The Airbus Foundation today pledged €7.5 million over four years to Airlink, a US-based nonprofit that coordinates air transport and logistics for humanitarian aid. The funding agreement was announced in Washington, DC, where Airbus reaffirmed its commitment to using aviation for disaster response.
The donation will support Airlink’s mission to deliver aid supplies and deploy relief personnel across 97 countries. This long-term commitment follows fifteen years of Airlink’s operations since 2010, during which it has supported over 250 NGO partners in moving 18
million pounds of cargo and 14,000 responders.
Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer and Airbus Foundation Chair, noted, “At the Airbus Foundation, we focus on three core missions: providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief by leveraging Airbus’s products and expertise, fostering youth development and education, particularly in STEM fields, and supporting environmental protection and conservation efforts. Through these strategic areas, the aviation industry can address societal challenges and contribute to a more sustainable world. That’s why we are pledging our long-term support to increase logistical capacity for communities in need.”
Airlink’s operational model, which eliminates transport costs for NGOs, has saved over $46 million for its partners. Its first major response was the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Since then, Airlink has facilitated disaster logistics during natural and man-made crises, supporting an
estimated 63 million people globally.
“Airbus Foundation is taking the lead on ushering Airlink into its next fifteen years of transporting aid around the world,” said Steven Smith, President and CEO of Airlink.
The Airbus Foundation’s contribution will also enable Airlink to prepare communities for emergencies, conduct regional training for NGOs, and strengthen health and humanitarian systems through better air logistics.
“The aviation industry has been an incredible ally to Airlink, and the Airbus Foundation, along with Airbus and its subsidiaries, have been supporting and leading in the humanitarian sector for years,” said Smith. “When supply chain management, a significant and highly costvolatile part, can account for seventy-three per percent of an NGO’s budget, extraordinary commitments from key partners like the Airbus Foundation alleviate those costs and make sure the resources are available to act quickly.”