Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has concluded a year-long programme of activities and humanitarian initiatives to mark the UAE’s Year of Giving.

One dirham from every ticket booked was donated to charity.

EAG Interim chief executive officer Ray Gammell said: “We are proud that the EAG family worldwide so generously supported the many initiatives throughout the year. Volunteering and giving back to our community, as well as to the communities in which we operate, is an important part of the Etihad culture.”

A number of activities supported Syrian refugees, including a welfare trip to Lebanon where more than 3,550 Syrian refugees received winter clothes, shoes, mattresses, dry food parcels and blankets; and a trip to the UAE-Jordan Mrajeeb Al Fhood refugee camp in Jordan where EAG staff and senior management distributed school bags, stationery sets, blankets and garments to more than 2,500 children.

In Greece, school and home supplies were donated to more than 1,000 Syrians at the Ritsona refugee camp near Athens. The event coincided with the United Nations Universal Children’s Day and supported the global education initiative to help underprivileged students pursue their studies.

The Year of Giving drive was also visible on its flagship aircraft, the Airbus A380, with all four engines of the superjumbo displaying the official Year of Giving logo to promote the national initiative overseas in Etihad’s A380 destinations of Sydney, Paris, London Heathrow and New York.

The EAG family also took part in community engagements within the Emirates. A special day in cooperation with Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs was planned to help plant trees and vegetables at one of the farms.

The donation drive continued with the donation of nearly 40 pallets of catering supplies to Emirates Red Crescent to support charity projects during the Holy Month.

Students from the Future Rehabilitation Centre, a local special needs school, were whisked away from school for a surprise hands-on science lesson in Etihad Airways’ state-of-the-art flight simulator, where they learnt about flight regulations, aircraft technology and how to be an effective co-pilot.

To view Etihad Aviation Group’s Year Of Giving activities, please watch the video: https://youtu.be/UbuGrOwpH00