East African Business Week

KAMPALA, UGANDA --British Airways has received an award for the support it provides to charities around the world. Recently and closer to East Africa, the airline flew relief emergency supplies and equipment to Somalia and Kenya.
The airline was one of three companies that received a Word Tourism Award at a ceremony at the World Travel Market, in Excel, East London before a specially invited audience.
British Airways received the award in recognition of its annual investment of over £5m to support more than 50 charities and community programmes, through free flights, cargo space and expert advice, around the world as well as in the United Kingdom (UK).
The World Tourism Awards, celebrating their 14th Anniversary, are co-sponsored by American Express, Corinthia Hotels, the International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions.
The awards recognise 'the extraordinary initiatives by individuals, companies, organisations, destinations and attractions for outstanding accomplishments in the travel industry'.  
Ms. Mary Barry, British Airways' community investment manager said, "this award belongs to the thousands of generous British Airways customers and colleagues who dig deep into their own pockets or who give up valuable time to help us support scores of charities around the world.
"Without their generosity we would not be able to provide the much-needed support to our 'flying start partnership with Comic Relief that does incredible work to change the lives of so many vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
"Nor could we support the scores of other charities we work with or provide emergency relief flights, like the famine aid flight we gave free to East Africa last week, supported by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge."
She said the airline is incredibly grateful for the recognition of the part played by British Airways customers and colleagues. The airline will continue to support those charities that work so hard to make a difference in the lives of so many people.
Among the charities supported by British Airways Chain of Hope UK, a children's heart surgery charity, which provides underprivileged children suffering from life-threatening heart disease with medical treatment in the UK.
Others are the Mukuru Promotion Centre, which runs vocational programmes for children and young people in the vast Nairobi slum of Mukuru, which is home to over 400,000 people.
In August, a British Airways Boeing 747 freighter with capacity for up to 110 tonnes of cargo flew to Ethiopia, carrying aid from Oxfam and UNICEF.