Turkish Airlines, flying to more countries than any other airline in the world, this time has taken off for an important journey in the name of humanity. Call for action to Turkish Airlines by the social media phenomenon and online celebrities, while immensely resonates throughout the globe, has become a huge hope for the people of Somalia.
Started by Jerome Jarre, the French social media celebrity and his five friends, the social media campaign on Twitter hashtags #TurkishAirlinesHelpSomalia and #LoveArmyForSomalia, targeted to draw attention to the brutal tragedy in Somalia and snowballed reaching over 2 billion people thanks to support from other celebrities such as actor Ben Stiller.
Turkish Airlines quickly responded to this call for action which has turned out to be one of the most powerful social responsibility campaigns of all times. In response to the demand of Jerome and his friends to carry humanitarian help to Somalia, Turkish Airlines as the only airline that connects Somalia to the world tweeted the message “We had a call for a journey of love and action” and announced that, they will support the campaign by carrying 200 tons of humanitarian aid to Somalia in the coming 6 months.
$1 million targeted within 10 days by Jerome and his friends right after Turkish Airlines’ pledge to support the campaign, was raised in 22 hours with the support of 16.000 donations from 104 countries. In the 15th day, money raised reached over $2.4 million with 80.000 contributors from 125 countries.
Initially 65 tons of high protein baby formulas were delivered to Somalia with the Turkish Airlines cargo jet which took off from Istanbul on the evening of April 4th. The cargo jet was met by local NGO delegates, Federal Republic of Somalia officials including Health Minister Fowsiya Abiikar Nur, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Salad along with Ambassador of Turkish Republic to Somalia Olgan Bekar and Turkish Airlines SVP Corporate Communication Seda Kalyoncu.
Somalian Ministers expressed their gratitude initially to the social media phenomenon, the Turkish Republic for their constant support as from 2011 and to the Turkish Airlines. On the campaign, Turkish Airlines SVP Corporate Communication Seda Kalyoncu commented as follows; “We are here to support the people of Somalia who are fighting with one of the worst hunger and drought disasters of our age.
As the Turkish Airlines family, we are here with the sense of responsibility being the sole commercial carrier that connects Somalia to the world. With 51 destinations we are currently flying to more destinations in Africa than any other airline in the world.
Turkish Airlines, Inc.Media Relations
About Turkish Airlines:
Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is a 4-star airline today with a fleet of 337 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 298 destinations worldwide with 249 international and 49 domestic. According to the 2016 Skytrax survey, Turkish Airlines was chosen as “Europe's Best Airline” for the sixth and “Best Airline in Southern Europe” for the eighth consecutive time. Having won in 2010 the world's “Best Economy Catering Service”, in 2013 and also in 2014 the world's “Best Business Catering Service”, and “Best Business Class Lounge Dining”, “Best Business Airline Lounge” awards in last year’s survey, Turkish Airlines was awarded again the world's “Best Business Class Dining Lounge” and “Best Business Class On-Board Catering” prizes in this year’s survey. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website http://ift.tt/TpSd7u or its social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Linkedin, and Instagram.
0 comments: