As part of a collaborative
effort under the Air Transport Association, Department of Transportation,
Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security,
United Airlines on Saturday, Sept. 3., will begin an ongoing shuttle operation
to airlift evacuees to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin,
Texas.  United today also will continue its humanitarian flights to New
Orleans for hurricane relief.
The first of the ongoing shuttle flights departed Chicago O’Hare at 11:00
a.m. today.  The flight will proceed to Louis Armstrong New Orleans
International Airport, board evacuees and then proceed to Austin.  A 1:00 p.m.
flight from Chicago O’Hare will follow a similar pattern, and then both
aircraft will provide ongoing shuttle service between Austin and New Orleans
until further notice.  The type of aircraft will be B737, 757 or A320,
depending on availability.  Approximately 100 evacuees can be carried on each
outbound flight.  Where possible, the flights will transport food, water and
medical personnel to New Orleans for distribution.  United today will
transport more than 30,000 pounds of food and water.
  “It’s gratifying to be able to assist the people of New Orleans and to get
them somewhere safe,” says Larry D. De Shon, senior vice president-Airport
Operations.  “All of us at United simply feel fortunate that we can be there
to help the victims of the region.”
  Since Thursday, United has completed two humanitarian flights to the
region, transporting medical workers and more than 50,000 pounds of food and
water to New Orleans, and evacuating more than 250 refugees to Chicago and on
to other cities.
  United will continue to work with federal and state agencies, other
airlines and its nonprofit partners—including the American Red Cross,
AmeriCares, Operation USA and America’s Second Harvest—to support the
relief effort.
  United also is encouraging Mileage Plus(R) members to donate miles to the
airline’s nonprofit relief partners as part of its Charity Miles program.
Many relief organizations send personnel and volunteers to assist in the
affected region in the event of a disaster, and the donation of miles helps
defray their expenses.
The first of the ongoing shuttle flights departed Chicago O’Hare at 11:00
a.m. today.  The flight will proceed to Louis Armstrong New Orleans
International Airport, board evacuees and then proceed to Austin.  A 1:00 p.m.
flight from Chicago O’Hare will follow a similar pattern, and then both
aircraft will provide ongoing shuttle service between Austin and New Orleans
until further notice.  The type of aircraft will be B737, 757 or A320,
depending on availability.  Approximately 100 evacuees can be carried on each
outbound flight.  Where possible, the flights will transport food, water and
medical personnel to New Orleans for distribution.  United today will
transport more than 30,000 pounds of food and water.
  “It’s gratifying to be able to assist the people of New Orleans and to get
them somewhere safe,” says Larry D. De Shon, senior vice president-Airport
Operations.  “All of us at United simply feel fortunate that we can be there
to help the victims of the region.”
  Since Thursday, United has completed two humanitarian flights to the
region, transporting medical workers and more than 50,000 pounds of food and
water to New Orleans, and evacuating more than 250 refugees to Chicago and on
to other cities.
  United will continue to work with federal and state agencies, other
airlines and its nonprofit partners—including the American Red Cross,
AmeriCares, Operation USA and America’s Second Harvest—to support the
relief effort.
  United also is encouraging Mileage Plus(R) members to donate miles to the
airline’s nonprofit relief partners as part of its Charity Miles program.
Many relief organizations send personnel and volunteers to assist in the
affected region in the event of a disaster, and the donation of miles helps
defray their expenses.
——-