NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Skylink Holidays USA's General Director, Fernando Virgolino, announced today that the company's program to aid the victims of Asia's tsunami is underway to deliver more than $2.4 million in pharmaceuticals to aid the people in the region. The unique company, comprised of its tour operation, Skylink Holidays USA, www.skylinkholidaysusa.com, the Skylink air consolidation division, www.skylinkus.com for travel professionals only, and Skylink Aviation, its air transportation division, have partnered with international relief agencies to assure the proper distribution of Skylink's donation of medicines and the air transportation to deliver the medicines to those in need, Virgolino explains.
"Our company has more than 25 years of experience in providing travelers with one-stop shopping for worldwide travel experiences. Our Skylink Holidays USA division provides the best destinations in the world complete with air, hotel, car rental and tours globally," Virgolino notes.
While part of the company is focused on creating expertly planned trips for travelers, CEO of the Skylink Group of Companies, Walter Arbib states, "Our aviation division is known for our humanitarian efforts, providing medicine to people globally who have suffered from natural and man-made disasters for over 20 years. We are known for our humanitarian missions to airlift UN workers and their families from troubled zones through our aviation division," Arbib explains.
Surjit Babra, Chairman and President of Skylink Group notes, "We are a unique company which understands the importance of global cooperation, paving the way to understanding through tourism and reaching out to help in times of need. In this case, we have responded from the heart with well over two million dollars in pharmaceuticals and have provided the air transportation from our aviation division to get the lifesaving goods delivered to those in need."
In partnership with Counterpart International, a relief agency based in Washington, D.C., to coordinate the ground distribution by working with governments and international relief organizations on site, and Medicines for Humanity, based in Massachusetts, through whom Skylink was able to obtain medicines from major drug companies, Skylink's aviation division moved quickly to assist in southern Asia. News of Skylink mustering its forces was covered by Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN's December 29, 2004, edition.
"The prompt reaction and level of contribution of Skylink exemplifies our commitment to the people of the world where so many travelers have explored using our services," Virgolino explains. "This global-scale disaster requires unprecedented cooperation."
Asked how this unfortunate event effects Skylink Holidays USA, Virgolino replies, "Clearly, at Skylink, our product is the world and we feel compelled to be part of the solution to the many problems the tsunami has created, but, at the same time, the wanderlust of the traveling public can be fulfilled by any number of wonderful and value-packed holidays to places all over Africa, Europe, and South America which Skylink Holidays USA makes available through travel agents and at our user-friendly website, www.skylinkholidaysusa.com," Virgolino concludes.