Asiana Airlines learns CR lessons at schools in China

Asiana Airlines, Korea’s second-largest carrier, has formed a sisterhood relationship with an elementary school in China as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts. The carrier donated nine air conditioners, 10 computers and a water-cleaning facility to Luqiao Elementary School in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province in eastern China.

Asiana’s ‘The Beautiful Classroom’ project aims to help Chinese students make their dreams and hopes come true by supporting the schools in need, according to the China regional headquarters of the airline.

China is key destination for Asiana which flies to over 30 Chinese cities. China is also the main source of tourists to Korea, and Korea’s largest trading partner for both exports and imports.

The project began in 2012 in co-operation with the government’s Korea International Cooperation Agency, a Korean government agency formed to maximize the effectiveness of Korea’s grant aid. As well as managing government funded projects, the agency provides advice and assistance to Korean companies with their own projects.

Asiana has now embraced a total of 21 elementary schools across China, including in Yantai, Weihai and Nanjing. An Asiana spokesperson says the airline “would continue to put efforts into non-governmental diplomacy between the two neighbouring countries through its global CSR activities.”

The Beautiful Classroom packages have many common elements but also reflect the individual needs of each school. Asiana has handed out some 800 personal computers, 14 pianos and 14,000 books worth KRW 950m over the past three years, according to the airline.

Asiana has also donated pianos, chalkboards, volleyball courts, sporting goods, and multimedia equipment. The airline also offers educational sessions for pupils who want to become members of flight crews.

In addition to donating school supplies, Asiana invites groups of students from partner schools in China to visit Korea, to provide them with an opportunity to experience Korean culture.

The airline also provides playground and educational equipment to facilities for disabled children in China and has planted trees in Tianjin and other cities.

While most of the airline’s educational assistance work is in China, Asiana is also developing projects for poorer Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Cambodia. The company says it is committed to the support of children of low-income families in various countries with free meals and scholarships.

Asiana is part of the Kumho Asiana Group, a large South Korean conglomerate, with subsidiaries also in the automotive, industry, leisure, logistic, chemical industries.