British Airways and Comic Relief have teamed up to launch a global charity partnership called Flying Start.
It aims to raise up to £8 million by 2013 for vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the UK and around the world.
An aircraft with ‘Flying Start’ emblazoned on its fuselage has been unveiled to mark the beginning of the fundraising venture.
Actors Bill Nighy and Nick Frost flew to Kenya to visit some projects that Comic Relief supports, including Kicoshep, a community self-help scheme supporting orphaned children affected by HIV and Aids, and Pamoja Trust, which helps slum dwellers in Kenya.
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said: “Our partnership with Comic Relief will bring help and support to underprivileged children in the UK and around the world through funds we raise in the air, on the ground and online.
“We have a great tradition of giving and, with our customers and our people, we will raise much-needed funds.”
Comic Relief chief executive Kevin Cahill said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as a long-term partner of British Airways, which offers us the chance to reach out to staff and customers worldwide, all year round.
“Working with BA will help us stay connected to our beneficiaries across the world and will help us raise crucial funds to increase the numbers of individuals and countries we are able to support.”
The airline supports more than 80 community and conservation charities worldwide and last year gave more than £5 million to charitable causes.
• For more information on Flying Start and British Airways’ corporate responsibility programme, or to make a donation, go to ba.com/communityrelations