Virgin Atlantic has named its newest Dreamliner aircraft Lady Freedom in honour of Nelson Mandela.
In celebration of the friendship between the former South African President and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, and to commemorate what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday, the airline has named the Boeing 787-9 aircraft after the global icon. Lady Freedom came into service in March 2018 and honours Mandela’s legacy of freedom and equality.
25 years ago, a formidable and unexpected friendship was formed between the pair, which led to Virgin first landing on African soil. Co-incidentally, the pair also share the same birthday, July 18th, which has fondly been dubbed Madiba Day in South Africa.
“The unique designs and names on the sides of our planes are one of the playful little touches that really make people smile when they fly with Virgin Atlantic, and we’re delighted to add a bit of South African heritage to our fleet,” Liezl Gericke, head of Middle East and Africa for Virgin Atlantic, said. “Former President Nelson Mandela fought for freedom and equality – two values that are strongly shared by Virgin Atlantic – and so it seems only apt that we name one of our beautiful 787 Dreamliners after this legacy.”
As well as naming Lady Freedom, Virgin Atlantic is also giving all charity donations collected onboard flights between London Heathrow and Johannesburg during July 2018 to The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. The Fund aims to help change the ways in which society treats its children and youth in order to improve their lives through child survival and development, child safety and protection, youth leadership and sustainable livelihood programmes to inform policy reforms through advocacy.
“We’re grateful and excited to be partnering with Virgin Atlantic for the month of July,” Sibongile Mkhabela, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, said. “The world is celebrating Mandela’s centenary in 2018 and we’re grateful to continue his legacy by contributing to solutions that make a difference, and building a strong foundation for children.”
Find out more and book your next flight on the Virgin Atlantic website.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen