EasyJet has launched a summer onboard collection to help raise funds for UNICEF’s education appeal. Customers flying across 35 countries until 2 September – including trips to Faro Airport – will be able to donate onboard (in any currency) for a cause that aims to “ensure every child has the right to learn”.
EasyJet and UNICEF partnered to launch their Change for Good partnership in 2012 and, according to the airline, since then customers and crew have raised almost £17 million in onboard donations, “helping to protect millions of children around the world from disease and keep them safe during emergencies”.
The total includes over £400,000 for children and their families affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, and a “record-breaking” £616,000 in a single month for UNICEF’s Ukraine response in 2022, as well as over £2 million for UNICEF’s Education in Emergencies appeal during summer 2008 and summer 2019.
In a statement announcing the new initiative, EasyJet said, “Education is a human right, but still seven out of 10 children globally cannot read or write by the age of 10, and for out-of-school children these basic skills are even further from reach. The learning crisis will affect children’s health, prospects and earning potential and will impact on societies and economies for generations to come. UNICEF is working around the clock to protect children’s right to learn and easyJet customers’ support goes a long way.
“EasyJet’s customers can help UNICEF and its partners to ensure that children everywhere are able to access school, to keep learning and gaining the skills they need to succeed in life. With over 600 million children and adolescents worldwide unable to attain basic reading and mathematics skills, and two-thirds of the world’s school-aged children without internet connection at home to support their learning, there is a significant challenge ahead which requires innovation, investment and the support of global communities.”
Welcoming EasyJet’s support, Jon Sparkes, chief executive at The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) said, “The learning crisis has reached a global scale, weakening education systems and affecting children around the world. Today, more than ever before, children and their futures need to be protected. UNICEF and EasyJet are working together to provide children and adolescents with essential education supplies and quality learning opportunities to prepare them with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive. I want to thank all EasyJet employees and customers for their generous support towards our work for children around the world.”
Added Michael Brown, director of cabin services at EasyJet, “I am really proud of our partnership with UNICEF and the amazing job our crew do to support the collections on board. I know they are very passionate about the changes they can help make happen to so many lives and communities across the world, with the generous donations from our customers. We would like to thank all of our customers for any donations they can make and those who have donated so far for their kindness and generosity.”
Period Extended for COVID Vouchers
EasyJet has also announced an extension to the period that clients can use vouchers issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the airline company said, “Any customers who opted to receive a voucher during the pandemic and are yet to redeem it will now have their voucher validity automatically extended from 31 July 2023 to 31 January 2024, providing them with more time and more choice for making a future booking.”
The extensions would be carried out over the coming weeks, said EasyJet, and customers would be notified directly once their voucher had been extended. “Customers with vouchers do not have to have flown by the time the voucher expires, and vouchers can be used to book flights to any EasyJet destination.”
During the pandemic EasyJet provided customers on cancelled flights with the option of receiving a refund, transferring to an alternative flight free of charge or receiving a voucher. “The airline has continued to extend the validity of these vouchers to provide customers with more opportunity to redeem them and has continued to contact customers directly to remind them of the vouchers they have available.”
Customers can check their voucher balance and expiry date on www.easyjet.com via the airline’s voucher checker tool.