Maximus and Etihad launch Care by Air

A humanitarian relief aid initiative from the UAE took flight at the Dubai Air Show 2009. Maximus Air Cargo joined forces with Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Airports Company, to launch ‘Care by Air’. Supporting members included the UAE Red Crescent and the United Nation World Food Programme.Maximus Air Cargo president and chief executive officer, Fathi Hilal Buhazza together with Etihad Airways chief executive officer, James Hogan and ADAC’s senior vice-president operations, Ahmed al Haddabi, pledged their support as founding members by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. The document was also signed by supporting members represented by HE Ahmed Humaid Al Mazrouei, chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority and Finbarr Curran, country director of the United Nations World Food Programme.According to IATA figures, only 70 per cent of the maximum cargo loading capacity is used across the world. This means four million tonnes of empty space, every week, every year in more than 3,400 airports across 220 countries. If just 0.0003 per cent of this space were to be filled, then five million people in need could be fed for a day. These facts provided the rationale for ‘Care by Air’ and the idea to expedite relief aid across the world within a sound commercial framework.‘Care by Air’ will provide cargo services to relief and humanitarian organisations at cost across its network of partner organisations and businesses, ensuring the distribution of aid and vital supplies in times of need.Hogan said: “As the national airline of the UAE we are uniquely placed to support the Emirate’s humanitarian aid initiatives both in our community and further afield. We are proud to work alongside local partners as part of ‘Care by Air’.”Al Haddabi, added: “With a sustainable business model behind it, ‘Care by Air’ represents a perfect example of how private and public businesses can work together for mutual benefit and play an active role in supporting humanitarian programmes. I hope that our efforts will demonstrate to many other companies how they can creatively and financially integrate a social responsibility agenda into the fabric of their organisations.”Al Mazrouei, also underscored the value of such a partnership. “The UAE Red Crescent’s mission is to mobilise humanitarian forces to aid those in need. ‘Care by Air’ is an ideal opportunity to cooperate and partner with organisations in the UAE to facilitate this worthy mission and we are very proud to be part of it.”Finally Buhazza, summed up: “Maximus Air Cargo’s commitment to humanitarian and relief operations is passionate and working alongside our ‘Care by Air’ partners, we are proud to launch such a worthy cause from the UAE continuing in the footsteps of the greatest humanitarian of all, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”Photo Caption: From left to right – James Hogan, CEO of Etihad, Fathi Hilal Buhazza, President and CEO of Maximus Air Cargo, Ahmed Al Haddabi, Senior Vice President Operations of ADAC, H.E. Ahmed Humaid Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority