“The aviation industry plays a crucial role in global humanitarian efforts, and Airlink serves as a critical bridge between the private sector, airlines, and humanitarian organizations to deliver aid and hope to communities facing adversity worldwide.”
— Steven J. Smith, President and CEO of Airlink
DISASTER RESPONSE NONPROFIT AIRLINK WELCOMES AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADERS TO GOVERNORS COUNCIL ON WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY AND NATIONAL AVIATION DAY
August 19th, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – Celebrating World Humanitarian Day and National Aviation Day (August 19th), Airlink, the global disaster response nonprofit that provides free air transport and logistical coordination to a network of 150 NGOs, has announced the addition of aviation industry leaders to its prestigious Governors Council.
Airlink’s Governors Council comprises leaders in the aviation and logistics sector who (personally or through their organization) inspire other individuals and organizations to join the aviation industry’s leading disaster relief movement. Governors Council members are invited to join the group based on their and their company’s support of Airlink. Members are current CEOs (or equivalent) of Airlink’s partners. All share a dedication to helping people and communities impacted by natural and man-made disasters.
The newly appointed members include prominent figures from top passenger and cargo carriers, each dedicated to making a positive impact in the aviation industry and the global community. Their airlines have played a key role in Airlink’s responses to the Hawaii Wildfires, the cholera outbreak in Haiti, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighboring countries supporting displaced Ukrainians. The new members of Airlink’s Governors Council are:
- Robert Isom – CEO, American Airlines
- Bob Jordan – President and CEO, Southwest Airlines
- Scott Kirby – CEO, United Airlines
- Ben Minicucci – President and CEO, Alaska Airlines
- Güliz Öztürk – CEO, Pegasus
- Tim Strauss – CEO, Amerijet
- Michael Steen – CEO, Atlas Air
“We are delighted to welcome these distinguished aviation leaders to Airlink’s Governors Council,” said Steven J. Smith, President and CEO of Airlink. “The aviation industry plays a crucial role in global humanitarian efforts, and Airlink serves as a critical bridge between the private sector, airlines, and humanitarian organizations to deliver aid and hope to communities facing adversity worldwide.”
World Humanitarian Day and National Aviation Day on the same date hold a special significance for Airlink. By leveraging the resources and capabilities of its airline and aviation industry partners (through in-kind and cash donations), Airlink facilitates the rapid and free transportation of aid and responders to disaster-affected regions, ensuring that help reaches those in need swiftly. The organization supports a pre-screened global network of 150 NGO partners with free transport and logistical coordination.
Because Airlink covers the cost of transport for its NGO partners, those NGOs can then procure more supplies of aid and conduct longer and more extensive disaster response and humanitarian crisis programs. “The aviation and logistics industries are the unsung heroes of disaster response,” said Steve Smith. “The first step in disaster response is getting there.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Williams
+1 (202)-830-8514
awilliams@airlinkflight.org
About Airlink:
Airlink is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization delivering critical aid to communities in crisis by providing free airlift and logistical solutions to nonprofit partners, changing how the humanitarian community responds to disasters worldwide. Its network includes over 150 aid organizations and more than 50 commercial and charter airlines. Since its inception in 2010, Airlink has flown over 10,000 relief workers and transported nearly 8,000,000 pounds of humanitarian cargo, directly helping over 35 million people impacted by natural and man-made disasters.
