On May 14, Cathay Pacific Airways and its sister airline Dragonair announced they have together donated HK$2 million to help in the relief efforts following the earthquake that hit Sichuan Province in China on May 12.

The donation from the airlines will be given to the Red Cross, which is actively helping people in the worst-hit areas across the province. On top of the initial donation, a fund has been set up by Cathay Pacific to collect donations from employees. Every dollar raised up to the end of May will be matched by the airline to further swell the relief fund.

Cathay Pacific also said that every dollar collected in its "Change for Good" inflight fundraising programme from tomorrow May 15 through to the end of May will be used to assist UNICEF relief efforts in earthquake-affected areas.

In addition, the airline's Inflight Services Department will donate items such as blankets and other supplies to go to the people who need them.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said the Cathay Pacific Group has offered the Hong Kong SAR Government whatever resources of the two airlines are needed to help the disaster-relief effort in Sichuan.