Boeing

The Mozambique national airline Linhas Aéreas de Mocambique (LAM) today took delivery of its first Boeing 767-200ER, carrying 9 metric tons of relief supplies from Johannesburg to Maputo, Mozambique. To help with flood relief and purchase cargo for the flight, The Boeing Company contributed $75,000 to CARE and the Red Cross. Both nonprofit organizations are working to help an estimated one million people affected by cyclones and heavy flooding in Africa.

"The flooding and devastation in southeast Africa are unlike any seen before," said John Warner, senior vice president and chief administrative officer of The Boeing Company. "We are grateful to LAM and CARE for their partnership in this mission, and are greatly moved by the determination and will of the people of Mozambique."

Boeing coordinated the loading and shipment of the relief supplies in cooperation with LAM and CARE. With the Boeing contribution, CARE was able to purchase disaster relief cargo in South Africa for the flight to Mozambique.

"The Boeing airplane delivery gives us an opportunity to help people in time of need," said José Ricardo Viegas, executive chairman of Linhas Aéreas de Mocambique, "and it will also help our country economically in the future."

Linhas Aéreas de Mocambique was founded in 1936 and operates scheduled passenger services through several domestic and regional destinations in Africa, and an international route to Portugal. The Boeing purchase will give the airline a major boost with new direct routes from Maputo, and from Beira to Lisbon.

Since 1992, Boeing, its airline customers and nonprofit humanitarian organizations have participated in 11 relief flights to Africa. More than 21,000 kilos of airlifted medicine, food, computers, and school items have improved health care, nutrition and education for eight African nations.

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