Communities around the world have experienced a turbulent year. Around the world, global citizens are feeling the ripple effects of a rapidly changing climate and mass displacement of people fleeing conflict and economic destabilization.
Global Humanitarian Overview estimated that over 307 million people would require humanitarian assistance in 2025; and together, Airlink and Cathay Pacific worked to help close gaps and reach communities in crisis.
“At Cathay, we believe that every move counts. This philosophy guides not only our daily passenger, cargo, and lifestyle operations, but also our commitment to humanitarian aid and sustainable practices across the business,” said Cindy Lam, Senior Vice President, Americas at Cathay Pacific. “Supporting global communities has been a core principle of the airline since our founding nearly 80 years ago. For 10 years, we have been proud to partner with Airlink to deliver vital resources and services to those in need. As Hong Kong’s home carrier, we are dedicated to connecting people and cultures worldwide, and I am honored that our partnership with Airlink continues to make a meaningful impact for communities across the globe — with hopes for clear skies ahead.”
Airlink and Cathay Pacific have delivered hope to communities affected by disasters around the world, transforming and empowering lives. In March 2025, a devastating 7.7 earthquake hit the second-largest city in Myanmar, affecting 17 million people, destroying 120,000 homes, and causing an estimated USD 11 billion in damage, per the World Bank. Despite the immediate logistical challenges, including communications interruptions and severely damaged airports, Airlink and Cathay Pacific reached neighboring Thailand to transport responders and deliver aid across the border.
Nearly a thousand people along the Thai-Myanmar Border received care under the program, carried out in coordination with international non-government organizations (INGOs) and local civil society actors in Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Phop Phra and the Thoo Mweh Khee Learning Center and other refugee schools throughout summer. Through the program, those displaced by the earthquake also gained access to food, adult learning opportunities, clean water, and expanded surgical services – efforts that emphasized protection and long-term collaboration with community-based organizations.
Airlink and Cathay Pacific have delivered hope to communities affected by disasters around the world, transforming and empowering lives. In March 2025, a devastating 7.7 earthquake hit the second-largest city in Myanmar, affecting 17 million people, destroying 120,000 homes, and causing an estimated USD 11 billion in damage, per the World Bank. Despite the immediate logistical challenges, including communications interruptions and severely damaged airports, Airlink and Cathay Pacific reached neighboring Thailand to transport responders and deliver aid across the border.
Nearly a thousand people along the Thai-Myanmar Border received care under the program, carried out in coordination with international non-government organizations (INGOs) and local civil society actors in Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Phop Phra and the Thoo Mweh Khee Learning Center and other refugee schools throughout summer. Through the program, those displaced by the earthquake also gained access to food, adult learning opportunities, clean water, and expanded surgical services – efforts that emphasized protection and long-term collaboration with community-based organizations.
The mission also resulted in the launch of an initiative in partnership with other medical organizations working along the border – an expanded program that continues today as fallout from the earthquake and the 500+ aftershocks continues. International aid for this emergency has been limited by both funding and technical capacity, yet Airlink has been among the few organizations leading the collaboration between humanitarian and logistics partners to support the communities in need. Continued care programs will remain in the region and are expected to benefit an additional 1,000 people with medical evacuation.
Cathay Pacific is an integral reason why this program has been a success.
At the onset of the Pacific typhoon and cyclone season, Cathay Pacific was poised to assist Airlink with urgent deployment of responders and airlift for prioritized cargo following a storm’s landfall. As Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, were impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding, humanitarian partners have relied on Airlink to coordinate their aid transport requests to help provide relief.
The partnership has a long track record of responding to disasters like this in the region. Following Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) in November 2024, Cathay supported Airlink in sending responders to rebuild schools damaged by the storm. This work provided 300 students with a safe learning environment and a sense of normalcy. Families received training in disaster risk reduction and saw expanded access to clean water and sanitation equipment. One year later, the Philippines experienced back-to-back typhoons and remains under an extended state of calamity with long-term needs. Cathay Pacific stepped up to support affected communities in the Philippines and is working with Airlink to move 5,700 hygiene kits to a community hospital in Northern Luzon.
Supply chain and transportation-related costs can account for up to 73% of a humanitarian organization’s annual budget – with transport being the most volatile. When a partner like Cathay Pacific trusts Airlink’s vetting process to coordinate a disaster response among dozens of humanitarian partners, those costs can be eliminated. Time and time again, Airlink’s NGO partners report that, without the airlift that Airlink and its airline network provides, they may not have been able to respond at all.
Cathay Pacific’s impact, therefore, is invaluable. The thousands of lives touched in 2025 and beyond have been given a second chance. The shared dedication of Cathay Pacific and Airlink to supporting communities in crisis is a testament to what’s possible when disaster response and aviation come together to deliver hope where it’s needed the most.
About Airlink
Airlink is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization delivering critical aid to communities in crisis by providing free or discounted airlift and logistical solutions to vetted nonprofit partners, changing how the humanitarian community responds to disasters worldwide. Its network includes over 250 aid organizations and over 50 commercial and charter airlines. Since its inception in 2010, Airlink has flown 15,000 relief workers and transported over 8,000 metric tons of humanitarian cargo, directly helping 75+ million people impacted by natural and man-made disasters. For more information, visit airlinkflight.org and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.