easyJet, the UK’s largest airline and operator of Europe’s No.1 airline network has announced the launch of an emergency appeal with UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation, to help the estimated 4 million children who have been affected by the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

The emergency appeal, which launches on all easyJet flights from today is part of easyJet and UNICEF’s ‘Change for Good’ partnership. The on-board donations from passengers will be collected on easyJet’s 7000 flights per week, which span across the airline’s pan-European network of over 600 routes across more than 33 countries.

All of the money raised through passenger donations will help UNICEF to provide clean water, life-saving emergency food and medicine for the children of the Philippines.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet’s Chief Executive said:

""As the UK’s largest airline, we are in a very strong position to help the people affected by Typhoon Haiyan with our emergency onboard appeal. At easyJet we have been deeply moved by the scenes of devastation in the Philippines and that is why we are launching an emergency appeal on all our flights from today in partnership with UNICEF. To get the appeal started we have donated £20,000. We hope our support, and the generosity of our passengers, will help make a difference to the communities affected.”

David Bull, UNICEF UK’s Executive Director added:

“We’re extremely grateful to easyJet for their financial support which will be critical to help us continue getting supplies to children and families whose lives have been devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Many of them have lost everything and are in urgent need of clean water, shelter and protection from malnutrition and disease. The contributions from easyJet and its passengers, will help us scale up our emergency response and get vital supplies to those desperately in need of our help.”

The on-board collection forms part of the wider Change for Good partnership between easyJet and UNICEF, which has raised over £2.1 million through passenger donations for UNICEF’s life-saving work for children since July 2012. At present easyJet is the highest fundraising partner of the Change for Good programme.

For further information please contact: Dagmar Dua: press.office@easyjet.com or 01582 525252.

For further information about UNICEF please contact: Helen Wylie: helenw@unicef.org.uk or 020 7375 6258

About easyJet:easyJet operates Europe's No. 1 air transport network with a leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest airports.

easyJet flies over 200 aircraft on more than 600 routes between over 130 airports in 30 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

About UNICEF:

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation for children, working in over 190 countries to help every child realise their full potential. We work with partners to transform the lives of children everywhere. UNICEF provides health care, water, nutrition, education and protection for children. The most vulnerable and disadvantaged children are our priority. As champion of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, we work to protect and promote the rights of every child. UNICEF UK raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work and advocates for lasting change for children everywhere. We are a UK registered charity, supported entirely by voluntary donations. We do not receive any money from the UN. For more information, please visit www.unicef.org.uk