Edelweiss renews support for Sri Lanka

Edelweiss, Switzerland’s leading leisure travel airline, together with Bauars Air Services, last week held a business forum with the participation of many stakeholders. 

Edelweiss is the sister company of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and a member of the Lufthansa Group.

In November 2018, Edelweiss, code-sharing with Swiss International Air Lines, commenced direct flights to Colombo in accordance with its winter schedules. The winter schedule 2019/2020 commenced operations on 1 December 2019 and will continue until the end of April 2020. 

Edelweiss Air AG Chief Executive Officer Bernd Bauer, Edelweiss Air AG Head of Communication Andreas Meier and Lufthansa Group Senior Director South Asia George Ettiyil attended the ‘Edelweiss Business Talk 2020’.

During their stay, Bauer and the rest of the management team, along with pilots and crew members, participated in a CSR project at the Frangipani Early Childhood Development Centre in Seenimodara as well.

Edelweiss flies to the most beautiful destinations in the world. With a fleet of 16 aircraft, the airline operates flights to 72 destinations in 32 countries. Annually, over 2.7 million passengers fly with Edelweiss to their holiday destinations and enjoy a relaxing travel experience. This includes great on-board service provided with the warmth, reliability and hospitality that Edelweiss is known for. 

Baurs Air Services Ltd, a subsidiary of A Baur & Co Ltd, with a rich heritage dating back to the 1890s, is the General Sales Agent for Swiss International Air Lines, Edelweiss Air and Swiss WorldCargo in Sri Lanka. 

Edelweiss pilot Laurent Bobay has been privately involved with the ‘Friends Lanka Child Foundation’ for several years. His sister-in-law helped build the organisation and has lived in Sri Lanka for many years. At the end of 2018, the project for the renovation of the Frangipani Early Childhood Development Centre in Seenimodara was officially submitted to Edelweiss.

The kindergarten is a project of the Friends Lanka Child Foundation, which operates with a mission to provide better living conditions and access to education for a brighter future for underprivileged children and their families, regardless of their religion or ethnic background. Its focus and mission seeks to break the vicious circle of poverty by strengthening children through education, giving them a better perspective in life and encouraging them to represent, one day, a just, free, peaceful and prosperous society.

At the kindergarten, which was built after the 2004 tsunami, a total of 170 children across two age groups (three to four years old and four to five years old) are taught in seven classrooms by 10 teachers. On the school grounds there is a library, a dining room and a playground. A bus provides safe transport for the children to the kindergarten and back home.

In order to continue to ensure safe operation, renovation work was necessary on the roof, doors, walls and sanitary facilities. This renovation work was carried out by local craftsmen and financed by Edelweiss with the help of the alliance.  Edelweiss pilot Laurent Bobay is the volunteer project manager and the link between the help alliance and the Friends Lanka Child Foundation. But now the final touch was still missing. For this reason, Edelweiss sent its flight crew to Tangalle to finalise work on the site on 27 and 28 January. 

The three pilots, 11 cabin crew members and two ground staff painted the walls together with the children of the kindergarten. They were supported by a local artist. In addition, the children were introduced to Europe, Switzerland and Edelweiss in a playful way and will be provided with new and renovated furniture.