Dépêches

Air Partner Organises Humanitarian Flights for the UK's Department for International Development (DFID)

Dépèche transmise le 4 mars 2011 par PRNewswire

LONDON, March 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- International aviation provider Air Partner plc has been working closely with the British Government this week as it hopes to repatriate up to 6,000 displaced Egyptians who have flooded into Tunisia as a result of the political uprising in Libya.

Air Partner has been busy organising charter flights from Djerba to Cairo using aircraft such as 165-seat MD83s and 280-seat Boeing 767s. Some of the aircraft are undertaking several rotations a day. The first three flights, which were arranged within 24 hours of receiving the call for assistance, departed on Wednesday (March 2) and more flights will be operated over the next few days.

The operation forms part of Air Partner's contract to undertake all passenger and freight air charter services for the UK's Department for International Development (DFID).

Earlier this week, Air Partner organised two DFID-chartered Boeing 747 freight charters which flew from Dubai to Djerba carrying a total of 191 tonnes of blankets and tents. These were for the makeshift camps set up in the safe haven of Tunisia for the thousands who have fled the Gaddafi regime.

Air Partner Chief Executive Mark Briffa, said: "Air Partner is a specialist at planning and conducting evacuations as a result of political emergencies and our teams around the world have been working tirelessly for several weeks to rescue expatriate personnel."

Air Partner

London Gatwick-based Air Partner is a world-class provider of aviation services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The company has earned global recognition as a leading aircraft charter broker and organises ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. Its three main divisions, supported by a host of support teams, comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Private Jets and Air Partner Commercial Jets. Air Partner Private Jets offers ad-hoc charter and the company's unique pre-paid JetCard scheme. Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly any cargo anywhere, at any time. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners with 20 to 500 seats for groups of every size. With its headquarters in the UK, Air Partner has 20 offices spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America and operates a 24/7 year-round Flight Support centre from its London Gatwick base. The Group was formed in 1961 and is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Evacuation Credentials:

- Air Partner flies corporate, governments and private individuals including 6 of G8 governments, UN, EU, NATO and leading NGOs such as the Red Cross. - It is the only aviation company to hold a Royal Warrant from HM Queen Elizabeth II. - Used for disaster relief and provided flights to and from Haiti last year. - In 2006, Air Partner evacuated 7,500 expatriates in one weekend during the crises in Lebanon. - Established provider of air ambulance and organ transplant flights.

CONTACT: Nicola Flynn +44(0)7786080612