Thai AirAsia sets up Myanmar donation stations

BANGKOK: Thai AirAsia announced this afternoon that it is offering aid to cyclone victims in Myanmar by carrying public donations to Yangon.

The airline has set up collection points in all the destinations it flies to, including Phuket.

Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia, said that the airline wants to make sure that donations such as food, clothing, flashlights, and articles for shelter reach Myanmar as fast as possible. Thai AirAsia, which flies out of Bangkok, flies daily to and from Yangon.

Donations may be dropped off at any of the airline’s domestic and international stations, and Thai AirAsia will carry these donations to Yangon.

K. Tassapon also said that the airline will not cancel its Bangkok-Yangon route. Humanitarian agencies planning to travel to Myanmar may contact the airline as the airline continues to operate regular flights to Yangon.

Thai AirAsia is also allowing all guests on the Bangkok-Yangon route who were affected by the cyclone to change their travel dates free of charge.

In Thailand, donation stations have been set up in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Haad Yai, Krabi, Narathiwat, Phuket, Ranong, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.

Stations are also operating out of Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Jakarta, Shenzhen and Macau.

A press release by the company did not state who would receive or distribute the goods once they arrive in Yangon, and AirAsia has yet to reply to queries on this point sent to them by the Gazette.

For more information, contact the airline at Tel: 02-5159888, Fax: 02-3159806 or Email: helpmyanmar@airasia.com