In coordination with Freight Forwarders, the WestJet Group has pledged 40 tons of cargo capacity through WestJet Cargo, to aid earthquake relief efforts in Turkey/Syria.
WestJet Cargo will collect shipments from across Canada to be transported to impacted areas of the recent earthquake, providing the entire freight capacity - 40 tons - of two WestJet 787 Dreamliner flights from Calgary.
On 06FEB, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, impacting more than 23 million people. Rescue personnel and humanitarian agencies around the world are working to locate survivors and organize recovery efforts.
In addition to WestJet Cargo’s donated capacity, the WestJet Group has offered seats onboard transatlantic flights to help transport relief workers into a position to best assist.
“During a crisis of this devastating magnitude, the distribution of humanitarian aid and transportation of relief workers and emergency services through air travel and cargo capacity is essential. I am grateful to our partners and our compassionate network of WestJet Group employees for their collaboration to ensure that collectively we can do our part to provide immediate attention and support to those impacted by this tragedy,” said Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Cargo, Executive Vice-President, Cargo.
The WestJet Group is also encouraging its employees and all Canadians and its employees who would like to help, to donate to the Canadian Red Cross and/or GlobalMedic. The airline notes that the government of Canada is matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross made before 25FEB, 2023, up to $10 million.
