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Onboard collections raise almost £400,000
for tsunami relief
At the end
of February easyJet added up the total amount of money raised during six weeks
of onboard collections. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has received £303,447.63
from donations made onboard aircraft operating from easyJet's bases throughout
the UK, Paris Orly, Dortmund and Berlin. At the low cost carrier's Geneva base
staff collected for the Swiss solidarity organisation (www.bonheur.ch) raising
a staggering £32,570 (CHF 71,000) from passengers
travelling on the base's five aircraft. The company's donation of £50,000
earlier this year brings the total monies raised for the victims of the tsunami
disaster to a phenomenal £386,017.63.
The vast scale of the tsunami tragedy touched at a very individual level and
many of easyJet's passengers and staff were affected, some having relatives in
the region at the time. Staff at easyJet wanted to support the international
humanitarian effort so decided to launch collections on it's flights in the hope
of raising much needed funds for the DEC to aid the victims of the disaster.
Ray Webster easyJet CEO said: "All our staff at easyJet wanted to support
the international humanitarian effort and we decided to launch collections on
our flights in the hope of raising much needed funds for the DEC to aid the victims
of the disaster. Having run very successful charity campaigns in the past we
felt that this was the best way that we could help, people usually have a few
Euros left over from their trip, so what better way to get rid of your loose
change. easyJet's tsunami appeal has been a success of enormous proportion and
we have been overwhelmed by the kindness of our passengers. easyJet would like
to thank anyone who flew with us during the collections and gave so generously."
Major expansion in Berlin
easyJet has announced three new routes from its largest German base in Berlin
Schoenefeld. On 21 September 2005 flights to Milan Linate and Rome Ciampino will
commence. The start date for flights to London Gatwick had yet to be announced
at the time of going to print, so keep an eye on easyJet.com for the latest details!
easyJet is already the largest low-cost carrier operating from Berlin, and also
the fastest growing carrier in Germany, currently employing around 400 people
both directly and indirectly in Berlin. The airline is committed to further growth
at Berlin and considers Schoenefeld of great strategic importance to its future
development.
This announcement brings the number of easyJet routes from Berlin to 27. More
than easyJet's long-established London bases at Luton and Stansted and
only one less than the 28 currently offered from London Gatwick!
Berlin is now easyJet's largest base outside of the UK and with the
delivery of the airline's 100th aircraft at the end of March, Schoenefeld
will account for 10% of easyJet's total operations. With 70 daily flights,
easyJet expects to carry over 3 million passengers to and from Berlin in 2005.
These new routes are in addition to the five already announced that will begin
operations from Berlin this summer to Belfast, Maastricht-Aachen, Olbia, Pisa
and Valencia.
National Society for Epilepsy
The National Society for Epilepsy (NSE) is easyJet's charity of the year
2005. Together we are raising money to support epilepsy research. NSE has a number
of fundraising opportunities for everyone to support its research projects.
- The Seahorse Ball; May 19 2005At the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's
Park Lane. Now in its fifth year, this themed Ball has been supported by a number
of celebrities. Tickets are £95 to include dinner and dancing to a live
band. For further information contact NSE's Events Manager Liz Ward on
01494 601415.
- London to Paris Seahorse Cycle; 11 - 14 June 2005 This fantastic ride will
take place over four days and covers approximately 250 miles from London to Paris.
A support vehicle will be with participants all the way and will also be bringing
bikes back from Paris. Cyclists will be flown back to London.
Participants are required to pay a non-refundable entry fee of £100
and then raise a minimum of £500 in sponsorship (£1000 if you can
gain corporate 'matching'). Places are strictly limited and demand is expected
to be high. For more information please contact Simon Ekless on 01494 601410
- West Highway Way Challenge; 30 September to 6October 2005 If you love a
challenge then sign up today for NSE's sponsored trek through some of Scotland's
most spectacular countryside. The West Highland Way is 152km (95 miles) long
and will take seven days to complete under expert guidance. There is also the
option of joining the main walk on day four and trekking 88km (55miles) to the
journey's end. Participants are required to pay a non-
refundable entry fee of £100 by 1 May 2005 and then raise a minimum of £670
in sponsorship (£535 for the shorter trek). For further details please
contact Liz Ward at NSE on 01494 601302
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