearts go out to those affected, and our thanks go to those on the ground who are working hard on rescue and relief operations.  We will do our bit to help and encourage the Singapore and international communities to do likewise,” he said.

SIA and SilkAir are assisting customers who were visiting affected regions with their travel arrangements.  Some customers reporting with lost tickets and travel documents are being accommodated so they can reach their homes speedily.

Flight operations are normal, except to Male (Maldives), where damage to the   Airport’s   navigation   system prevents night operations.  SIA’s five-times-weekly services have been rescheduled to daylight operations.

SilkAir has operated one additional flight to Phuket to cater for demand on the return sector.
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