Lufthansa Cargo has flown one of its MD-11 Freighter aircraft from Frankfurt Airport to Puerto Rico to deliver 80 tonnes of aid to those affected by Hurricane Maria.
The aircraft flew to Aguadilla on the West coast, where a Lufthansa Technical Site is situated with 400 colleagues residing in the local community reside, and is suffering from the affects of Hurricane Maria.
It departed under flight number LH8830 from Frankfurt on 20.40h on 30 September, with a refuelling stopover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, before proceeding to Rafael Hernandez International Airport, arriving at 07.20h local time.
The MD-11 was loaded with 80 tonnes of drinking water, apparel, food provisions and hygienic supplies, and the participants in the relief effort were: Hassia, Metro Group, and LSG Skychefs with donations, Kuehne + Nagel, Georgi and orgalog for transport services, and the project was organised and implemented by Lufthansa Group’s charitable aid organisation, HelpAlliance.
Lufthansa Technik president of the management board, Dr Johannes Bussmann says: “We are standing by our colleagues and the U.S. population in Puerto Rico during these trying times. It is especially in moments of crisis, that we as an enterprise all pull together and lend support to our colleagues and the local surrounding communities near our Puerto Rico location and affected by this tragedy.”
Since the hurricane, the Lufthansa Technik Facility in Puerto Rico (LTPR) has received assistance from customers: Spirit Airlines and jetBlue, who have their aircraft services by the station, and a freight space was immediately made available for relief requirements.
Bussmann says: “We must really thank our partners and friends of ‘Spirit’ and ‘jetBlue’. It is comforting to know that one can depend on friends during difficult occasions.”
