IRELAND/INDIA. Aer Rianta International’s (ARI) Breathe for India campaign to support COVID-19 relief efforts in India has raised US$20,000, with strong support from company staff and management around the world and the wider travel retail sector.
ARI Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Kenny said the US$20,000 has been transferred to two charities: UNICEF and the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, which is affiliated to ARI’s partner in Delhi Duty Free, GMR.
As reported, ARI launched the major fundraising drive across its international network earlier this year. Its objective was to raise money to procure and fly much-needed oxygen supplies from Bahrain to Delhi. ARI is a shareholder and partner in Delhi Duty Free Services.
With the Breathe for India initiative, ARI challenged its teams around the world to collectively ‘travel’ the 7,080km from ARI headquarters in Dublin to Delhi. They were encouraged to cycle, run or walk the distance, with each individual’s mileage contributing to the total.
ARI and ARI-Middle East offered corporate contributions and the campaign was also supported by The Moodie Davitt Report and others in the industry via a Go Fund Me page.