Relief efforts bolstered by Air China's support

In the wake of a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri county in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region on Jan 7, Air China, the nation's flag carrier, sprang into action to provide crucial airlift assistance, ensuring that vital personnel and supplies promptly reached the most heavily affected areas.

Approximately five and a half hours after the earthquake, Air China's CA4431 flight landed at Dingri Airport. It was the first flight to arrive in the county after the disaster, carrying relief personnel and supplies.

Over the following two days, the airline continued its support by transporting rescue teams and relief supplies, including medications, to the disaster zone and its vicinity.

On the morning of Jan 8, a dedicated disaster relief flight, CA049, flew 42 airport support personnel from Lhasa, the capital city of the Xizang autonomous region, to Dingri to provide logistical support for rescue operations.

Later that day, in response to a request from the China Foundation for Rural Development to transport disaster relief supplies, Air China established a green channel for the task and worked overnight to coordinate operations and adjust aircraft capacity.

On Jan 9, flight CA4401 transported 6 metric tons of tents provided by the foundation from Chengdu, the capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan province, to Lhasa. The tents were handed over to the local government upon arrival and then sent to the disaster-stricken area.

Air China promptly activated its emergency response plan and set up a task force dedicated to relief efforts following the earthquake. The task force focused on coordinating rescue flights, managing flight changes and cancellations, and preparing critical supplies such as meals and oxygen bottles, according to the company.

The airline increased its capacity for transporting relief supplies by deploying larger aircraft. Additionally, special policies were introduced for flights to the Xizang autonomous region, and relevant information was made available on the airline's official website, mobile application, and WeChat mini-program.

The earthquake hit Dingri county at 9:05 am on Jan 7 from a depth of 10 kilometers. A total of 126 people have been confirmed dead.